Council adopts Washington Hills replat as residents warn of traffic and neighborhood impact

The Alliance City Council on Jan. 20 adopted Ordinance 065-25, approving the replat of part of Out Lot 645 on Hedgewood Avenue in the Washington Hills area. The measure passed with Councilwoman Jennifer Kiko voting no and Councilman Phillip Mastroianni abstaining; other members voted yes.

Residents speaking during public comment said the replat and related development activity risk concentrating traffic and harming existing neighborhoods. "You're going to have residents, non-residents, construction, city services, Amazon, post office, mowers, pool guys — basically it's all gonna get backed up in that one intersection," said resident Rich Dine, referring to Queensbury and Hedgewood after the replat would add roughly 107 homes, as described in public remarks. Another resident, Brandi Douthitt, urged council attention to Wards 1 and 2, warning that moves such as a YMCA relocation could remove services from vulnerable neighborhoods.

Council members discussed related Build Ohio legislative items — Ordinances 006-26, 007-26 and 008-26 — which would transfer several county parcels, waive tap and permit fees for Build Ohio Acquisition & Holding Company, LLC, and authorize a $100,000 HUD fund payment. Those three ordinances were introduced but no action was taken tonight; Dreger said presentations and further details would return to a future meeting. Councilwoman Cindy King said she supports new homes but wants "housekeeping on the neighboring properties" and will work with Code Enforcement to clean up lots adjacent to proposed builds.

The vote to adopt the replat moves the project to later planning steps that, under city code, must include final plan review and, if applicable, planning commission referral before any subdivision or development proceeds. The council also noted that, after the replat, additional approvals and design work will return to council for action.