The Union County Airport Authority has some concerns with a new apartment development hoping to come to Marysville.
The Marysville Planning Commission voted 4-2 Monday to accept a preliminary site plan for a multi-family development on Colemans Crossing Boulevard. The development will come back to planning commission for final approval at a future meeting.
The development will be behind Meijer. The plan has 192 two-bedroom units and 72 one-bedroom units, for a total of 264. Each of the eleven buildings will be three stories.
Airport Authority Chair John Popio voiced some concerns his organization has with the development.
“This project just really came to our attention late last week,” Popio said.
Popio said there are several problems that come up with building around the airport.
“We really have not had an opportunity to discuss with the developer issues around density,” Popio said.
He said the pond on the site could also result in wildlife hazards with birds in the area.
The height of the buildings and trees on the site could result in navigation problems. Popio said those trees make it impossible for planes to land at night using only their instruments.
Commission member Jason Walters, who voted against the application, mirrored those concerns.
“Because the trees are already having some height issues, I would recommend that you work with the local airport authority and FAA,” Walters said.
Walters also noted that anecdotally, the buildings that would be going in would almost certainly be as tall as the site’s existing trees.
“That’s my concern,” he said. “They’re standing in the open, it’s a line of probably 20 feet tops.”
Joe Thomas, of applicant Metro Development, said the applicant is willing to discuss these problems with the airport authority before the next meeting.
Commission member Alex Rozanski was the other dissenting vote. He said the area should be used for something other than residential, and cited Watkins Glen Apartments that are already across U.S. 33.
Commission member Tim Schacht said he likes the location of the development.
“(U.S. 33) is the front door,” Schacht said. “Your product’s going to be the first gateway.”
He said he’d like the design for the development to be a bit more contemporary.
“I wish your building was a little bit more modern,” Schacht said.
Schacht said since the development is a planned use development (PUD), it gives the builder a chance to get creative in terms of amenities, too. He cited Metro’s other project on Cook’s Pointe Boulevard, which is set to feature a large no-mow field with a walking trail.
Commission member Brett Garrett agreed, and said there’s an opportunity for the developer to build something different.
“It’s in the right location to put something like that,” Garrett said.
Schacht asked Thomas if there was “anything in (his) back pocket” to make the project more contemporary.
“If I want to be employed? No,” Thomas joked.