Council clears conditional use for three two‑family homes on Excelsior Avenue

Akron City Council approved a conditional use permit 12–0 for Middlebury Housing LLC to construct three new two‑family dwellings on Excelsior Avenue.

Mister Antonucci, a city staff member, said the proposal would construct three 2‑family homes at 733, 737 and 740‑5 Excelsior Avenue. Each lot was described at 5,378 square feet with 45 feet of street frontage; the homes would be 2½ stories with units on the first and upper floors. Antonucci said the proposal does not meet single‑family lot size and setback requirements in the zoning district and therefore requires conditional use approval.

Staff materials noted that numerous two‑family and multifamily buildings already exist in the Roselawn‑Excelsior neighborhood, citing that 23 of 74 residential buildings in the surrounding eight‑block area are two‑family or multifamily structures (31 percent). Antonucci said the project aligns with the city's land use and neighborhood plan goals to encourage "missing middle" housing types to support a range of housing choices.

No members of the public spoke for or against the petition at the hearing. Planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval subject to conditions; Councilman Fusco pulled the committee for a favorable report and council approved the ordinance 12–0.

The ordinance had been advertised in the Akron Beacon Journal and posted on the council website prior to the hearing.