Corso's get pushback

NORWALK — If a local company succeeds in developing housing for migrant workers, it will have to convince a number of residents or get it done despite their objections. City council returned to its chambers Tuesday, greeted by more than 30 constituents, most of whom spoke against the project. It's the first time since the pandemic shut down open public meetings last year, relegating council to meeting by zoom for more than a year, that there's been an open meeting and residents were there to be heard. They want council to stop potential development of 7.5 acres on Valley Park Drive recently sold to a company associated with the Sandusky-based Corso's Flower & Garden Center. They fear Corso's intends to build a housing development on the property for migrant workers. Mayor Dave Light said he wasn't aware of the sale until after it was finalized, on June 11. He said he spoke with Corso's representatives last week but they have not submitted development plans to the city for the property. Not here, in my back yard One Jefferson Street resident said he's concerned about immigrant housing in the area. "These people want to put immigrant housing in a residential area, it will not work," he said. "I don't think anybody's asked the neighborhood what they thought about it. It was just shoved down our throat." A spokesman for Corso's, Fritz Mueller, said the company plans to use the property to build duplexes, which would be allowed under zoning regulations. Many residents who spoke expressed concern about the infrastructure in the area, and if it could handle an influx of new residents. Some said the sewage pumps and the stormwater drainage is already an issue in the area. Residents also drew comparisons between the Valley Park Drive property and a Cline Street project that is currently underway. "It's a fraternity house. It's all young men, in teeny bedrooms with bunkbeds," a Valley Park Drive resident said. "We're putting them in residential neighborhoods. Putting 100 young men in tiny dorms rooms in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do is a bad idea." More than one Green Circle Growers is currently building duplexes on Cline Street to house about 300 seasonal workers employed by the Oberlin business. A Whittlesey Avenue resident said she thinks it's unfair for city residents to have two separate properties for seasonal workers. Light told the Reflector there was a major difference between Green Circle and Corso's in how the companies approached the city after their purchases. "Green Circle has been changing and working with the city to make sure they were compliant with their project," Light said. "We still don't know anything about the plans for Corso's." Light said another difference is the size of the properties. Green Circle has over 10 acres to develop and has plans to include a community room and soccer fields for recreation. Corso's property, on the other hand, is farther from stores in town and there is less space for recreational areas. "There's concern about what they're going to do for recreation. It will be right in the middle of expensive homes and condos," Light said of Corso's property. "There's concern about infrastructure, which I'm still looking into, to accommodate the sewage and drainage needs." So many concerns Other residents said they are concerned for the safety of the residents, many of who are retired in the neighborhood, with a bike and walking path so close to the property. Jeff Little, a Norwalk resident, said the city should consider buying the property back from Corso's before they begin construction and help them to find a more suitable property. "Would it be a good use of city funds to offer Corso's a buyout of that property? It just sat there for how many years," Little said. "Maybe look at helping them find some more suitable property to build their facilities on." Light said he shares many of the same concerns expressed during the meeting. "I hear you," he said. "Let us work on it." Councilman Steve Schumm said he has the same feelings about the possible project as those who spoke. "I like the idea of a buyout," Schumm said. "If we put our minds to it, I think we're going to come out winners." While buying the property back seems to be a popular idea, Light said the city has no funds set aside for purchasing a property. "The rest of the community may be upset to spend tax dollars on that. We don't have money laying around. We're trying to get out of decifit spending," Light said. "There are other things more pressing to spend money on."