By Matt Fredmonsky
Record-Courier staff writer
An apartment complex planned for the old Gabriel Brothers site on S.R. 59 in Franklin Township is progressing despite less than favorable remarks from Kent State University and the city of Kent.
Township officials this week voted to rezone the majority of the site to multi-family residential housing to allow the complex and left a four-acre parcel fronting S.R. 59 as commercial property. Representatives from KSU and the city administration spoke Wednesday about the decision to rezone the property.
The same developer who is building a 288-unit apartment complex next to the Wal-Mart on S.R. 59 is proposing three-story walk-up buildings with commercial lots fronting S.R. 59, where the discount store was located until 2003 when it moved across the street to a vacated Kmart building.
KSU's general manager of transportation, Tom Clapper, spoke on behalf of the university.
"The university is not opposed to apartments and it's not opposed to housing," Clapper said. "The university thinks commercial development there is a better long-term plan. This (re-zoning) is the loss of a prime commercial site."
Franklin Township Trustee Gary Falstad said he thinks the university and city believe the land could be put to better use as a commercial site and not as a residential complex.
"The property has been vacant for some time and it's a blight with the other development coming in around there," Falstad said. "These guys have come along with a viable solution that best fits our needs."
The apartment complex is being billed as upscale student housing. The facility will include a pool, sand volleyball courts and a workout facility. The complex will be fenced in, Falstad said.
City Manager David Ruller expressed concern over the site because of its location in the Kent-Franklin Joint Economic Development District.
"The spirit of the JEDD is to redevelop the commercial properties and jointly share in the income tax revenue," Ruller said. "Changing the zoning removes the lot from the possibility of JEDD participation."
Though both Clapper and Ruller said they respect the township's decision, they both think the complex will have long-term effects on all three entities.
"We don't want this to be a point of tension for the city and the township," Ruller said.
Falstad said he recognized the possibility that the complex could draw potential residents away from the university and the city. Falstad was also concerned that the city did not approach the township to discuss the matter.