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Akron council approves revisions to Ascot redevelopment plan, lowering setbacks and open-space requirements
Summary
Council voted 13–0 to amend UPD 33 (Ascot Industrial Park) to streamline reviews and ease certain development standards, including reducing open-space requirements from 30% to 10% and front-yard setbacks from 50 to 15 feet; planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval.
Akron City Council on July 13 approved an ordinance amending the Ascot redevelopment plan and related UPD 33 zoning standards to make it easier for businesses to locate and expand in the industrial park.
A planning representative, Mister Hasbach, told council the revisions would remove redundant architectural and site reviews by the Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission, and instead allow those reviews to be performed administratively by planning staff. The amendment also removes the masonry-facade requirement, reduces the open-space requirement from 30% to 10%, reduces the standard front-yard setback from 50 feet to 15 feet (while retaining a 60-foot minimum for loading docks facing the street), and permits parking in front of buildings.
Hasbach said the proposals are intended to streamline the development process, accommodate modern industrial building materials and support business expansion and job creation in the Ascot Industrial Park. "The proposed changes will continue to accomplish the objectives of the redevelopment plan and make it easier for businesses to locate and grow in Akron," he said.
Councilman Kammer polled his committee for a favorable report, the council signified by saying "aye" and the ordinance was recorded as passing 13 to 0.
The ordinance will be incorporated into the City of Akron zoning code (Title 15, Chapter 153) and is intended to align the UPD 33 district regulations with the redevelopment-plan revisions. The council did not specify an effective date at the special meeting; the amendment will be posted with the city’s ordinances for formal reference.
