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Residents press Alliance council on Washington Hills replat, Build Ohio proposals and neighborhood services
Summary
Public commenters urged council to protect existing neighborhoods as Build Ohio seeks parcel transfers and fee waivers; the council took no action on the property‑transfer and incentive ordinances but adopted a replat for part of Out Lot 645 with one no vote and one abstention.
Residents and councilmembers at the Alliance City Council meeting on Jan. 20 voiced concerns about the pace of development in Washington Hills, the adequacy of municipal services in Wards 1 and 2, and protections for existing neighbors if developers receive fee waivers and incentives.
Guest Rich Costin of Lemon Associates presented background information about the Washington Hills replat (Ordinance 065‑25). During public comment Brandi Douthitt urged the council to pay attention to Wards 1 and 2, noting local loss of grocery and accessible pharmacy services and questioning whether moves by the YMCA would remove programs from the children the agency serves. “She’s really curious if the YMCA has lost its mission, lost sight of its mission, and if the City and the Council is gonna support this,” Douthitt said.
Resident Rich Dine warned that a replat and new development that consolidates intersections could direct traffic from an anticipated 107 new houses into a single intersection at Queensbury and Hedgewood, creating congestion for residents and emergency and service vehicles. Ben Bolog urged caution about incentives and fee waivers: he asked whether the city would impose build or design restrictions to prevent new construction from worsening nearby blight.
Council did not act on Ordinances 006‑26 through 008‑26 (which would transfer multiple Stark County parcels to Greater Alliance Development Corporation, waive city fees for water/sewer/building permits for Build Ohio Acquisition & Holding Company, LLC, and authorize a $100,000 payment from the HUD fund for single‑family construction). Safety Service Director Dreger and Community Development Councilmember Cindy King said additional planning review and property housekeeping (code enforcement on neighboring lots) would be needed if new houses are built.
Separately, Council adopted Ordinance 065‑25 to accept a replat of part of Out Lot 645 (Hedgewood Avenue). Councilmember Bugara asked for more opportunity to speak on the matter; after clarification from Dreger that the replat splits the current lot and subsequent subdivision review will return to Council, the measure passed with Councilmember Jennifer Kiko voting no and Councilmember Phillip Mastroianni abstaining.
What residents asked for
Speakers sought more outreach and concrete protections for existing residents, including stricter property‑maintenance enforcement and clear design standards for new houses built with public incentives. Councilmembers and staff said property maintenance ordinances exist and that further planning‑commission review will follow before final subdivision approvals.
Next steps
Build Ohio‑related ordinances (006‑26 through 008‑26) will return for further presentation; the replat will be followed by additional design and planning reviews before any subdivision or construction can proceed.
