Residents raise concerns over Walker Lake Road development

ONTARIO — Traffic backups, crowded classrooms and high rent prices dominated the conversation Wednesday night as Ontario residents packed City Council to weigh in on a proposed rezoning that could reshape Walker Lake Road.

City leaders opened a public hearing during the regular council meeting to consider rezoning property on Walker Lake Road from R-2 Medium Density Residential to a Planned Unit Development.

Redwood USA LLC plans to build 113 rental units on the site in a condominium-style layout, according to city officials.

Affordability and resident concerns

Several residents raised concerns about the project’s impact on housing costs in Ontario.

Resident Corri Dininger questioned whether the city truly needs apartments priced at $1,900 per month.

“Your studies show there is a need for $1,900 apartments?” Dininger asked.

Radd Schneider, vice president of acquisitions for Redwood USA LLC, said the company based its pricing on local demographics, which he described as stronger than those near a similar project in Mansfield.

Dininger asked what would happen if the development fails to attract enough tenants.

“If that happens, we would have to lower the rent,” Schneider said. “We wouldn’t sell the property or do Section 8, but that is not usually an issue.”

Schneider outlined the project’s design, which includes a single main entrance for residents and a gated, emergency-only entrance for EMS.

Dininger questioned how the gate would function during a power outage and whether delays could impact emergency response times.

Schneider said the gated access would serve only as a backup if the primary entrance becomes blocked.

Third Ward Council Member Sherry Branham-Fonner asked whether residents from the Mansfield portion of the development would also use the Ontario entrance.

Schneider confirmed they would, noting the Ontario access point would serve as the property’s only entrance.

The discussion prompted additional concerns from residents about already heavy traffic along Walker Lake Road.

Ontario resident Chris Dininger said traffic from Mansfield and congestion near the YMCA daycare already make it difficult to leave his driveway.

“I sat for five minutes trying to exit my own driveway,” Dininger said. “I’m scared to death pulling out of my driveway some days.

“There needs to be something done, whether this happens or not.”

Dininger also voiced concerns about the potential influx of children from a 113-unit development.

“There are too many kids in Ontario schools,” he said. “This multi-family project is going to bring a lot more kids to our schools, and our schools are not designed for that.”

Developer outlines rezone plan

Before the public hearing began, Schneider delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining the proposed development.

He shared images of similar properties developed by Redwood USA LLC and a map showing the proposed layout for the rezoned parcels.

Plans call for 80 of the 113 units to sit on the Ontario parcel, with the remaining units located on the Mansfield parcel.

“We like the location because of its close proximity to shopping and the access to (U.S. 30),” Schneider said.

According to Schneider, the apartments will not restrict residents by age, but the company typically sees a median resident age in the 50s because of the one-story layouts and low-maintenance living.

He also highlighted the “empty spaces” surrounding the property, consisting of wetlands which will remain untouched.

“Those provide excellent natural buffers, along with additional green space,” Schneider said.

First Ward Councilman Nathan Sunderland asked how the development would look during the winter months and who would handle snow removal.

Schneider said the company would fully maintain the private roads, including plowing snow. He added the neighborhood undergoes periodic power washing, annual concrete inspections and quarterly HVAC filter changes to maintain the quality of the environment.

At-Large Council Member Rick Pauley, questioned if this project would help provide work for the local workforce.

“We have a lot of trades we work with and we work with a lot of Amish crews and I know they do a lot of work out here,” Schneider said. “I don’t know specifically what trades but we have Northeast Ohio crews that employ people in Northeast Ohio.”

Plans and presentation photos will be available on ontarioohio.org once they are available.

Council President Eddie Gallo said council will take additional time before making a decision, holding the request to three readings.

“We will hold that to three readings, to give the citizens the public hearing as well as three public commentary periods, to make their voices heard,” Gallo said. “It will be voted on in the beginning of March.”