The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
City seeks zoning change for junkyard
The city of Lorain hopes to change zoning for future redevelopment of a South Lorain junkyard that has been a target for city code enforcement in the past.
On June 3, the Lorain City Planning Commission approved a zoning change for the site at 3725 Grove Ave., which also uses the address 2239 Homewood Drive.
Lorain City Council will consider the request at a later date.
The city’s Department of Building, Housing and Planning staff applied to change zoning from I-1 Light Industrial to B-2 General Business, according to city records.
City planners feel it would be a better use to allow for business use, but not for industrial use, said Drew Crawford, neighborhood development specialist for the Building, Housing and Planning Department.
Mayor Jack Bradley agreed and voted for the change with planning commission members Sanford Washington, Ken Kramer and Michael Nardini.
“I understand that this particular property has been an issue over the years,” Bradley said. “Quite frankly, I think it’s become somewhat of an eyesore so we’re trying to have better development.
“It’s one of our corridors into the city of Lorain. By doing something like this, it’s going to help the redevelopment of that property and make it a more attractive property and something that might encourage other development in the area.”
Bradley noted an Ohio National Guard armory and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church sit nearby.
Lorain County Health & Dentistry President and CEO Stephanie Wiersma sent a letter of support for the change.
The health agency has its South Lorain clinic immediately south of the parcel.
Ward 6 Councilman Rey Carrion and City Council President Joel Arredondo spoke in favor of the change.
“What we’re trying to do here is to really just prevent incompatible land uses in key areas of our city,” Carrion said.
The site has taken away from the community for 30 years, when the Hills store closed and in 1987 the land changed to industrial zoning, Carrion said.
Industrial use is not a bad use, but it is not in the right place there, he said.
The surrounding area largely is residential, while Grove Avenue, which also is Ohio Route 57, serves as a key entrance point into Lorain, Carrion said.
The site could be instrumental in a renaissance for South Lorain, he said.
The change will not affect the current owner, Carrion said.
The site is owned by GNM LLC, according to Lorain County Auditor’s records.
If anyone for the owner was present for the planning meeting, they did not speak publicly about the change.
Arredondo said the site is getting close to being a junkyard.
He noted former Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr. had a campaign for years to eliminate blight at the site, created by a previous owner.
City leaders want to welcome business to the city, not obstruct business, but they also are concerned with quality of life and the appearance of the neighborhoods, Arredondo said.
He noted a fence would help block the view of the salvaged vehicles and equipment there.