Groves council approves specific‑use permit for apartments at 5539th Street after lengthy public comment

The Groves City Council voted June 9 to approve Ordinance 2025‑11, a specific‑use permit allowing a multifamily apartment development at 5539th Street. The permit is a one‑time authorization and does not require annual renewal.

Residents who live near the proposed site spoke during public comment, saying the project is too large for the neighborhood, could block privacy with rear‑facing windows, increase traffic, reduce property values and raise flooding concerns if the site is raised. Dawn Buffington (3729 Franklin Avenue) read a petition signed by neighborhood residents opposing the development, saying the scale would "put a strain on our already overburdened infrastructure" and that neighbors were worried about parking and privacy.

Mattie Bearden (3701 Franklin Avenue) said the area lacks the income base to support luxury apartments long‑term and cited other complexes that converted to subsidized housing. "I don't want to live in the middle of Crime Central," she said, describing fears about safety based on nearby complexes that had changed over time.

Developers' representatives and Mr. Smith, the developer on the application, told the council the project met planning and zoning requirements after an engineer provided calculations showing building footprint below the 30% threshold cited in section 10‑903. Planning staff said the site plan addressed green space, parking, fire protection, utilities, fencing and traffic flow and that the only outstanding item had been resolved with supporting figures.

Mr. Smith and others estimated the project could generate roughly $377,000 in combined revenue to the city (trash, sales tax and related income), a figure staff repeated to characterize the project's fiscal impact. The council also discussed remediation costs: planning staff said asbestos removal for the existing hospital structures on site could be roughly $500,000 (developer estimate) and potentially over $1 million for another developer.

Tara Ernie, who said she works with the project's developers, responded to neighborhood concerns: "We screen our residents, we do background checks, we make sure we're bringing upstanding hardworking citizens," she said, adding the development team plans to provide full‑time site security and to improve drainage. Engineers present said drainage plans would be designed to contain site runoff so adjoining properties would not receive increased flows.

Council members acknowledged residents' concerns while noting the city's infrastructure needs and revenue shortfalls. Council discussion referenced market analyses and the city's limited funds to acquire or demolish the existing hospital property. After deliberation, the council voted to approve the specific‑use permit.

The permit is a one‑time authorization; council members said they could not legally adopt restrictions that would bar participation in federal housing programs such as Section 8, citing liability concerns raised by the property owner's counsel.

The council vote approved Ordinance 2025‑11; staff and the developer said they would proceed with plan review, remediation steps and required permitting.