By Sean Rice
srice@dailystandard.com A local developer announced plans Wednesday to build lakeside condominiums on South Enterprise Street in Celina.
Randy Bruns of rural Coldwater told the Celina Planning Commission 20-plus units are planned with canal access to Grand Lake St. Marys. The development will be owned by Bruns, who is the president of Rockford Construction Services near Celina, and other local investors under the name Maria Stein Development.
The commission met to consider a request from the company to change the zoning of several properties affected by the planned project from medium-density residential (R-2) to general business (B-1). Commission members rejected the request, and instead suggested a high-density residential (R-3) zone.
Bruns told The Daily Standard the exact layout and size of the development is not finalized, because the company continues to negotiate with a home owner.
Maria Stein Development currently owns property at 117, 121, 124 and 140 S. Enterprise St. and areas closest to the lake already are cleared. South Enterprise Street intersects with Market Street in Celina, where businesses Heckler-Martz Cabinet Co. and Rino's Auto Sales are located. Preliminary documents show the development starting about halfway down the block, on the west side of the street. On the east side of the street, the plans show buildings on the lakefront and extending east to the next alley.
Celina City Council eventually will consider the zoning change and site plan before construction begins.
After rejecting the B-1 zoning request, planning commission members said high-density residential (R-3) is a better fit because there are no business operations planned with the development. The change will not affect Bruns' current plans for the site. Also, several surrounding property owners wrote and called in a protest of the change to general business.
Members voted to recommend city council consider R-3 zoning and creating an overlay district. In an overlay district, the commission has a more active role in the site planning process. It is used when a planned development does not fit the exact requirements in the zoning class.
In another matter, commission members approved expansion plans for the Clark gas station on Market Street. Last month, members tabled making a decision because the planned 1,600-square-foot building did not incorporate enough parking space to meet city code.
The revised plans for a new convenience store on site show the building reduced to a total of 1,100 square feet and 11 parking spaces included. Only five spaces were included in the original plans. |
