By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The contentious air at the last meeting involving the incoming Tim Hortons/Donatos restaurant did not abate despite a week-long period in between meetings.
Scott Painter continued to air his grievances, which focused mostly on the way the city handled bringing the business to the neighborhood.
RSSUM Holdings, LLC, the group facilitating the Tim Hortons-Donatos project, purchased land at 503-511 S. Sandusky Ave. and 504 and 506 S. Poplar St. in Bucyrus. The group, which owns 33 restaurants including ones that are expected to be built in Ashland, Mansfield, and Tiffin, ran up against some opposition at a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting last week, though most of the complainants had their issues resolved.
Painter believed that it remained unclear if traffic would travel in both directions in the alley between Sandusky Avenue and Poplar Street, what the appropriate zoning would be, and whether there would be landscaping or lighting to compensate for being in a neighborhood.
“This is not my first trip here. It has not a thing to do with your wanting to come to Bucyrus,” Painter told Don Reninger, president of RSSUM Holdings. “I’m looking to preserve my neighborhood.”
Painter then referred to former Bucyrus City Council member Norma Hill who said, Painter alleged, that the purpose of zoning was to protect neighborhoods. Painter felt that the Board of Zoning Appeals was rushed in its decision last week to approve variances and conditional use requests when Mayor Jeff Reser suggested moving on the decision in order for the company to avoid losing money due to delays.
Painter accused Reser of shaming and bullying the Board of Zoning Appeals into making a decision at the Jan. 26 meeting.
“I think it’s highly presumptuous of the city to put the cart before the horse,” Painter stated.
Painter was also concerned whether the addition of the restaurant would impact his property value. Reninger countered that the restaurant may add value to the surrounding homes when the company demolishes the homes that have become eyesores on the street.
Reninger confirmed that traffic will be able to travel in and out of the back parking lot on Poplar Street in order to help offset congestion on Sandusky Avenue. He added that they will make a safer exit available for vehicles rather than using the alleyway. The company has also offered to reinforce the alley for use by garbage trucks.
Reninger said they will also be putting in a retention pond at 506 S. Popular St. to slow down water going into the storm sewer and, hopefully, alleviate flooding in the neighborhood.
Kendra Miller, owner of the nearby apartment building with her husband, was concerned how the parking lot would affect her tenants. RSSUM Holdings offered to put up a fence for the complex, the same offer they also made to another neighbor who held similar concerns. They have also suggested putting up landscaping along the back parking lot to block the view for other neighbors.
“Are things going to change? Absolutely, things are going to change,” Reninger said. “That’s just part of the process. But some is give, some is take. You’re getting rid of houses you probably want to get rid of, you’re adding a parking lot.”
Reninger reminded those in attendance that they are the future customers, but the company did not have to build in Bucyrus if they were not wanted there.
“We can take our million-six ($1.6 million) and go put it into many other towns,” Reninger said before pointing out the benefits of having the restaurant in town. “We generate $600,000 . . . we’re going to employ 50 people over time, we pay sales tax in the community, and we get assessed value to pay taxes into your schools and everything else. There is a give and take. Unfortunately, you’re the guy across the street.”
“I’m not opposed to what it is you want to do,” Painter argued, stating that he did not want to be the bad guy who ran the business out of town. “The ox I have to gore is not with you. My ox is with the city, who has failed to be upfront about what their plans are. I’d like a timeout to determine whether it would inversely affect my property value.”
Rob Neff, who brought up concerns at the last meeting, said he was gratified to hear that more green space would be added along with reasonable lighting.
RSSUM originally looked at a location near the Speedway gas station, but was unable to get the deal closed. Reninger said after considering the sites, he felt the location across from City Hall was better suited for the company.
RSSUM Holdings is also looking to put in a restaurant in Galion.
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