Cincinnati City Council approves Hyde Park planned development at 2719 Erie Avenue over neighborhood objections

Cincinnati City Council on April 23 approved a planned development rezoning for property at 2719 Erie Avenue in Hyde Park, voting 7-2 to amend the city—ormal zoning map and allow a project that includes a hotel, new housing and additional parking.

The vote marks a departure from the neighborhood—ase zoning height of 50 feet to a planned-development proposal that opponents said would reach 85 feet in places. The measure passed despite hours of public comment and repeated requests from residents and small-business owners for a 30-day pause to pursue mediation with the developer.

Council member Mark Jeffries, who introduced the item, said the city—annot prevent development on the site but urged the developer and neighborhood to "reset" and work together on traffic, pedestrian safety and small-business impacts. Jeffries said he supports an architectural review process with neighborhood participation and repeated that further checkpoints remain as the planned development returns to planning commission for detailed approvals.

Residents and business owners who addressed council during the extended public-comment period argued the planned development would overwhelm Hyde Park Square and harm small businesses. "We are asking you to grant us a divorce," said Kristen Foles (Resident), urging the council either to deny the project or pause it to allow mediation between the developer and the community. Dennis Okin (Resident) told council members they had "come with your decision made" and criticized what he described as prepared statements by several members during an earlier committee hearing.

Architect and Hyde Park resident Murray Monroe said the project s presented was "too big and not appropriately scaled to the square or the neighborhood," adding that current zoning (50 feet) exists "for a reason" in pedestrian-oriented areas. Several speakers also questioned whether the project s proposed would preserve parking and storefronts in the square.

Council members voiced differing views during debate. Vice Mayor Kearney said she opposed the plan, arguing the hotel use and increased height were unnecessary and incompatible with neighborhood plans that advocate a 50-foot scale around the square. "We want growth, but we want it within the rules that were set," she said. Council member Evan Nolan, who supported the rezoning, said the planned development would "replace surface parking with a higher and better use," add 120 new housing units on the new building and deliver revenue and infrastructure improvements to the area.

Scotty Johnson, who voted against passage, criticized the developer—or not negotiating with the neighborhood before the council ction: "This has not been a collaborative effort," he said, calling for developers to sit down with residents earlier in the process. Several speakers and some council members called attention to petitions and neighborhood opposition: public commenters said more than 4,000 signatures and numerous neighborhood councils opposed the plan; speakers attributed those counts to their own filings with council and neighborhood groups.

Council then took roll call on the ordinance to amend the zoning map for 2719 Erie Avenue. The votes were: Council member Grama Ding (Yes); Council member Mark Jeffries (Yes); Council member Scotty Johnson (No); Vice Mayor Kearney (No); Council member Evan Nolan (Yes); Council member Mika Owens (Yes); Council member Victoria Parks (Yes); Council member Walsh (Yes); Council member Anna Albee (Yes). The motion passed (7-2).

No formal 30-day pause or referral was adopted during the vote. Several council members, including Jeffries and Owens, urged the developer to engage with the community going forward and called for concrete plans on pedestrian safety, traffic mitigation and small-business supports during construction. The council acknowledged additional planning commission and UDOD (Urban Design Overlay District) reviews remain part of the city's approval process and that final design and permitting steps will return to administrative review and relevant commissions.

Why this matters: The rezoning changes the range of uses and allowed height on a high-profile parcel adjacent to Hyde Park Square. Opponents warned the approved concept would dwarf the square, increase traffic, and place pressure on local businesses and schools; supporters said the plan would deliver housing, replace surface parking with structured parking and add foot traffic that could sustain the square's businesses.

Votes and next steps: The measure passed council, but project permits and Urban Design Overlay District approvals still require additional administrative reviews and planning commission action. Council members said they and the administration will continue to press for traffic and pedestrian mitigation, storefront activation funding, and a neighborhood role in design review.