Published: Thursday, January 18, 2007
Council gives an OK to two zone changes
Property owners want the zone change but also want to protect older houses.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD — Council approved zone changes for two West Main Street properties, but debate continued about whether changes from residential to commercial threaten homes in the city's historic district.
Dave Murdoch, who owns property at 67 W. Main, said he supports the zone changes for his neighbors at 17 W. Main and 27 W. Main.
He said he understands the desire to maximize a selling price for a property, and that it's likely he'll be the next one to ask for the change from R-2 residential to B-1 Village Green Commercial.
Still, he professed "a fondness for the old beams."
"Is there anything that protects the old homes from being demolished?" he asked.
The answer, said zoning inspector Ted Frazzini, is no.
Council's design-review committee could refuse a demolition, he said, but the property owner could go to the planning board of appeals. From there, the issue could go to court, and "we wouldn't have a leg to stand on," he said.
Included in district
The historic district, which includes East Main and West Main streets, Lisbon Street, South Broad Street and a portion of North Broad Street, is designated by the city, but the houses there aren't registered historic sites with the state, said council member Dan Frazzini.
To help keep new owners from tearing down the houses, city attorney Mark Fortunato said, council is modifying the zoning ordinance to make it easier to use the properties for businesses.
The property owners who received the zone changes Wednesday and another who was granted a change for 39 W. Main in December say they also don't want to see the houses razed.
But the properties are surrounded by businesses, said Richard Ulrich, owner of 39 W. Main. He said that people won't likely consider the properties for residences.
Bob Allen, owner of 27 W. Main, concurred.
He said the lot behind his property includes a parking lot. "And with the traffic on [U.S.] Route 224 — no one would want to live there."
Allen said he will continue to live at his property for now. Bruce Neff, who owns 17 W. Main, said he intends to run a video production, marketing and advertising business at his property.
Other businesses on and near the Village Green include banks, a grocery store, small shops and professional offices.
starmack@vindy.com
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Property owners want the zone change but also want to protect older houses.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD — Council approved zone changes for two West Main Street properties, but debate continued about whether changes from residential to commercial threaten homes in the city's historic district.
Dave Murdoch, who owns property at 67 W. Main, said he supports the zone changes for his neighbors at 17 W. Main and 27 W. Main.
He said he understands the desire to maximize a selling price for a property, and that it's likely he'll be the next one to ask for the change from R-2 residential to B-1 Village Green Commercial.
Still, he professed "a fondness for the old beams."
"Is there anything that protects the old homes from being demolished?" he asked.
The answer, said zoning inspector Ted Frazzini, is no.
Council's design-review committee could refuse a demolition, he said, but the property owner could go to the planning board of appeals. From there, the issue could go to court, and "we wouldn't have a leg to stand on," he said.
Included in district
The historic district, which includes East Main and West Main streets, Lisbon Street, South Broad Street and a portion of North Broad Street, is designated by the city, but the houses there aren't registered historic sites with the state, said council member Dan Frazzini.
To help keep new owners from tearing down the houses, city attorney Mark Fortunato said, council is modifying the zoning ordinance to make it easier to use the properties for businesses.
The property owners who received the zone changes Wednesday and another who was granted a change for 39 W. Main in December say they also don't want to see the houses razed.
But the properties are surrounded by businesses, said Richard Ulrich, owner of 39 W. Main. He said that people won't likely consider the properties for residences.
Bob Allen, owner of 27 W. Main, concurred.
He said the lot behind his property includes a parking lot. "And with the traffic on [U.S.] Route 224 — no one would want to live there."
Allen said he will continue to live at his property for now. Bruce Neff, who owns 17 W. Main, said he intends to run a video production, marketing and advertising business at his property.
Other businesses on and near the Village Green include banks, a grocery store, small shops and professional offices.
starmack@vindy.com
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Council approved zone changes for two West Main Street properties, but debate continued about whether changes from...
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