ThisWeek CW 08/13/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/10/contractor-eyes-expansion-if-rezoning-is-approved.html

Rezoning property at 410 W. Waterloo St. could result in additional commercial development and increased operations for M.G. Abbott Electrical Contractors.

A public hearing was held Aug. 3 prior to the first reading of legislation which would, if approved, authorize changing the zoning designation on the nearly 2.5-acre property from neighborhood commercial to limited manufacturing.

The change is required because the company is hoping to expand.

Before M.G. Abbott bought the current building and an adjacent vacant lot earlier this year, a metal fabrication business had operated there for nearly 30 years, according to Canal Winchester Development Director Lucas Haire.

“Until earlier this year, the property was operated by Vlack Enterprises as a metal fabrication shop, so it’s really been used as manufacturing for about the last 30 years, even though it was zoned neighborhood commercial,” he said.

“Prior to Vlack, this was operated as a dog kennel and since M.G. Abbott acquired the building, they’ve been operating as a nonconforming use,” Haire said.

According to Haire, as long as M.G. Abbott Electrical Contractors uses the current structure and only maintains it with limited updates, the firm may continue to operate as a nonconforming use; however, if Abbott chooses to construct a new facility, the land must be rezoned to conform to the desired use.

“The only concerns we’ve heard were from two residents across the street in Cherry Landing and one owner just north of the property, which was asking what the use would be and how it would impact traffic,” Haire said.

“Since the business is electrical contracting, the traffic impact would mostly be in the morning when the contractors are picking up materials and job assignments.

“Very little work actually takes place on-site,” he said. “When the neighbors heard this, they said they didn’t have any more concerns.”

Councilman Joe Abbott is vice president of M.G. Abbott Electrical Contractors and must abstain from any votes involving the project. If the rezoning is approved, the company will be required to submit construction plans to the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission for approval before any work can begin.

Council is expected to hear three full readings of the zoning change request prior to voting at the Sept. 7 meeting.