[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6258199,"mediaKeyId","3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e","parentId",3148699,"title","Council holds public hearing on rezoning six lots at 0 South Main Street from R‑1A to R‑3","audioSeconds",1157,"startMs",1974000,"endMs",3131000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e&start=1974&end=3131","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e/thumbnail_1974000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6258199/Ohio/Council-holds-public-hearing-on-rezoning-six-lots-at-0-South-Main-Street-from-R1A-to-R3","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258199-cb45775d2c5494221bbef3ce19853832/orig.mp4?Expires=1775881632&Signature=mmMqWVbstytVhBm-wSJstybSN2fAfE83dw92O4ODm9nvqL0KC6EmYz5FPC7-eh3t2sZR5kMsNiEuMWFIqUWUEuKOuLJUyqCt-qDjx8QnPpyVgcHhAkg8KlJinFMxYTZ74BkiLS9olhn~bXMxhudUWv75D4gr0VBdb6Jp6OMyL9IiccElkrcj3wRdrU1bimiz6AvKAyzsaoOjRa7HHPPpwuJ9T~RTeZGpoBaPNNU8o3aQ-1Jl7VMtabqr2IAxZNECp1Y8jYkKJluKM4~OLkEwI3OGQMX2lE-uunAZY2m-4dON~8Hv5r2-242IUMX-pMo65I2MF7QeEQUS3AFigeZx9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mount Vernon, OH ","date","2025-04-29T17:06:01.173Z","article","City council held a public hearing on a proposed rezoning of six lots at 0 South Main Street, a proposed change from R‑1A (lower‑density single‑family) to R‑3 (attached/multifamily residential).

Missus Keener opened the public‑hearing discussion and asked city staff to explain how the new zoning differs from the existing classification. Rob (development staff) said the current zoning classification for the parcels is R‑1A, a category the city applied to historically small lots to allow slightly smaller frontages and houses than modern R‑1 zoning. Under the city’s rewritten code, R‑3 is an \"attached residential district\" intended to provide for medium‑density multi‑family housing and a mixture of housing types.

Council members raised two main concerns: curb cuts and site plan review. Staff said curb cuts onto South Main require city approval and that, if the six lots are developed together for maximum density, the developer would likely receive a single curb cut and the city could negotiate access. If the parcels were developed as individual lots under R‑1A, each legal lot could in many cases qualify for its own curb cut. Staff also noted an alley behind several lots that could provide access if development consolidates parcels.

Members discussed the municipal planning commission’s recommendation and the planning commission’s close, contested vote; one council member described having changed a prior vote after reviewing possible scenarios. A speaker summarized the revised code’s rule for overturning a municipal planning commission recommendation, citing the code section as \"revised code section 7 13 o 2,\" and explained that overruling the planning commission would require a two‑thirds vote of the full legislative authority (which the presenter clarified means five of seven votes when the body is at full membership).

Councilors also discussed the city’s permitting practice: staff said a developer must submit a proposed plan to the development services manager (Ms. Blankens) and that the city now has an inspector who will verify that construction matches approved permits. Staff acknowledged that under the existing zoning code there may be limited instances where no formal site plan is required for some types of infill development; that coding detail was identified as an area for future attention.

The council received a written public comment from Samantha Scoles opposing the rezoning; staff said the email would be entered into the record during the legislative session. The public hearing was adjourned and the council recessed to begin the legislative portion of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Live Stream - City of Mount Vernon, Ohio","oneSentenceSummary","City council held a public hearing on a proposed rezoning of six lots at 0 South Main Street from R‑1A to R‑3, which staff said could allow consolidated multifamily development and reduce curb cuts onto South Main.","taxTitle","Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio","taxId",71655,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6258202,"City council backs advancing Mount Vernon chapter of Knox County comprehensive plan",500,1368000,1868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e&start=1368&end=1868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e/thumbnail_1368000.jpg","/articles/6258202/Ohio/City-council-backs-advancing-Mount-Vernon-chapter-of-Knox-County-comprehensive-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258202-60c920b8be2cb2371af30957a4e8fdc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775881632&Signature=UcS46CV8EVFq9Ak2hYPkEc5LiV7lJO8bAGrPEOydp37BhgUHNxQzThzDE4HeUyk2Eup7SkzcDoFMp2LMTHHXarKzM11bh42EC92xgNgMU0VOomnqzkqPtgl9nwouHkVhv0RLK97PjdfynNd5v-Lnzz6d3h3SUEyICTEsO4Vgw6MGr8bRESseywKXRFvuuIbc1WBcxTgQiprrX-mfXbKZGCmtBceC1etBuWfGt-C~RESV79Xby3DvNIdq56hUpREY8YugDr1mOZJIQJUDNlqtnoxON7KJmM-EPTUylDbLlAG2A2KkOY55zvwZSj2zTLWyibIViGbzXrgINcSKLXg3IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors said the Mount Vernon chapter of the Knox County comprehensive plan reflects extensive public input and recommended language and that the document is advisory rather than prescriptive.

