Commission still considering plans for hotel

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A city planning commission meeting Thursday afternoon was riddled with dispute as preliminary plans for a hotel at the corner of Brandt Road and Ohio 598 were discussed.

Commission member Eric Kent said since the plans were presented to him at the meeting, he wanted more time to look over them.

“This is the first time I am laying eyes on these. I don’t see why they could not have been emailed to us ahead of time but since they weren’t, I am not comfortable approving them today,” said Kent much to the dismay of several people involved with the planning of the proposed Sleep Inn.

Bob Johnston, who is listed in the hotel plans as the code inspector, said he worked hard on the plans.

“I have crossed every “T.” I take offense that you think things were not done correctly,” said Johnston to Kent.

Kent said that is not the case.

“I just want to look over the preliminary plans before I give my approval,” Kent said.

Kent was one of three commission members present for the meeting, along with Chair Sharon Baldinger and Mayor Tom O’Leary. Kent Gimble and John Swain were absent from the meeting.

The commission scheduled a meeting to be held first on Wednesday, and then changed it to Monday.

“We need to get these plans approved right away because of financial deadlines,” said O’Leary. “We only have to give a 24-hour notice to the media to hold a meeting and the media is here.”

O’Leary motioned for the next meeting to be set at 5:15 p.m. Friday, 24 hours later, which was approved by Baldinger, Kent and O’Leary.

Galion resident Howard Morrow tried to raise the question as to who owns the hotel and who is the developer. He was told that the Levan Group owns the hotel but as he continued to speak, O’Leary made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was approved by Baldinger.

At the beginning of the meeting, plans for a proposed ordinance to allow permanent outdoor dining was tabled by the commission until both Baldinger and Kent have time to review those documents.

If either issue is approved by the commission on Friday, the issues will go before the laws and ordinance committee which meets on Tuesday evening. If the plans are approved for legislation by the committee, the ordinances will go before council as a whole at the next council meeting on April 26 for a vote.

Surveyor Lyn Makeever looks over the preliminary plans for a hotel at the corner of Brandt Road and Ohio 598 with the city’s planning commission on Thursday. (Kim Gasuras | Galion Inquirer)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2016/04/web1_IMG_20160414_162657.jpgSurveyor Lyn Makeever looks over the preliminary plans for a hotel at the corner of Brandt Road and Ohio 598 with the city’s planning commission on Thursday. (Kim Gasuras | Galion Inquirer)

By Kimberly Gasuras

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