MEDINA, Ohio -- Fifty neighbors of Dominic’s Italian Restaurant on South Jefferson Street have signed a petition objecting to a proposed rezoning of several parcels across the street from the eatery.
City Council held a public hearing Monday (June 24) on the potential rezoning, drawing residents, as well as the owner of the properties, to express their opinions.
The new zoning would allow the homes to be used as businesses, as well as allow for parking lots to be paved behind the houses. City Council is expected to vote on the rezoning at its July 8 meeting.
MIke Schwin, who lives immediately south of the three properties Carrino wants to rezone, spoke against the plan. He said he objects to the rezoning because of the potential addition of parking lots behind the homes.
Carrino has said in the past that he wants to use the parking lots as overflow parking for his restaurants, which Schwin said would bring patrons and noise closer to his home.
Amy Barnes, who’s home is directly behind the area that could be rezoned, also objected to the rezoning. She said the rezoning would be detrimental to the character of the neighborhood.
Along with her own objections, she presented a petition signed by 50 other residents who also oppose the rezoning.
Anthony Vacanti, a lawyer from Tucker Ellis representing Carrino, spoke at the public hearing to make a case for the rezoning, as well as to try to ease any concerns about the issue.
“With any rezoning, there’s a lot of misconceptions and misunderstanding,” Vacanti said.
Vacanti said the mixed-use zoning would maintain the structures being rezoned, but allow the property owner more flexibility in use of the homes. The zoning change would also prevent Carrino or future property owners from demolishing the homes, since the zoning would force property owners to maintain the structures.
The businesses allowed under mixed-use zoning, Vacanti said, would also provide a buffer between the commercial zoning on South Jefferson Street and neighboring homes.
Vacanti also said that Carrino’s request is to zone the homes similarly to other properties in Medina, citing mixed-use zoned homes on West Washington Street as an example. He said City Council is required to treat similar properties the same to be fair to Carrino’s property rights.
“My client’s just requesting to be treated the same way,” Vacanti said.
Vacanti said the rezoning is supported by the city’s comprehensive plan, but Barnes said the plan is outdated and did not predict the housing shortage in Medina, or the many residents who would prefer to live in historic homes around the city’s historic square.
“The comprehensive plan is not set in concrete for a reason,” Barnes said. “It is a projection.”
Medina Community Design Committee Board Member Skip Baran also spoke against the rezoning. He said the CDC is against the rezoning because it doesn’t preserve the residential neighborhoods around the square.
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