Milford Exempted Village School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Farrell addresses council during a hearing about the Milford Main School Feb. 3.

Milford Exempted Village School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Farrell addresses council during a hearing about the Milford Main School Feb. 3.
By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

Milford residents packed into the government building Feb. 3 for the public hearing related to the fate of Milford Main School in the city

During the hearing, council members heard from Jim Cohen, president of CMC Properties, who is planning to develop a senior living community for the site of Milford Main School as well as many residents who expressed their concerns with the proposed development.

Planning and Zoning Director Pam Holbrook said Cohen has a contract to purchase the Milford Main School property from Milford Exempted Village School District under the condition that the proposed zoning change and development plan are approved by council.

“This is a unique and underserved market,” Cohen said.

Cohen said he believes seniors in the community need his development.

“Senior citizens of Milford deserve Milford on Main,” Cohen said. “The same building that educated them years ago will be repurposed to serve their needs.”

CMC Properties also developed the Riverwalk Flats and Rowhouses in Milford, and Cohen said concerns from neighbors about that development were never realized.

“We’re experience developers,” Cohen said. “I have yet to hear from residents with a better idea and money to pay for it.”

The development will bring life back to an abandoned school building and provide a place for seniors who don’t want to leave the community to live, Cohen said.

“There is no question to the demand of this facility,” he said.

The facility will be in walking distance to many of Milford’s shops and restaurants and will have amenities for aging adults, Cohen said.

Cohen had three experts address concerns that they have heard from residents.

John “Jack” Pflum, consulting engineer, estimated that seniors in the community would make less than 100 trips to and from the development during peak hours.

“When the school was here the site was generating almost 1,300 trips per day,” Pflum said. “Roughly four-times the trips. Almost every land use you can think of will generate more trips than senior housing,” Pflum said. “I would submit the amount of traffic created is insignificant.”

Dean Lutton, director of sustainability for Reztark Design Studio, said the developer has made changes to the building design in response to concerns from residents.

The height limit for single family homes is 35 feet and the height limit for a building in proposed planned development is 45 feet, according to Lutton.

“We’ve reduced it to 42.8 feet,” Lutton said about the development plan. “It’s important to respect the single family homes.”

Lutton also showed a diagram with solar angles to address shadows on the shortest and longest days of the year and their proximity to neighboring homes.

“The setback insures the homes will enjoy the sunshine,” Lutton said.

Despite explanations from the developer, residents still stressed that they are not in favor of the proposed development during the hearing.

“This is a pivotal moment for the future of Milford,” Cole Carothers, a Milford resident, said. “Development of the Main School is inevitable. I think we need to understand what our future is. I don’t believe it’s through mega-structures.”

Dawn Hillman, a Milford resident, said she also understands the site will have to be developed.

Hillman said she is still concerned about traffic because she is 57, which classifies her as a senior, and she travels to and from her home often.

“I love this city,” Hillman said. “I think this is the most important piece of property in the city and it deserves to be treated that way because we’re going to look at it every single day.”

JoAnn Weigel, who lives in the Riverwalk development, said she is in favor of the proposed development. She said she is an active senior and also works and pays city taxes.

“I have been in support of this since inception and would love to move there,” Weigel said.

Other residents who spoke said they were still concerned with parking at the facility and how it would impact St. Andrew church.

One resident suggested the construction of a sprinkle park and playground on the property rather than a senior living community.

The public hearing lasted several hours, however council members did not vote Feb. 3. They are expected to vote on the development plan during their Feb. 17 meeting.

According to Pam Holbrook, zoning administrator for the city, council can either approve the proposed development plan, reject it, or approve it with recommendations.

For more information visit www.milfordohio.org.