CINCINNATI — Cincinnati's Planning Commission voted Friday to pass a controversial Hyde Park Square development.
The commission approved the development's requested zoning change with exceptions and the potential for future amendments.
Now, the plan will go before Cincinnati City Council, where a simple majority of five votes is needed for final approval.
Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney was the only no vote on the commission.
“They also complained about the lack of collaboration with the developer," Kearney said. "And so that’s one thing we really have to really look at because the idea is for the community and the developer to actually work together when you have a planned development.”
Developer PLK Communities wants to build a nearly 80-foot structure in an area typically zoned for only 50 feet under a Planned Development loophole.
Dozens of concerned people living in the area flooded chambers Friday morning for the committee meeting.
WATCH: We were at the meeting Friday morning. Here's what went down
While PLK Communities defended its proposed project, many community members spoke countering the developer's proposed plan to build where the single-story, Kroger-turned-Coldwell Banker building stands.
Nicholas Lingenfelter, chief of development officer for PLK Communities, spoke to the committee, along with other members from the developer's team including Colleen Reynolds, Mike Dooley, Michael Collins, Brandon Guyer, Lisa Scovic, and Sean Suder.
"I want to be clear — profit is not our primary objective," Lingenfelter said. "We are choosing to preserve a historic structure, ensuring balanced density that does not go to 300 units like we could build; and creating a walkable, experience-driven district."
The developer's team also addressed pushback from the community that they say led to and informed changes to their plan.
Lingenfelter said they have met with residents and Hyde Park council members more than a dozen times about the development.
But community members told WCPO they are concerned about the height of the development and whether Hyde Park Square will keep its historic charm.
"Is Cincinnati about the history, diversity and specialness ... of its differing neighborhoods or a cookie cutter, shoebox approach to a future that feels like everywhere and everywhere else?" longtime Hyde Park resident John told the commission.
Despite all the back and forth, the city’s planning department recommended that the planning commission approve this zoning change and allow the developer to build.
We spoke with Kristen Folzenlogen, owner of Poeme, earlier this week. She operated in Hyde Park for 25 years and is disappointed with the outcome of today's meeting.
"The fact that there's a trust issue between the community and this developer ... if this trust issue is not mended this cannot go forward," Folzenlogen said.
The planning department believes the construction of the proposed hotel, the proposed underground garage and the additional apartment housing complies with Hyde Park's existing community plans and also works towards the city achieving its goals to grow housing — addressing a need for more one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Advocates also argued that walkability in the area would be improved while the development would also increase retail space, and maintain street parking.
