Council hears wide-ranging opposition and technical defenses of proposed Pomeroy Road rezoning

Athens City Council held first reading on an ordinance to rezone a parcel on Pomeroy Road to allow multi‑family development, and during the meeting on Jan. 21 residents raised safety, drainage and neighborhood‑character concerns while the developer described engineering work it says would mitigate those risks.

The rezoning measure, introduced as Ordinance 06‑25, would rezone an undeveloped lot on Pomeroy Road from R‑1 (single family) to R‑3 (multi‑family) to facilitate a proposed 50‑unit affordable housing project, according to Sean McMickle of Spire Development. “We’re proposing a 50‑unit affordable housing project that’ll be financed by tax credits through the state of Ohio,” McMickle said, adding that the project would include an elevator, additional accessible units, and an underground detention system to control stormwater runoff.

The ordinance’s sponsor, Council Member Swank, moved at first reading to strike Section 2, which would have rezoned five parcels immediately west of 0 Pomeroy Road; council approved that amendment and the…