REZONING QUANDARY … Swanton Planning Commission members review the Village’s current zoning map while considering a request to rezone an area on the west side of town from business to light industrial. Pictured from left: Village Administrator Shannon Shulters, Commission Member Chuck Erdman, Village Council Member Samantha Disbrow, Commission Member Kevin Young, and Commission Chairman Roger DeGood. (PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS, STAFF)
By: Jesse Davis
Swanton Planning Commission members tabled a measure on the rezoning of a property on the west side of town rather than proceeding with what they deemed incomplete information during their meeting Tuesday.
The potential rezoning would see the 19-acre property, located behind the Dollar General, switched from its current business zoning to light manufacturing.
None of the commissioners opposed the rezoning itself, but several said the resolution to pass along a positive recommendation for the change to the village council did not include enough information about the purpose of the rezoning or what neighboring properties could be affected.
They also wanted the location of the property more accurately described as it does not currently have an associated address.
“It’s pretty vague, we don’t have a lot of background information on it,” Council Member Chuck Erdman said. “You’re asking us to make a decision in 5 or 10 minutes sitting here that could impact 25 or 30 or 40 years down the road.”
Council Chairman Roger DeGood concurred, saying he wanted a more complete write-up including the intent for the property and where the request was coming from, among other information, in order to make a decision.
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters told commissioners some information on the plans for the property could not be shared with them due to a non-disclosure agreement.
She was able to say the property is currently owned by Lanc Properties, LLC, a Toledo-based company.
If commissioners approve the measure and pass on a positive recommendation for the rezoning, nearby property owners would be notified, and a public hearing would be held prior to a council vote.
The plat lines on the property are expected to be redrawn to accommodate four lots of just under 5 acres apiece.
That size allows developers to shoot for a goal of buildings at roughly 20,000 square feet on each lot.
“The folks in the economic development community say that that is a sweet spot right now for small business development,” Mayor Neil Toeppe said.
Regardless of whether the rezoning occurs, the property will pose at least one additional challenge for the village due to a failing storm sewer main that traverses the property.
Repairs have already been completed on one portion of the main after a collapse of sewer tiles caused a sinkhole.
After some discussion and a review of the current zoning map, commissioners chose to table the issue until the next meeting on June 6 at 6:30 p.m.
In other business, Shulters reported American Legal Publishing is nearly finished bringing the zoning map and land code up to date and will soon report back with the cost to print new physical copies.
The documents will also be updated on the village website.
Jesse can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com