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Council committee to consider amendment allowing restaurant, arcade and retail at 3701 Montgomery Road
Summary
The Equitable Growth and Housing committee heard a presentation on a major amendment to Plan Development (PD 67) for 3701 Montgomery Road in Evanston; city planning staff said the change would add commercial uses and was recommended by the City Planning Commission and will be placed on council passage docket.
The Equitable Growth and Housing committee of the Cincinnati City Council heard a staff presentation Friday on a proposed major amendment to Plan Development (PD 67) affecting the building at 3701 Montgomery Road in Evanston and agreed to place the item on the council’s passage docket for the following day.
City Senior Planner Andrew Hall told the committee the amendment would not change the PD 67 boundary or physical attributes of the site but would expand permitted uses for the single building at the corner of Dana and Montgomery to allow small-scale recreation and entertainment and uses consistent with the Commercial Neighborhood (CN) zoning district, including retail, office, housing and similar commercial activities. “They are proposing to have changes to the approved uses for, to allow a small scale recreation and entertainment area, as well as uses consistent with the commercial neighborhood CN zoning districts such as retail, commercial, office, and housing,” Hall said.
The Department of City Planning and Engagement reported a staff conference with the applicant on April 2 and said the City Planning Commission approved the amendment on April 18, 2025. Hall said the department’s analysis found the change “will help to support neighborhood business districts and surrounding commercial uses” and that the amendment is consistent with Plan Cincinnati and the Evanston work plan.
Council members asked about the intended uses and the effect on the remainder of the building, which has been largely vacant. Council Member Evan Nolan asked whether the applicant had indicated what they intend to do with the space; Hall replied he understood the applicant planned a “combination of restaurant, bar, and arcade space” but said he was “not exactly sure.” Committee chair Council Member Jeffries described the project as “a great development” and noted a nearby Wasson Way ribbon cutting; Council Member Mika Owens, who served on the planning commission, said the applicant mentioned an arcade in addition to restaurants and emphasized the site’s proximity to the new medical school.
City administration staff described the building’s history and surroundings, saying it previously housed a pizza restaurant and a bank, later a venue called Listerman Trail House, and sits across from an auto repair business. Staff said there were no members of the public at the April 2 staff conference and that the case was not expected to be controversial at the public hearing.
Because the Planning Commission recommended approval and staff found the amendment meets applicable zoning requirements, the committee voted to place the amendment on the City Council passage docket for the next day rather than take a roll-call vote at the committee meeting.
The council committee did not take a final legislative vote on the amendment during the committee meeting; the amendment was scheduled for a City Council vote the following day.
