Oregon council to reconsider zoning change requests

       Oregon City Council on Monday will consider a resolution to advance zoning change requests on parcels on Corduroy Road and N. Wynn Road to the Oregon Planning Commission for its review.
        Last month, council voted down the zoning change requests for commercial and industrial development on the parcels.
        The zoning change requests were from A-1 Agricultural District to C-I Commercial Industrial District at 4315 Corduroy Road, consisting of approximately nine acres, and 4701 Corduroy Road, consisting of approximately 23 acres; a zoning change from A-1 Agricultural District to Advanced Manufacturing District at 4713 Corduroy Road, consisting of approximately 29 acres; and a zoning change from Mixed Use A-1 Agricultural District and C-1 Commercial Industrial District to Advanced Manufacturing District on a portion of property at 700 N. Wynn Road, consisting of approximately 23 acres.
        Council wants all of the parcels to be zoned Advanced Manufacturing District.
        The planning commission last year recommended that council approve the zoning changes.         Two of the parcels are owned by the Foundation and the other two are owned by private residents. The parcel to the west, at 4315 Corduroy Road, would have fit with zoning of industrial property around it had the zoning request for a Commercial Industrial District been approved. The parcel in the middle, at 4701 Corduroy Road, would have also been zoned C-I Commercial Industrial. The two parcels to the east - one at 4713 Corduroy Road and the other at 700 N. Wynn Road – would have been changed to an Advanced Manufacturing District, a new zoning designation the city created with the intent to use it as much as possible going forward because it is a little bit more restrictive for new industry.
        The city believes an Advanced Manufacturing District has a softer look and feel - with some design standards that are incorporated into it.
         
Mailings
        The private property owners are aware of what the city is doing, according to City Administrator Joel Mazur.
        “One of them is in favor, and the other has been in favor. We have been in discussions with them and some adjacent property owners as well,” said Mazur.
        “In addition to this, we have a list of mailings that will be going out. There’s a certain amount of distance we have to cover for property owners in the general vicinity. We have expanded that to cover more ground. That’s one of the concerns some of the residents have. So we’re going to cover more ground and have more mailings to more people so everyone is aware of the intentions. Three parcels are proposed to be Advanced Manufacturing. This resolution would advance this proposal to the planning commission for review,” said Mazur.
       
Investment
        The city has already made an investment in infrastructure in that area.
        The road to the north has been built and completed. Also, there is a retention pond to the north that has been built. Water and sewer lines have been installed to accommodate industry. Site selectors, or consultants, try to locate properties that are suitable for their clients. They look for utilities and infrastructure that serve those sites. And they also want to make sure properties are zoned appropriately.
        The Foundation has been working on Requests For Information (RFI) and submitting them to Jobs Ohio for leads that fit industrial use on the properties.
        Mayor Mike Seferian said once the planning commission rules on the matter, it will come back to City Council within 30-45 days for a vote.