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A controversial strip mall planned for Gump and Coldwater roads was given the green light Thursday.
The Allen County Plan Commission unanimously recommended that 1.4 acres be rezoned from agricultural and general commercial to neighborhood shopping center. The commission also approved the formal development plan – limiting the height, size and lighting of signage and requiring that the multitenant building blend in with a neighboring school.
The plan commission’s recommendation now goes to the county commissioners for a vote.
The property is north of Cedar Canyons Elementary and is surrounded by rural homes and farmland. In 2003 and 2008, petitions to rezone the same property for a gas station were denied because of concerns that the project was incompatible with surrounding development.
And for the third time, neighbors lined up worried about increased traffic and arguing that retail shops were neither needed nor welcomed.
Commission member Ken Neumeister argued that a portion of the ground is already zoned commercial and owner El Maggos could build a restaurant or liquor store without the commission’s approval or input into lighting and building materials.
Commission member David Bailey said the property is landlocked by the school and is unlikely to spur additional development.
But commission member and County Commissioner Bill Brown questioned whether the property could be down-zoned to agricultural and suggested the plan commission defer a vote until neighbors have a chance to buy the land from Maggos.
Although Brown voted to support the rezoning, he said the commissioners have 90 days to vote on the matter – buying additional time for neighbors.
