Council approves rezoning and conditional permits for 525 Mussey Avenue despite neighborhood opposition

Elyria City Council voted to rezone 525 Mussey Avenue and to grant two conditional permits on the property after a public hearing that drew both proponents and opponents.

Council approved Ordinance 2025‑162 to rezone the property at 525 Mussey Avenue from H‑I (Heavy Industrial) to S‑I (Special Industrial). Community Development sponsored the ordinance; Councilmember Schneider moved and Councilmember Mitchell seconded the motion. The measure passed on a voice vote (motion carried).

Council then approved Ordinance 2025‑163, granting a conditional use permit under chapter 11‑35 of the Elyria codified ordinances for hazardous material storage at the same address. The petitioner’s architect, Anissa Nieder, said the facility’s “tire storage will be interior” and that materials would not be stored outside. Council followed with Ordinance 2025‑164, authorizing a conditional use permit for a junkyard at 525 Mussey Avenue; proponents described the operation as industrial processing that would be contained within buildings and said hazardous materials would not be stored outside.

During the public hearing, resident Sasha Holder, who lives at 7328 West River Road South and said the site would border her yard, raised environmental and health concerns. Holder said she believes the site is “maybe a 100 feet from the Superfund site” and worried construction and operations could increase dust and airborne contamination; she also described existing neighborhood air and health issues and said she feared additional industrial activity. Another opponent, Richard Bruce of the neighborhood, urged council to deny the permits, saying the surrounding community did not want the use.

Petitioners and the architect responded that materials would be non‑hazardous, stored inside, and that the site would be regulated by Ohio EPA stormwater rules and a required stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). The architect said operations would include a sawdust combustible storage regimen consistent with Ohio building code provisions and that “all of that will be federally and state regulated along with the local municipality.” The applicant’s representative also said there would be no on‑site burning and that truck traffic would be routed to minimize residential impacts.

Council members expressed concerns about truck access and the city’s continued access to a nearby quarry; Chief Pernesti said the city’s access routes would be preserved and emphasized the importance of maintaining emergency access. Council directed staff to ensure the property owner coordinates with the safety service director, police and fire departments on truck routing, loading areas and stormwater controls.

Each of the three measures was passed in its third reading and carried on voice votes. The ordinances were recorded as Ordinance 2025‑162 (rezoning), Ordinance 2025‑163 (hazardous materials conditional use), and Ordinance 2025‑164 (junkyard conditional use).