Panel denies developer's zone request

T.C. Quality Homes has the right to appeal decision.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- To the applause of Westbury Park neighbors, the township zoning commission voted no on a zone change that would allow a developer to build smaller homes in the midst of larger ones in the development.
The developer, T.C. Quality Homes, was seeking a zone change from agricultural to planned unit development. Under PUD zoning, a developer can plan more houses on smaller lots.
Neighbors told the panel at a Thursday zoning hearing that the new plan would hurt their property values.
The Westbury development, off Gibson Road, was originally presented as an R-1 single-family plan with 140 lots. Next to it was to be a planned unit development that included about 50 homes.
Neighbors concerned
But a week ago, neighbors learned Abraham was planning to build 40 more homes than he had originally planned, and the smaller homes would be inside a U-shape of larger homes. Neighbors, who said they had been sold on the character of the original plan, were emotional in their pleas to the board to deny the zone change.
Developer Chris Abraham and James Mahoney, his engineer with Western Reserve Land Consultants, said the changes would not hurt the residents.
"A developer has the right to work within the system," Abraham said.
But residents did not find appealing the idea that $200,000 homes would be that close to their homes, which range from $270,000 to just under $500,000. They were not opposed to the original idea, which had set the smaller homes off to the side of their subdivision.
"It's like getting a $30,000 car destroyed and then having someone say, 'Here's your Cobalt. Brand new,'" said Tom Sniezek of Barrington Drive.
Neighbors also said they had stopped trusting Abraham because of "broken promises." For instance, they said, a two-acre lake originally proposed was never built.
The board's decision was unanimous. Zoning inspector Dave Morrison said T.C. Quality Homes has 30 days to appeal. Abraham said later he doesn't know yet if he will appeal.
Township trustees will consider the panel's recommendation to deny the zone change at their meeting Dec. 19.