Planning commission approves replat consolidating six Dayton Street parcels into three in Yellow Springs

The Yellow Springs Planning Commission voted March 10 to approve a replat of properties at 126–138 Dayton Street that combines six existing downtown parcels into three. The vote followed staff recommendation that the new lot configuration better conforms with the village’s central business (B1) zoning and meets the code requirement that each frontage be at least 20 feet.

Liz Fields, an interim planner with McBride Clarion, told commissioners the replat reduces awkward narrow parcels and creates three lots that comply with current design standards. "Each of the three new lots meets the 20-foot frontage minimum," Fields said, recommending approval with the conditions listed in the staff report.

Kim Baldwin, co‑trustee of the Robert F. Baldwin Jr. Trust and the applicant, said the change does not alter existing uses along Dayton Street. She identified current storefront occupants, noting the Lucky Dragon, the Gulch Saloon, Superfly, a Thai restaurant and Rose and S occupy the properties that will be reconfigured. Baldwin said the replat was prompted by an auditor‑required survey after the death of Robert Baldwin and by trust administration needs: "The only reason that we have done this was so we could take the 126 and 128 Dayton Street and put them into the 128 Dayton Street trust," she said, adding that the trust anticipates selling properties at some future time under its terms.

Neighbor Ellen Hoover (204 Dayton Street) asked whether the replat was village‑initiated or owner‑initiated and whether it facilitates a future redevelopment. Baldwin replied the action was to satisfy the county/auditor requirement and to make property lines clear for future conveyances; she said there are no immediate redevelopment plans and estimated that some sales could occur in "about three to five years," while other parcels may remain longer.

Aaron Aralado, the village planning and economic development coordinator, explained the administrative next steps: staff will issue an approval letter to the applicant, and the applicant must record the replat with Green County within 90 days of approval as required by section 122612C of the village code.

A motion to approve the replat was made and seconded; roll‑call votes were taken and the commission approved the application.

The approval means Baldwin may submit the recorded replat to the county recorder within the statutory 90‑day window; any further changes or development proposals would require the usual planning or building reviews.