Council reopens hearing on 519 South Drexel application then tables matter for additional notice and record

Council addressed a previously tabled item, Ordinance 28‑25, related to an application for 519 South Drexel. City attorney Mark Fischel advised council that, under Ohio Revised Code chapter 2506 (appeal statute), a common pleas judge hearing an appeal could later admit additional evidence; to avoid surprises and to present a full record to council first, Fischel recommended reopening the hearing and allowing the applicant to provide additional materials.

Fischel explained procedural safeguards for quasi‑judicial matters and recommended providing 30 days' notice to property owners within 250 feet before rehearing. He also proposed adding an administrative report from staff (making the existing application file available) to the council record.

Council voted to reopen the hearing (a vote with at least one abstention recorded from Council Member Spencer Cahoon due to prior absence from the original hearing) and then later voted to table the ordinance again to give time for re‑notice, to prepare the administrative report and to schedule a future rehearing (the earliest possible date discussed was the last February meeting or the first meeting in March, depending on scheduling). City legal counsel said he would coordinate with staff to ensure required notice and to prepare an administrative file for council consideration.

Next steps: staff to prepare and distribute the administrative report, staff to re‑notice affected property owners, and council to set the rehearing date in accordance with notice requirements.