The Administration provided an update on SKiP Playground. They are hoping to have all the potential designs back from vendors by month end to take to Parks & Rec Board to decide on a layout to start site work this year, aiming for playground installation in spring 2022. Parks Board will make a recommendation to the Administration and the Administration will then make a decision on the final plan and move forward. Council has already approved the budget and will not have approval over the plan, that will be decided by the Administration after recommendation from the Parks & Rec Board. I am glad to see the Parks & Rec Board having input into the design.
Fire Chief Stone provided a good update the Stow received an award under the 2020 assistance to Firefighters grant. Our Fire Department will be using this to purchase upgraded extraction tools to move our equipment from hydraulic to battery powered tools. The total of the equipment is $80,793.00 and with the grant funds the total cost to the City will be $7,344.82. Our Fire Department has continued to be extremely successful in their grant writing ability.
Council also approved a site plan for Corner Cup Coffeehouse which is looking to relocate into the former Two Girls Bakery site on Darrow Road. The major change to this site would be the addition of a drive through window and change of traffic flow related to this. The driveway on the south side of the plaza would be changed to an exit only. There also would be a change in the parking lot to add a line for traffic queueing for the drive through. This item passed with a 6-1 vote (McIntire voted no), this was based on some concerns regarding the vehicle traffic. I look forward to seeing this local business relocate within our City and also having an open location filled.
The most controversial item on Council Thursday was the 3rd and final reading and vote on a proposed detox center that is proposed on Graham Road. This item has drawn a lot of comments, emails, and online discuss regarding the facility and mainly the concern that the facility is adjacent to an elementary school and several residential areas. Stow’s zoning code does not include a location for this type of proposed use, therefore, under our code 1137.07, Planning Commission and Council is then tasked with making a determination if the new proposed use is substantially similar to another use in that is permitted or conditionally permitted in our code. Initially, the applicant applied for use of this location stating it was substantially similar use to an Assisted Living facility. Planning Commission did not agree that the Assisted Living was a substantially similar use, however, they did not make any other suggested substantially similar use prior to the timeline for their review expired. The failure of a recommendation of the Planning Commission results in it coming to City Council as deemed a denial by Planning Commission. When our new Planning Director came on-board and picked up a review of this item, he suggested that instead of Assisted Living that City Council should review a Group Home of a substantially similar use for the consideration. Council also received a legal opinion related to the proposed use of this location.
Council spent the time we had with this item reviewing the information about the use, the legal opinion, and our zoning code. I made a statement in Council and I stand by that statement. It was Council’s right to make a determination under our code if a detoxification facility was as substantially similar use to a Group Home. Based on the information we have learned about the services being offered I cannot support the recommendation that this use is substantially similar to a group home use. I believe this proposed use is more in alignment with medical treatment. We have heard that there would be treatment of patients paid for by private insurance for an average of 14-21 days, that these patients are prescribed medication and would be monitored 24/7. To me, this is a commercial medical use and not a residential use.
After discussion, the proposal failed by a vote of 3-4 (Harrison, McIntire, Fiocca, and Altieri voted no).
The next Council meeting will be on September 23, 2021. We will also have a public hearing at 5:30 PM on September 23rd related to the rezoning of the property recently purchased by EnviroScience to go from O-Conservation to C-4 Commercial.