ALDI requests zoning change: Public hearing set for March 12

In his report Mayor Shane Gunnoe reported ALDI, a discount grocery store company, has requested a zoning change for a 2.4-acre parcel of property on North Wooster Avenue. The property is owned by Dover First Christian Church of 3029 N. Wooster Ave. and is currently zoned residential.

“There will be a public hearing on their site plan and rezoning request on March 12 at 10 a.m. in council chambers,” Gunnoe said.

After a resident asked during the public comment portion of the meeting about what to expect at the hearing, Gunnoe provided more information.

The first step was already taken by ALDI, and that was to apply and formally request rezoning, which goes to the city’s planning commission. Then a public hearing is scheduled.

“Notice is supplied to everybody within — I believe it's 200 feet of the property, which is in accordance with our ordinances — of the date and the time, and that will come via the mail,” Gunnoe said.

The public hearing is for the planning commission to hear from the residents. ALDI representatives would most likely be there to answer any questions regarding their proposal.

The planning commission will then decide at a future meeting whether or not to recommend the rezoning to council for further study. If the rezoning is recommended by the planning commission, it would then go to the planning and zoning committee of council. That committee would then have to review it, and there is a second opportunity for public hearings.

The Crimson Cove preliminary plat was approved by the planning commission, and a public hearing also will be held on it at the same time as the ALDI hearing on March 12 at 10 a.m. Crimson Cove is a 30-home development, which will be located off East Ohio Avenue on the north side of Dover. It was proposed in June 2023 by the developer Lawver Homes.

Dover Light and Power will begin its annual plant shutdown for maintenance on March 25.

“Major upgrades that we expect to be completed during the shutdown include an upgrade of our switch gear and completion of the rebuild of our diesel generator along with many other preventive maintenance items,” Gunnoe said.

Work is ongoing for the softball turf project on field seven.

“We are expecting arrival of the turf next week and for installation, weather permitting, to be completed by March 8,” Gunnoe said. “Once the turf installation is completed, the parks and recreation department will replace a small portion of the outfield area with new sod around the edges of the turf.”

Council voted to suspend the rules and passed Emergency Ordinance 7-24 separating the positions of director of public safety and director of human resources and setting compensation rates and participation in the nonbargaining wage and benefit ordinances for the director of human resources. Council recognized the need to separate the positions because a full-time director of human resources would allow the city to operate at a greater, more efficient capacity in that department.

The 40-hour-per-week director of human resources position will be under the general direction of the mayor and will be responsible for the many human resources matters affecting the city.

Council also passed Emergency Ordinance 8-24 setting the compensation rates and participation in the nonbargaining wage and benefit ordinance for the city director of public safety.

The director of public safety position is part-time with a minimum of 10 hours and not to exceed 20 hours each week. The position is under the general direction of the mayor and is responsible for safety matters affecting the city including training and development of new programs for the safety forces.

Service Director Dave Douglas announced after a design change in the East 20th Street bridge project, two bids were received. The redesign also will save the city about $1 million. The project will go forward after years of planning.

Cody Jerles announced the first Coffee with Council in February at Magic Mugs was a success. The next event will be held March 9 with Jerles and council member Josh Legg speaking with residents who wish to attend at 11 a.m. Coffee with Council is scheduled for the second Saturday of each month.

In other legislation council passed the following:

—Emergency Ordinance 3-34 authorizing the service director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the collection of refuse and recycling from June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2027, with an option to renew for an additional two years.

—Emergency Ordinance 4-24 authorizing the service director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the annual shade tree maintenance and removal program beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and ending Dec. 21, 2024, with the option to renew for the years 2025 and 2026.

—Emergency Ordinance 5-24 authorizing the service director to enter into a contract for the resurfacing of the city park tennis courts in an amount not to exceed $106,350 including engineering. During discussion Gunnoe said the city also is looking at the park’s basketball courts but at this time they are beyond an easy repair.

—Emergency Ordinance 6-24 authorizing the service director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the drilling and installation of a water supply well and pump house and to enter into a contract with the successful bidder and to approve improvements to the municipal electric system of the city in an amount not to exceed $604,000 including engineering.

Council went into executive session at the end of the meeting for discussion regarding public infrastructure improvements or the extension of utility services that are directly related to an economic-development project.

The next Dover Council meeting will be held Monday, March 4 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.