[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6249251,"mediaKeyId","3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77","parentId",3206353,"title","Council denies zoning change for proposed Wawa at 3445 Union Road","audioSeconds",65,"startMs",7174000,"endMs",7239000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77&start=7174&end=7239","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77/thumbnail_7174000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6249251/Ohio/Council-denies-zoning-change-for-proposed-Wawa-at-3445-Union-Road","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249251-1568796cd0f2f234d108ac3bf3091c06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770807503&Signature=MnPOD7n-eBpOkF~I3ag3EG6fTeYZLFRHtUBEriQTaETdhBJ56U3bfpl-Qoc7SH3tPQT1jP7HDnDucLtJCEbjSyMr3n~BL72zdVrLFymFAAjxyW2ADn~ymU7RqUr1symNHfO3nPWK2SPTqCwhXY29W8zH2z05MrpHEUrJYqTnm-h1R6OpIi6k8KxthuUm7siUEJZiqUf6jPkt6NkWkbY2ZJJtuwG8akT7xtI0SPocIRG2hdTGnvBFhU9jBbWpiTgaCRPJqSmAi4ZfA-gofWhgi~Gkh5TGyz2mZPVf1JodZXQqeuNg-onNhcMv-GOF4y71p0vThY1eW~eCQ6hRHBCjsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Middletown OH","date","2025-05-07T05:23:39.207Z","article","MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — At the second reading Tuesday night, the Middletown City Council approved an ordinance denying a rezoning request and preliminary development plan for a proposed Wawa at 3445 Union Road.

Assistant Law Director Jack Hemingway read the ordinance identifying the requested change from BCH (Business Center Hub District) to PD (Planned Development District) and stating council's action would deny the rezoning and the preliminary plan. During the roll call vote the mayor confirmed that voting \"yes\" on the ordinance meant denying the requested zoning change; council voted in favor of the ordinance.

Why it matters: The denial prevents that parcel's zoning from changing for the proposed Wawa project and stops the reviewed preliminary plan from moving forward under the current application.

What happened: The ordinance (2025‑21) progressed on second reading and council approved it during the meeting, with the clerk recording the yes votes that resulted in passage. Staff noted no additional materials were added.

Next steps: The developer may choose to revise and resubmit an application consistent with current zoning or pursue other procedural options. The ordinance took effect upon passage as a regular legislative action recorded in the minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Middletown Council Meeting 05.06.2025","oneSentenceSummary","On second reading council approved an ordinance denying a developer request to rezone 3445 Union Road and not approving a preliminary development plan for a Wawa convenience store.","taxTitle","Middletown City Council, Middletown, Butler County, Ohio","taxId",68987,"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},6249257,"Council limits home-repair grant to $250,000 in CDBG funds; staff had proposed $500,000 split with general fund",446,5990000,6436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77&start=5990&end=6436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77/thumbnail_5990000.jpg","/articles/6249257/Ohio/Council-limits-home-repair-grant-to-250000-in-CDBG-funds-staff-had-proposed-500000-split-with-general-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249257-b525ebe1a0eeda765df4dfbd0fe15a0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770807503&Signature=G7MKUDK5e6y1iynk3NhTgm3VFtyZkpsHdeh9PMtYQWJsRPCE0PzbXA4F9PlcNXLKqBQ-ai4joLK5nXE2KEutMi0LbYr9SxYP6mLuap8nxsaMbqTVDNpGAgBUsjqIFkZM55tSO768mSG~0xXnQgc~tSOfBGCJdvZ3g-GHtRtqjxyqweABmQBkRQjQlBc5miJ0Mw~Gcus1eEVcHJtGUQ8Co3Ip0kqL2skC11mzaSmneX6gJkVpsRMmGC1oD4VqxVZDwyrkT65BruEdnHR98Z9BtnjbM~TQLHbWCFeyDPC3q1zU2CBT4ST8ppOCLur6ARkVNJXotk4Cy6t4-ijw9hGAEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — City staff recommended a third round of the Home Improvement Repair Program Tuesday to continue grants for owner‑occupied single‑family homes; council agreed to limit the program to $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds rather than the $500,000 proposal.

Michelle Perkins, program manager in the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, told council staff recommended a third round totaling $500,000: \"This proposed allocation would be evenly split with $250,000 coming from the Community Development Block Grant or CDBG funding, and to match $250,000 coming from the City of Middletown's general fund for this year's projects,\" Perkins said.

