MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Council cleared the way Tuesday night for a 20-duplex housing development on the city’s south side.
Local lawmakers approved rezoning 16.5 acres of the Brushwood Estates into a planned unit development classification. The area, west of South Main Street and north of Straub Road, had been zoned R-1, which only allowed for single-family dwellings.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, the purpose of a PUD is to “encourage the efficient use of land and resources, promote greater efficiency in public and utility services, ensure orderly improvement of property in accordance with community plans, and to encourage innovation in the planning and building of all types of development without detriment to the community.”
William Barber and his Blue Door Development group plan to construct the 20 duplexes.
These units will provide 1,700-square feet, two-story, one-car garage residences.
The Mansfield Planning Commission voted unanimously in April to recommend the PUD to City Council.
Infrastructure for the development is in place and no variances are needed because the duplexes will meet all setback requirements. The Richland County Regional Planning Commission also reviewed the plans and were in support of the project.
No residents attended a public hearing before the City Council meeting to speak either in favor or against the development.
In other action Tuesday, City Council:
— delayed until June 18 a vote on a proposed six-month moratorium on recreational cannabis dispensaries in the city.
— voted to submit the city’s proposed CDBG funding requests to the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
— adopted the City of Mansfield and Township of Mansfield 2025 tax budgets for submission to the Richland County Auditor’s Office.
— approved a resolution honoring finance department clerk Dianne Bistline, who recently retired after 36 years of service to the city.
— approved a resolution honoring Mansfield Fire Dept. Capt. Joe Lucas, who recently retired after 25 years of service to the city.
— approved a resolution opposing the decommissioning of the locator outer marker and the very high-frequency omni-directional range equipment at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport. The Federal Aviation Agency has suggested doing away with the tools, a move that would negatively impact the the use of the airport for flight training.
— voted to spend $149,956 to purchase a new chassis for the Mansfield Fire Department Rescue Squad 3 vehicle. The vehicle was damaged in an accident Feb. 24 and the city will receive $69,907 from insurance. The remaining cost will come from the fire department’s capital equipment fund.
— voted to appropriate $5,000 from the unappropriated parks and recreation fund for additional electrical service at Sterkel Park.
City Council’s next scheduled meeting is June 18.
