Mayor Brooks Compton read a statement outlining the facts of the case and explaining why council decided the way it did, effectively stopping the 6,139-square-foot store from being built on a site where Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant operates.
The major site plan application was “not consistent with the use and character of the surrounding properties” as required under local regulations, “as reflected in the presentations ... of Staff, the Appellants, the Applicant, and persons offering public comment,” the statement said.
“These inconsistencies include, but are not limited to, the 24/7 operations of the Sheetz on the property, and the use being the only auto-oriented use south of Fireside Drive; such uses being in contrast to the primarily institutional, residential, and Class One indoor sit-down restaurant uses of the four surrounding properties,” the statement said.
The reversal comes on the heels of an appeal made by representatives of retirement community Bethany Lutheran Village, Epiphany Lutheran Church and Centerville resident Regis Lekan, each of whom filed separate appeals last month to block the business from building on the site.
Representatives from the church and retirement community, which have facilities near the proposed Sheetz development, along with nearby Village South residents voiced their opposition to the project in previous meetings, and sought reversal of Planning Commission’s decision, saying the project was inconsistent and incompatible with the use and character of surrounding properties.
Many said the business would create more traffic for the area and lead to an increase in crime and pollution.
Some of those who attended Monday night’s Centerville City Council meeting at the Sinclair Centerville Campus auditorium clapped after the council vote that nixed plans for the site.
Judy Budi, the CEO of Graceworks Lutheran Services, which operates Bethany Village, said city council made the right decision Monday.
“The residents of this neighborhood will be overjoyed to know their voices were heard, and that the City stood by its mission of thoughtful governance,” Budi said. “The proposed development would not have served in the best interest of this community and the more than 700 Centerville community members who call Bethany Village home.
“We are pleased that the council saw fit to recognize the concerns of the people who live in this neighborhood and took a stand for the future of this community.”
The Rev. Julie Reuning-Scherer, served as senior pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, said she was pleased with council’s decision.
“I feel they were very thorough,” Reuning-Scherer told Dayton Daily News immediately after council voted. “They did their homework. They listened to the public and I think they took the considerations very seriously.”
She said it takes a lot of organizations to be able to unite people behind a particular set of issues.
“In this case, we have the benefit of our own members and their expertise and we were able to connect with people in the neighborhood who also had their own education background that were expertise that we could leverage,” Reuning-Scherer said. “Also, Graceworks across the street is a terrific organization, so when you can combine institutions, churches, other interested parties and especially unify citizens together, get them to coalesce, you can organize people for power.”
Ed Wasser, of Washington Twp., who said he has been a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church for 33 years, said he was “relieved” by council’s decision.
“I think that there are a lot of other opportunities for that space that would be much more suitable for the location,” Wasser said. “The idea of having a 24-hour business that close to the church and the preschool and the retirement community as well as the the apartments on the other side just didn’t make much sense to me.”
Dayton Daily News left messages for representatives from CESO Inc., which applied for the site, and Skilken Gold, which had been developing it.
About the Author
