BUCYRUS — A proposed zoning change will not happen after it was unanimously voted down Thursday evening by the Platting Committee during the Bucyrus City Council Joint Committee meeting.
The proposal was to change the zoning from the alleys of South Walnut Street west to South Sandusky Avenue and east from South Poplar Street to South Sandusky Avenue between Charles Street and Oakwood Avenue from a residential zone to a business zone.
Council hosted a public hearing March 25 regarding the proposal and several residents in the affected area showed up to oppose the change. Several more wrote letters and made phone calls to the city’s zoning administrator, Landyn Hill, and three came to the committee meeting.
“We oppose the change because we do not want to lose control over the which businesses can come into our neighborhood. There are plenty of empty buildings throughout town that are already in business districts that can used for new businesses,” said former council member and South Walnut Street resident Norma Hill.
Property owner Harold Howell also said existing vacant buildings should be used for businesses.
Hill said that after all the public feedback, the current zoning should be maintained.
“I support the effort to be more business-friendly but the loss of control in that area would not be good for residents,” Hill said.
Hill said businesses that may want to open in that area may go through the zoning variance process, so residents may be notified and give feedback.
Platting committee chair Mark Makeever made a motion to allow the issue to die in committee and all members agreed.
In other committee business, appropriations and an update to the bond anticipation note for the repairs to the Aumiller Park Pool, along with resolution for the city service safety director to enter into an agreement with the state to purchase road salt for next winter, were approved for legislation to be created to be voted on by the entire council at its next meeting April 16 at 7 p.m.