Council members raised budgetary pressures and competing capital needs, including downtown building repairs, public-safety staffing and other capital projects. Council member Lawley said he preferred to \"refrain from putting any money from the general fund into this and just go with the CDBG $250,000,\" arguing the general fund faces numerous pressing demands.

Outcome: Council members agreed to proceed with $250,000 in CDBG funds for the program; city general‑fund matching dollars were not approved at this meeting. Staff said award amounts would remain up to $5,000 per household and applicants must meet 2024 income limits and be owner‑occupied.

Why it matters: The program provides direct repairs for low‑ and moderate‑income homeowner households; limiting city general‑fund spending preserves fiscal space for higher‑priority capital needs but reduces the program’s scale.

Next steps: Staff will administer the round using CDBG rules, confirm eligibility criteria, and prepare an application process. The city may revisit funding levels in future budget cycles.","Staff proposed a third round of the Home Improvement Repair Program with $500,000 total—$250,000 CDBG and $250,000 city match. Council members raised competing priorities and agreed to proceed with $250,000 in CDBG funding only.",{"_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},6249261,"Middletown staff warns of collapsing parapets and failing roofs at several downtown city-owned buildings; council asks for demolition and repair cost estimates",1416,3705000,5121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77&start=3705&end=5121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77/thumbnail_3705000.jpg","/articles/6249261/Ohio/Middletown-staff-warns-of-collapsing-parapets-and-failing-roofs-at-several-downtown-city-owned-buildings-council-asks-for-demolition-and-repair-cost-estimates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249261-2b9f012924b2f61294fc59d4428bb86c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770807503&Signature=jkA9vkn7G2L~Eki2TaaSyOShPetQ3g4-HMOtE52NrfuMOkF~BpKhBFj5J6up9M-6ntPXkJHLwHCVXR0RHKfuHkaIIqs9oM-XIbh~DZI4AxbMYz4eVOzJ5v22KDSgOFARkfBgz6BqjZhdc1ODZLwNBg46NivyHJ8VMdM~qsA8DHpwwLiB6u7PHkxeOUCyfUJANZNG08O4l4t~RbxOvsKZU~0ncK~yUG1sDRiZjbIFEIqnz5gCCeCQXbGN42PEsxs6~r~FdtHBOsZcwof9ok9dRZJVAOV-B03NbSHui5zlZIFBfeq6J2d-jjtLM8vkLDRW9YGSqKPf5P4edyoe4bO1-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — City building officials and the fire marshal told council Tuesday that multiple city‑owned downtown structures are deteriorating to the point they pose a public-safety hazard, and council directed staff to obtain cost estimates for demolition and repairs.

Chief Building Official Larry Tuttle said inspections found severe parapet and roof deterioration at the First National Bank building at 2 North Main Street and estimated prior roof and parapet repairs at roughly $450,000. \"If in the event that it deteriorates to the point that we feel that the roofs or the parapet wall is unstable, we're gonna be forced to have to close some streets down,\" Tuttle said.

Captain Frank Baughman, one of the city's fire marshals, described the Manchester Inn as extensively damaged inside and out, with broken windows, missing stair railings, standing water, mold, roof decking failures and falling terracotta roofing tiles. \"This is the stuff that when we have to go into a building to look for somebody or deal with a fire... this is the stuff that falls and kills firefighters, across the country,\" Baughman said.

Council members pressed staff for options. Councilman Horn urged faster action and asked for ballpark figures to remove the First National Bank parapet or to demolish the building, noting the downtown master plan and funding tradeoffs. Horn said the council needs to decide \"before we leave that day what we're doing with these buildings.\" Several council members warned that continued deterioration invites trespass, fires and injury.

Council direction and staff response: The city has already placed a temporary fence around the Sunshine Building and the Manchester Inn to protect pedestrians and deter entry. Staff said they will solicit prices and provide ballpark estimates for (a) partial removal of parapet walls, (b) full demolition of the First National Bank building, and (c) demolition options for the Manchester Inn and the adjacent Sunshine Building. City Manager Ashley Combs said community and economic development is assembling a committee to analyze downtown reuse and will report back shortly.

Why it matters: The downtown structures are city property and sit adjacent to occupied streets and other historic properties. Extended delay in remediation or demolition could expose the city to liability if parts of a façade fall onto sidewalks or roadways or if fires require first responders to enter unstable structures.

