Public hearing held for rezoning request at 2973 G Street; owner addresses council

Lorain's Building & Lands agenda opened with a public hearing on a rezoning application for 2973 G Street (parcel 0300047113009). The clerk said the notice had been published as required by state statutes and that property owners were notified by mail.

At the microphone, Abel Carlos identified himself and described the site's history and his plans. "I took that building ... in 2019," he said, and told the committee he planned to repair and convert the commercial structure into a house for his family. Carlos said he planned exterior work including roofing removal and demolition of nonresidential elements and asked the city to allow the zoning change so he could begin work before summer.

Committee members asked about compatibility with the surrounding residential area and prior assurances given in neighborhood meetings that a parking lot there would be removed and the site would be made to resemble neighboring homes. Miss Przyowski said the former councilwoman had raised concerns about the parking lot and that residents had been assured it would become yard space. Designer Mark Klessner, who identified himself as the person working on the drawings, said the current site has about 11,000 square feet of hard surface and that the project would reduce that to about 2,500 square feet.

Councilor Fellows praised the presented renditions and said the proposed conversion appeared to fit the neighborhood. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing.

The chair closed the hearing and the meeting proceeded into the Building & Lands Committee session. The committee did not take a formal vote or issue a decision on the rezoning request during the public hearing; the record shows only that the hearing was adjourned and that the applicant indicated he would submit required plans to the city.