Council to decide rezoning request

Property owner looking to change status of parcel near former Our Pet’s plant to industrial

Fairport Harbor Village Council is getting ready to consider a rezoning proposal that is aimed at making a manufacturing property more attractive for future occupants.

Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., July 21, on a request by Senk Properties to rezone a parcel on Saint Clair Street Extension to industrial from marine recreational. The land is located behind the former Our Pet’s Co. manufacturing plant at 1300 East St.

The public hearing will take place at the start of council’s regularly scheduled meeting. Village government leaders hope to conduct the

meeting in the Fairport Harbor Senior Center at 1380 East St.

If all goes as planned, it would be council’s first traditional, inperson gathering since March 3. For the past three months, council meetings have been held remotely by video and audio conference because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

During the public hearing, residents will get the chance to ask questions or provide comments about the proposed rezoning.

Council has received a recommendation from the village Planning Commission to approve Senk Properties’ request regarding a 2-acre parcel at 1185 Saint Clair St. Extension.

Dean Tsengas, managing partner of Senk Properties, said rezoning the targeted piece of land to industrial would make its classification consistent with two other adjacent parcels. One of those parcels is undeveloped, while the Our Pet’s plant sits on the other section of property.

“This will also make the current (Our Pet’s) building, soon to be vacant by the end of June 2020, more marketable in finding a new long-term tenant, knowing that the 2 acres behind them is zoned industrial for future expansion considerations,” Tsengas wrote in a letter to village government legislators and administrators.

Dean Tsengas and his father, James Tsengas, co-founded Our Pet’s in 1995. The company, which manufactures pet toys and accessories, was acquired in 2018 by Hyper Pet. During the same year, Hyper Pet also purchased R2P Pet, a Pleasanton, California-based maker of assorted toys and accessories for dogs and cats.

In March of 2019, Hyper Pet, Our Pet’s and R2P Pet stated that all three businesses would function under a new corporate name — Cosmic Pet.

At a Fairport Harbor Village Council meeting earlier this year, a resident asked about the Cosmic Pet building — previously the Our Pet’s location — on East Street being for sale and what was being done to keep the company in town.

Mayor Timothy Manross explained at the meeting that Cosmic Pet was closing the Fairport Harbor site and moving to Wichita, Kansas, where it would be consolidated with other company operations. However, he noted that Senk Properties was actively seeking new tenants for the Fairport Harbor building.

During a June 23 interview, Manross said he’s hopeful that the proposed zoning change will help make the former Our Pet’s plant more attractive to manufacturers who are seeking a new location.

He also credited the Tsengas family for the impact that they had during Our Pet’s long run in Fairport Harbor.

“It’s unfortunate to see the tax dollars leave, but they’ve been a great family and great entrepreneurs over the years,” he said.