Zoning request, CHIP grant questioned

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Unanswered questions at least temporarily sidelined two issues debated by Van Wert City Council on Monday evening.

City officials had several questions related to a $500,000 Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) grant application, while there were also unresolved items related to a public hearing on a zoning change request for what is planned as a home business.

City Auditor Martha Balyeat had the biggest concerns about the CHIP grant, wondering who would be taking care of a portion of the grant aimed at providing help to homeless or at-risk city residents.

Balyeat noted that, with the demise of the local Community Action Commission – the agency that handled details of the homeless portion of the grant in years past – whether anybody is stepping in to provide those services under the grant.

Balyeat stated her opinion that the city should not apply for that portion of the grant – which provides $50,000 to help homeless or at-risk residents – if no one will be providing the qualification services for those applying for such funds.

“Why apply if we can’t administer it?” Balyeat asked, noting that her only concern with the grant was the fact that the CAC wasn’t involved in this year’s CHIP grant administration.

While a number of city officials, including Mayor Louis Ehmer and Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming, spoke on behalf of the homeless portion of the CHIP grant, they also acknowledged the fact that qualifying services would need to be provided if the money was to be spent.

Mayor Ehmer’s administration will meet with CHIP grant administrator Phil Snyder to work out details related to that issue prior to passage of enabling legislation for the grant, which will have a public hearing in March.

There were also questions about a request by Melody Hileman to change zoning on property located at 403 N. Franklin St. from R-2 (medium density residential) to B-1 (neighborhood business).

Unfortunately, since Hileman, who wants to start a drive-through doughnut shop on the site, did not attend a public hearing on the issue – although told by the Van Wert Planning Commission she should be – questions about the issue remained unresolved.

Some City Council members were concerned that the request would promote “spot zoning” – zoning requests that don’t fit into city zoning plans – creating a business in an otherwise residential area, Fleming said the B-1 zoning designation is designed to provide exactly that: the opportunity for a home business in a residential area.

It is hoped that Hileman will attend the February 14 City Council meeting, since that’s the meeting Council will vote on whether to grant the request.