Next steps: Staff will return with cost estimates; council members suggested allowing two months for that work and holding a dedicated work session in August to make final decisions.

Contact: Larry Tuttle, Chief Building Official; Captain Frank Baughman, Fire Marshal; Ashley Combs, City Manager.","City building officials and the fire marshal presented extensive photos of deterioration at the First National Bank building, the Manchester Inn, Knights of Columbus Hall and the Sunshine Building. Council asked staff for ballpark costs to remove parapet walls or demolish structures and proposed an August work session to decide next steps.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6249266,"Middletown holds public hearing on proposed Christo townhomes TIF; council takes nonbinding straw poll",398,1248000,1646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77&start=1248&end=1646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3206353-61c38daef3ae24ec1cce3fc5478cae77/thumbnail_1248000.jpg","/articles/6249266/Ohio/Middletown-holds-public-hearing-on-proposed-Christo-townhomes-TIF-council-takes-nonbinding-straw-poll","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249266-25818b695fe19ca33da47e94f3add736/orig.mp4?Expires=1770807503&Signature=EvSehIXL0uz9F9dXUTw8P6CBWjlQrHomTypv-5WZ4ZrUWl6dt4kdM9yhy~W8sHLUhZ3GmYiwp25~~rQB581Igkqr5cbqWZD~wP6V1OihV0-9DHxCNTS1LcHvbRn-l5K6ZUnzq2kdygxCpRc-uNJUr4NT-zYYHhdImsCgEj7Mj5P3R2rRbHHTikThJZ~SjlBnjrZWIS1uH--bl8PgRyl93LrnVROh0o4oC-n7qKnzRS47S2J7CKsccm863VbBo~DUVpAd54ypFxsQUvoad5J3VLALlAOPsV6reQRaP7e0Rrpyd6q1UhlnNSa96w0AUmCZfM6dpng~sDGmcAT2SFKk4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — City staff and the developer of a proposed townhome project described a phased tax-increment financing plan for infrastructure at the former Lincoln School site during a public hearing Tuesday night, May 6.

Jacob Schulte, program manager for the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, told the Middletown City Council the proposal splits the project into four separate incentive-district TIFs so infrastructure funding will come online in sequence as construction proceeds. \"This would be a 10 year 75 percent TIF,\" Schulte said, explaining that roughly 75 cents on the dollar of new valuation from the improvements would go into a payments-in-lieu-of-taxes fund to pay for roads, streetscaping and lighting.

Developer Adam Christo, who identified himself as representing Christo Homes, said the plan aims to produce attainable housing at a lower price point than earlier proposals. \"The average price point we're targeting now was about $240,000,\" Christo said, and he told council the project envisions 59 townhome units on the Lincoln School property.

In response to the staff presentation, council held a nonbinding straw poll at the request of the assistant law director. The poll was taken to gauge support for an overlay TIF; council members indicated preliminary support but no formal vote to create the TIF was taken that night.

Why it matters: The TIF would divert a portion of new property tax revenue from most local levies into a fund to pay developer-facing infrastructure costs for the project for a limited period. If council later adopts the TIF ordinance, the city’s taxing districts would temporarily see altered revenue flows from the newly developed parcels until the TIF term ends.

What was discussed: Schulte explained why the district is being phased rather than covering the entire project at once, and he noted certain millages (for example, libraries) are exempt from incentive-district exclusions. Christo described prior cost estimates and said working with the city and the incentive could lower unit prices compared with earlier projections. There was no public testimony in opposition or support recorded during the hearing.

Next steps: The hearing concluded after the straw poll. Schulte said this public-comment phase is the initiation of the TIF process; additional legislative steps will be required before the city can formalize any district and pledge payments.

Staff and developer contact: Jacob Schulte, program manager, Community and Economic Development; Adam Christo, Christo Homes.","City staff and developer outlined a phased incentive-district TIF to pay infrastructure for a 59-unit townhome project at the former Lincoln School site. The city held a public hearing; no binding vote occurred but council took a straw poll signaling preliminary support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council denies zoning change for proposed Wawa at 3445 Union Road

Council limits home-repair grant to $250,000 in CDBG funds; staff had proposed $500,000 split with general fund

Middletown staff warns of collapsing parapets and failing roofs at several downtown city-owned buildings; council asks for demolition and repair cost estimates

Middletown holds public hearing on proposed Christo townhomes TIF; council takes nonbinding straw poll