Niles council to rezone land owned by schools

The law director will look for deed restrictions on property.

NILES — City council has begun the process of rezoning a parcel owned by the Niles Board of Education so the land can’t be used for apartments.

Legislation was introduced Wednesday to change the zoning of about eight acres at North Carnegie Street and Robbins Avenue from residential commercial, that permits apartments, to zoning that allows only single-family dwellings.

Lawmakers referred the legislation to the city planning commission and scheduled a public hearing for 3:30 p.m. Oct. 24.

The school board plans to have a public auction Oct. 10 to sell the property in addition to Cedar Street Park and a parcel off Belmont Avenue.

Residents in the Carnegie-Robbins area complained to council that they don’t want an apartment complex in their neighborhood, citing their fear of increased crime.

No developer has approached the city about constructing apartments on the site, however.

The neighbors maintain that when the property was donated to the school district years ago, there was a restriction that the land had to be used to build a school or it would revert to the original owner.

Council President Robert Marino said city Law Director Terry Dull will research the deed to determine if the acreage will revert to the original owner or heirs if a school isn’t built.

Councilman Michael Lastic, D-at large, said he wants Dull to research any deed restrictions on the other two parcels the board intends to sell.

Meanwhile, Marino said that Anthony Vigorito, city zoning inspector, can make any developer aware of the proposed zone change if plans are submitted to Vigorito’s office.