Public hearing held on rezoning property south of Bluebell Parkway in Brunswick Hills

BRUNSWICK HILLS TWP. — Brunswick Hills residents raised concerns regarding rezoning the property south of Bluebell Parkway in the township from rural residential to R-3 residential during a public hearing in front of the Brunswick Hills Zoning Commission on Thursday. There is a settlement agreement for the property that states that two senior housing buildings may be put on the site. John Slagter is the legal counsel for the owner of the parcel, and he spoke in support of rezoning the property. He said the plan is to put single-family, nonrental housing on the property instead of senior housing. "We're going from something that's authorized under the consent entry for 140 apartments down to 30 single-family homes," he said. "I think we're creating a better situation than not." The Medina County Planning Commission met last week and disapproved the map amendment request for the property. This is because planning commission members disagreed if the area could be rezoned due to the settlement agreement. "The Medina County Prosecutor's Office had written a letter earlier last year and indicated in that letter that the property could only be developed under the consent entry or as currently zoned," Slagter said. "There was a belief by objectors that that would only allow the property to be zoned as it currently was zoned, and somehow it prohibited the township or even the planning commission from doing anything." In Slagter's opinion, the settlement agreement does not prohibit rezoning. "The prosecutor never said that the township cannot change the zoning," he said. "My understanding is that the prosecutor has communicated with the township and indicated that he did not mean that (you cannot change the zoning). That's something you can confirm with him." Resident Kristin Hunter said she believes houses are better than a retirement community, but she feels the township needs to do things "the right way," otherwise it is not developing trust within the community. "The consent decree doesn't say we can change it to R-3," she said. "(John) Slagter made reference that maybe the prosecutor has provided some guidance on that. If it's in writing, I would be willing to look at it, and then I would believe it, but until then, I don't believe it." Resident Ben Woods said he agrees with Hunter that his concerns stem from procedural issues rather than opposing houses on that property. "(John) Slagter and (the property owner), ideally, I think we actually agree on a lot of things," he said. "I think we want a good quality development for our residents, and we want good neighbors." Trustee Thomas DeCastra said the township has been in communication with the prosecutor's office on the matter. "Under advisement of the prosecutor's office, that information has been classified as privileged and confidential, and he has stated that we should not share it," DeCastra said. The zoning commission adjourned the public hearing without voting on the matter. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.