Mister Skeener (presenting) opened the Land Use and Development discussion by noting the council had reviewed the draft thoroughly and inviting questions. Council members said they were broadly familiar with the plan and praised its data and participation. “This is the most comprehensive of a comprehensive plan that I've seen come out of the out of Knox County,” said Matt, a council participant who had served on the effort.

Members emphasized that the plan is guidance, not a mandate: it contains recommendations on lot sizes, connectivity and building‑code study but does not itself change zoning or compel building‑code adoption. The discussion noted that some jurisdictions endorse the plan — the transcript cited Owl Creek Conservancy and Philander Chase — and that a few municipalities or townships either declined or voted no (Liberty Township and Jefferson were mentioned).

City councilors said including a city chapter allowed Mount Vernon to record local priorities such as sidewalks and trail connections and to capture public comments in an appendix. Councilor Matt said the plan documents dozens of data points intended to inform future decisions while preserving “rural character” as locally defined.

One councilor announced an intention to place the city chapter on a third and final reading that evening, saying, “I am going to take this to its third and final reading tonight because I think that it is important to get this going,” unless there were objections.

Comments from the public and stakeholders will be compiled in an appendix to the plan; councilors noted that inclusion of recommendations such as a building‑code study preserved stakeholders’ concerns for future deliberation but did not itself establish new regulation.","Council members said the city chapter of the Knox County comprehensive plan is advisory, preserves local priorities such as sidewalks and trail connectivity, and will be sent to a final reading at the council’s next meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6258206,"Mount Vernon committee hears proposal to add second drug detective to police department",894,450000,1344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e&start=450&end=1344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148699-15d817d1a554e47ad5f183d3d609674e/thumbnail_450000.jpg","/articles/6258206/Ohio/Mount-Vernon-committee-hears-proposal-to-add-second-drug-detective-to-police-department","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258206-0d60547666a9cba616975497e0c8f72d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775881632&Signature=IgtGqww4fuVbfpadTlTzj5MxOqaZpPjiR32~gxOdI1yAHk~kZW6B~D2Kyzobx7l8uBXqagjGSsV4E2ohPOy~TZLXIg6NlVAIJxdXGXJdR9cDqyE-ajpzhIcrxtU4AThvLQsqYY2vcrqeIqlQVMHOsiUfRnVdZ0xqHhgHWYbqUBAvXYsPEUlrdgr6YioB8AyOzUePShxlUW7a3BAEIjduytuAUcVe5JFklPA5-YYolCvgtjO33-Bz4326Hvq13KC52cGfCiAHfFqao-wsTGolzfsCeh5xu~viLMyYoovuxtZOxJqg7z3kh4G-29puKiVjTagmZLhMO2q1uywJZ4Fzxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Detective Sergeant Justin Willis of the Mount Vernon Police Department told the Employee and Community Relations Committee that the department is asking the council to allow a second dedicated drug detective to expand drug‑focused investigations and outreach.

Willis said the department has moved a detective into a drugs role since last fall and that a two‑person drug unit would provide at least 40 additional hours of coverage per week, let patrol officers know “what they’re looking for,” and make it easier to follow up on intelligence and nighttime activity. “Drugs don’t always move, you know, Monday through Friday, 8 to 4,” Willis said.

The department provided several operational figures to describe demand: it reported 95 drug indictments in 2023, 101 in 2024 and 21 so far this year; about a pound of meth seized in 2023 and 1.75 pounds in 2024; and a rise in fentanyl seizures over the last two years. Willis also said the department responded to multiple overdose incidents — four overdose deaths in 2023, five in 2024, and two cases pending toxicology so far this year — and credited wider Narcan availability with preventing additional deaths.

Willis described recent enforcement and community work, including a prescription drug take‑back day that allowed the department to return collected medication to the DEA and participation in a countywide task force. He said gun recoveries are continuing into the current year and that a second drug detective would help both enforcement and connections to recovery services.

On cost and staffing, the chief told council members the position was included in this year’s budget. The chief reported the department is about $83,826 under budget for planned salary lines for the year, and said overtime management and scheduling changes have reduced overtime costs. The chief also described recruitment challenges and said the city’s wages and a proposed local training academy (COTC facility) could help increase applicant numbers.

No formal vote on creating the position was recorded in the committee discussion. Committee members asked about deployment, coverage and safety protocols for officers working around fentanyl; Willis said the department requires gloves and follows protocols to avoid direct contact with unknown powders. The chief said the department is part of the Knox County Drug Coalition and works with neighboring agencies on coordinated operations.

The Employee and Community Relations Committee adjourned after the discussion and moved next to the Land Use and Development agenda.","City police officials told the Employee and Community Relations Committee that a second dedicated drug detective would increase drug‑investigation coverage, support recovery referrals and is already budgeted for in this year’s salary lines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council holds public hearing on rezoning six lots at 0 South Main Street from R‑1A to R‑3

City council backs advancing Mount Vernon chapter of Knox County comprehensive plan

Mount Vernon committee hears proposal to add second drug detective to police department