MOUNT VERNON — Speaking on behalf of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Kim Rose of Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston notified the Mount Vernon Municipal Planning Commission of MVNU’s desire to build a new apartment complex on campus.
According to Rose, the complex, which would be called Cypress Three, will cost around $950,000. MVNU intends to apply for a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist in construction. It would be the third such complex on the campus, and would house 36 people.
Rose said the apartment complex would be cheaper than a dormitory, would provide better living arrangements for the students and would fit in better on the grounds of MVNU.
The commission discussed a request from Phyllis Stull regarding 119 Brown St. Stull has the home for sale, and requested the commission consider splitting the garage from the home, allowing her to sell the home separately.
Commission members agreed that splitting the garage from the house would create two substandard lots, with the only access to the garage being via an alley. Because this is contrary to zoning law, the commission denied Stull’s request.
Three public hearings were held, with no one from the community speaking before the commission. The first hearing involved rezoning 401 and 403 E. Chestnut St. from neighborhood commercial to residential. Following the hearing, the commission voted to table the matter until next month.
According to Dave Glass, safety-service director, 5 Coshocton Ave., which is a parcel of land across the street from the Chestnut Street lots, was incorrectly mapped as being residential; it should, however, be labeled neighborhood commercial. The commission members agreed that in order to avoid confusion, neighbors will be notified of the commission’s desire to correct the designation of 5 Coshocton Ave. to neighborhood commercial. All three parcels will be discussed further next month.
The second hearing involved rezoning the land recently bought by the city from Clinton Township and incorporated into Foundation Park. Commission members voted to recommend to city council that the land be rezoned to park use (P1.)
The rezoning of the former armory from P1 to neighborhood residential was the subject of the third hearing. Glass said there are other small businesses already in the area, and his concern was the city would end up with a deteriorating building if it was not rezoned.
Glass said he heard from a resident in a nearby apartment complex who was concerned that traffic from a business might interfere with getting in and out of the apartment building, as well as with residential parking.
It was the consensus of the commission members that the neighborhood would be better served and preserved by not letting the property deteriorate. They felt any potential traffic or parking problems could be handled, and therefore voted to approve the rezoning request.
A short Historical Review Commission meeting was held prior to the municipal planning meeting. Approval was given to Atrium Personnel to erect a 4-foot-by-4-foot sign at 120 E. High St. The sign is wooden, which fits in with the historical designation of the area, and is not lit all of the time.
According to Glass, the request had to be reviewed because 120 E. High St. is in a historical district.
