Kettering considers land use change for new housing near business corridor

“I think the desire would be for the seller is to be done with the property,” said Bob Caperna, who is listed on a website as the agent for 4225 and 4235 Wilmington. “And so, he’s getting it rezoned as multi-family to make it easier for somebody else to do something with the property.

“Because you’re not just going to put a house on there. It’s economically friendly or desirable for just a single house,” Caperna added.

The rezoning of the land — about 0.85 acres where various parcels are now designated for either residential or business uses — is being sought by Ronald Solada, Kettering records show.

Solada has the same address as ELMSCO LTD, which bought the land in 2011, according to Montgomery County property records.

The land use change recommended by the Kettering Planning Commission in July could provide up to 18 apartments, according to the real estate website redfin.com.

The site would be “a great walkable location for potential tenants,” the website listing states.

Kettering City Council this week considered the rezoning request for the land near Meijer and several restaurants, but did not vote on the issue as per city charter requirements. A decision by council is expected later this month.

Three other attempts to rezone the land failed in the past 10 years after two buildings were demolished, city records show. None were approved because they didn’t comply with Kettering’s code, City Planner Ryan Homsi told planning commissioners.

Just north of the land is a commercial corridor that – aside from Meijer - includes a long row of fast-food restaurants with another one in the works. Taco John’s plans to join Burger King, Popeye’s, Lee’s, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Dunkin, as well as some sit-down restaurants.

But Kettering’s comprehensive plan depicts the vacant site “as being a higher-density residential area,” Homsi told planning commissioners.

With the Wilmington corridor, “commercial uses should be concentrated at the two specific intersections,” East Dorothy Lane and East Stroop Road, Homsi said.