Pointe Oakwood project on hold

The developer asks for more time for builder to prepare amended plans.

OAKWOOD — A standing-room-only crowd packed a meeting of the Oakwood Planning Commission on Wednesday to express their displeasure with a proposed apartment building in the Pointe Oakwood development.

Pointe Oakwood developer Oakwood Investment Group, LLC applied to amend the plan to include a multilevel “luxury residences” building with an underground parking garage at the northeast corner of Sugar Camp Circle and West Schantz Avenue.

Instead of a public hearing on those changes, developer Lee Schear asked the commission Wednesday to table that application to give potential builder Hills Properties of Cincinnati more time to prepare the plans.

The commission allowed community members to make public comments despite tabling the application. Those in attendance were overwhelmingly against the new addition, with some even calling for the whole project to be cancelled because the city and developers have allegedly not been open with neighbors about the process.

“The plan has changed so many times that I don’t think anyone has any confidence in it anymore,” said resident Debbie Price.

Connie Gardner asked the commission to “go beyond what is required,” to inform residents of changes in the future and asked Pointe Oakwood representatives to share impact studies. Several people who spoke worried about the impact of a 135-unit building on the city’s resources and schools.

Former Oakwood resident Maureen Schlangen, who now rents an apartment in Kettering, spoke up on behalf of renters. “It seems like people are not opposing the apartment building, but the people,” she said. “It’s like you are saying that I’m not worthy of being your neighbor.”

The proposed changes are tabled indefinitely until Oakwood Investment Group decides to put its application for changes before the board again.

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