Delhi trustees deny rezoning request for two Greenwell Avenue properties

Trustees for Delhi Township voted Oct. 29 to deny a request to rezone two parcels at 415 and 423 Greenwell Avenue from Delhi Pike Business Corridor (DPBC) to F-Industrial, adopting the Delhi Township Zoning Commission—s 4-0 recommendation of denial.

The zoning change, proposed by the new property owner and presented by consultant Andrew Mateo of Resideo Advisors, would have allowed light industrial and warehousing uses. Community Development Director Tony Roach told trustees the request "doesn't align with the township comprehensive plan" and would "reverse years of planning" intended to make the Pike a mixed-use business corridor. Roach noted the zoning commission recommended denial on that basis.

Andrew Mateo, speaking on behalf of owner Nick Marcello, argued the 28,000-square-foot building functions as a light-industrial flex building and that changing market conditions since the DPBC plan—s 2015 adoption make the corridor—s envisioned redevelopment unlikely. "We're not asking to change a vacant lot to an F designation and then build a warehouse," Mateo said; "we're asking to change the designation to match the existing building on-site," and to allow uses that could bring jobs and tenants to a property that had been vacant for many years.

Trustees pressed for specifics about potential tenants and noted the applicant did not seek a formal zoning determination before closing on the property. Trustees and staff also discussed the township—s existing code distinctions between "personal services" and more industrial "professional services," and whether adult-oriented businesses and other higher-impact uses would be controlled by radius restrictions; Mateo suggested other jurisdictions pair the state—s adult-oriented-business language with a radius restriction to protect nearby residences.

After public input was invited and none was offered, the board adopted a resolution to accept the zoning commission recommendation, which by law meant denying the requested map amendment. The board—s roll-call vote was recorded in the affirmative to adopt the recommendation (Trustees Davis, Sturtz and Seavey voting yes). The law director clarified that adopting the commission—s recommendation to deny had the legal effect of denying the rezoning.

Tony Roach and trustees encouraged the owner or prospective tenants to meet with Community Development staff to explore permitted uses and to seek formal zoning determinations if they believe particular businesses would be allowed under the current DPBC code.

Provenance: Staff report and initial public hearing remarks begin at 00:14:39; applicant testimony begins at 00:21:30; trustees adopted the zoning commission—s recommendation at 01:06:35, roll call at 01:06:55.

Speakers quoted: Community Development Director Tony Roach; Andrew Mateo, Resideo Advisors (consultant).