West Park vs. city hall repeat

FINDLAY — Residents of the West Park Subdivision and city hall are again at loggerheads over the development of a neighboring tract of land owned by Findlay. At the council's regular meeting on Tuesday, Robin Welly, an outspoken advocate for West Park, asked that the proposed deed restrictions on the sale be nixed and the property be sold at a live auction, if at all. Welly said residents are also opposed to a proposed rezoning of the land that would allow for high-density residential development. Welly said West Park has questions that so far, no one is answering. There are concerns about the potential for dynamite blasting during development and damage to neighboring homes. Welly said there are also questions about the loss of green space, flooding and "which streets will be turned into thoroughfares." She was also highly critical of Councilman Brian Bauman, who represents the 5th Ward, which includes West Park. Bauman is also a resident of the subdivision. Welly accused Bauman of "secretly working against" his constituents, putting West Park in the position of "fighting" both the current city administration and its own council representative to protect their homes. Bauman, a Republican, is seeking reelection in the general election and is being challenged by independent candidate Kevin Cullen Sr. Bauman made an unsuccessful run for the seat in 2019 and was unopposed in 2021 and 2023. Cullen previously served one year on the Elmore Village Council after being appointed in 2000. Details of the city's plan to sell the Carlin Street property were first made public Sept. 30 at a meeting of Findlay City Council's Strategic Planning Committee. The committee voted to recommend the sale to council after a tense exchange with West Park residents. Several residents attended the committee meeting and addressed the committee. Several West Park residents also attended Tuesday's council meeting. Council voted to accept the committee's report on Tuesday, with Councilwoman Holly Frische, R-1, opposed. On Tuesday, Frische said the proposal should have been vetted through council's Appropriation Committee. More committee-level discussions are expected. As proposed, deed restrictions on the sale would require a minimum of 20 single-family, owner-occupied homes, with property values ranging from $140,000 to $250,000, with the project expected to be completed over a 10-year timeline. To ensure progress, a reversion clause is included that would return any undeveloped land to the city. Interested bidders would be required to submit a minimum bid of $25,000 and be licensed contractors in good standing with the city. Mayor Christina Muryn has said the minimum bid or the method of sale is still up for discussion. The goal, she said, is to address some of the neighborhood concerns about development of the property and to get it "back out for potential development." Muryn has said drainage from the site will not impact the subdivision because the area drains away from the neighborhood. Multiple infrastructure projects in the area in recent years have also been geared towards improved sewers and water pressure in West Park. She said the proposal also has a home value threshold built in, which also addresses concerns raised by West Park residents about low-income housing. The Carlin Street property was a subject of intense debate in 2023, after the Findlay-Hancock County chapter of Habitat for Humanity approached council asking the city to donate the land. The property would have been transferred through the Blanchard Valley Port Authority. The chapter was interested in building an addition, named Hope Springs, including 68 homes built over 10 years. A council committee eventually rejected the idea of donating the land, and instead asked the administration to investigate its development. Findlay purchased the tract in 2008 for $150,000, with the idea of building the city's Public Works Department shop on the site. However, the idea was abandoned in favor of a more centralized site. The land is currently leased for farming, generating about $4,500 in revenue for the city each year. There are two parcels: 5.7 acres zoned "R2 - single-family, medium density residential," and 20 acres zoned "R3 - single-family, high density residential." Muryn said commercial development of the land doesn't make sense due to its location near residential neighborhoods. She said housing is the best fit, and it could help address the need for housing in the city. She has proposed rezoning the R2 parcel to R3 to allow for greater density and selling the land through a sealed bid or auction. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to give the accurate spelling of Robin Welly's name.