By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Montpelier Village Council approved a third and final reading of a rezoning issue to construct multiple residential buildings on West Wabash Street at its regular meeting on Monday, April 13.
The real estate property owned by the Williams County Port Authority has applied to have the property rezoned from R-2 (one and two family residential district) to R-3 (multiple residential buildings).
Council member Chris Kannel proposed making a written motion on the issue, with council then seconding it and discussing revisions to the motion after it was made and seconded.
“I move that village council approve the rezoning of the real property in question subject to the following conditions which shall be binding upon the applicants, the property owner and all successors assigned,” said Kannel.
Following council approval, Kannel presented a listing of guidelines on the issue.
-The use and development of the subject property shall be substantially consistent with the site sketch presented to village council and referred to as plan two, which is referenced in the council packet.
-Any site plan, development plan or construction shall comply with applicable village ordinances, state regulations, and federal requirements.
-The developer will provide concrete or asphalt paved driveways and parking areas that comply with village ordinances.
-The developer will provide concrete paved pedestrian walkways from parking areas to dwelling units that are separated from driveways and parking areas with landscape buffers of not less than 5 feet in width.
-The developer will provide concrete paved storage areas for trash and recycling bins. Storage areas may be located in a manner that is convenient for residents to deposit trash and recycling, except the bin storage area may not be located between any building and the street.
-The developer will provide a concrete paved area along the curb for trash and recycling bins placed on trash and recycling pickup dates. This area will accommodate all trash and recycling bins for the property and will comply with the recommendations of the trash collection company currently contracted with the village.
-The developer will designate an area of lawn where plowed snow from each parking area can be stockpiled. This area will be free from landscape planting and will be constructed with appropriate drainage to allow melting snow to drain away from buildings, parking areas and properties.
-Where parking is provided between buildings and the street, the developer will install a planting buffer between the parking area and the street.
-All building downspouts will be drained to a catch basin.
MAYOR WEIGHS IN ON REZONING
“This is a new development,” pointed out Kannel. “It is council’s obligation to insist on the best case and the best situation for new development.”
Mayor Steve Yagelski commented on the longevity of the rezoning discussion, which began in February when the Montpelier Planning and Zoning Commission approved the necessary publications and public hearings to rezone the property.
“I haven’t made any comments on this, I just sat and listened,” said Yagelski. “Of course, the first reading I wasn’t here because I was out of town. So, I based everything on the minutes. At the last meeting, a lot of good discussions and Mr. (Chris) Kannel reached out to me and we talked.”
The mayor continued, “We’re not a city, but a small municipality. We got vacant property on Wabash Street that no one is going to buy and build a house.
“This table, I want to say they’re all in agreement; we need housing and need it desperately, not only here, but throughout the whole county.”
“Trailers were brought up at the last meeting; substandard roads were brought up in various ways. But why was that stuff put into place before we had very good planning and zoning.
“Are there things that need to be changed in planning and zoning, sure just like any document that we work with day in and day out. Personally, that’s what planning and zoning is for.
“Some of these can be set for variances, not holding somebody deep into the fire. I don’t think that’s right to appoint, but they’re very good for validation here.”
“So, do we take some of this stuff and look at planning and zoning going forward, or do we risk losing potential other developers wanting to come to Montpelier because they see the headache and hardship that they have to go through.
“That’s just my personal opinion, my personal feelings. I made this comment a long, long time ago, when Mayor Michael Long resigned and I ran for council that I was going to sit here and voice my opinion as if I was a councilman. This is one of them and this is where I stand. Those are my feelings; a lot of hard work has gone into it from everybody.
ARBOR DAY PROCLAMATION
Yagelski proclaimed April 13 as Arbor Day in Montpelier. In his proclamation, he urged all citizens to celebrate the day by planting trees, supporting efforts to protect natural resources, and promoting environmental stewardship throughout the community.
STREET DEPARTMENT YEAR-END REPORT
Street Department Superintendent Robert Houk presented his annual year-end report to the council. Among the achievements this past year: scraped paint off all curbs and handicap areas in the uptown area; installed 184 new signs, posts or billboards within the village; assisted the electric department in storm damage, power outage and cleanup from major storms in March and April; swept 575 miles of village streets with the street sweeper; and worked a total of 394 overtime hours in the calendar year.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, council approved the following items:
-Authorized finance director Nikki Uribes to seek proposals from various banking institutions for banking services.
-Authorized village manager Jason Rockey to send a letter of intent with financing regarding the time of delivery of the new fire truck.
-Authorized Rockey to advertise bids and contracts for the resurfacing of the following streets: 100 block of Henry Street; 100-700 blocks of East Jefferson Street; 100-200 blocks of South East Avenue; and the water/sewer department parking lot. Work includes milling, base repair drainage, asphalt overlay, and berm work on village streets where necessary.
-Approved a resolution authorizing participation in the ODOT winter contract for 2026-27 for road salt.
-Approved a resolution authorizing Rockey to contract with S&S Directional Boring of Bryan without formal bidding or advertising for the replacement of a burst 6-inch sewer line on Park Avenue. The sewer line replacement cost is $102,660.
Next council meeting is Monday, April 27 at 6 p.m.
