Oberlin Planning Commission approves $1.6 million Hydro Tube addition after sidewalk debate

OBERLIN — A $1.6 million expansion is coming to Hydro Tube Enterprises on Artino Street, where a 24,800-square-foot addition is expected to break ground soon. The company manufactures tubular products for hydraulics, lawn and garden equipment, construction vehicles, food service systems and heating and cooling units. The addition will be built to the north of Hydro Tube's existing 63,373-square-foot, one-story building. The Oberlin Planning Commission granted site plan approval Wednesday to architecture firm Star Inc. of Amherst for the project — but not without debate. The hot issue for commission member Matt Adelman was sidewalks. There are none in front of Oberlin's industrial park near Route 511. "I don't think it's unreasonable for people to have access to sidewalks," especially to get to work, he said, heatedly. Architect John Reyes estimated about 800 linear feet of sidewalk would be needed along the property's frontage, at a cost of about $24,000. "I've been working with Hydro Tube over the past three months to trim every dime I can, and before we agree to spend $24,000 on sidewalks, I can't say that we would do that," he said. Adelman called the extra amount "miniscule" compared to the $1.6 million project cost and said he wouldn't vote for a plan without sidewalks. Oberlin doesn't appear to have the power to force Star and Hyrdro Tube to install sidewalks, according to Planning Director Carrie Handy. The city's code only requires sidewalks to be installed if a new building goes in, like nearby Ascension BioMedical's medical marijuana plant. It was granted approval in 2018 with sidewalks as part of the deal, according to Adelman, who also was frustrated sidewalks still haven't been built. Other Planning Commission members said they want more walkways in town, too, but it wouldn't be right to delay approval of Hydro Tube's facility. And even if sidewalks were installed there, they wouldn't connect to anything else, commission member Bryan Burgess said. He said the city could always choose to install sidewalks anywhere they are needed and assess all the nearby property owners' tax bills for the cost. Handy said Oberlin is working on a plan for more sidewalks throughout town that she hopes will go to City Council by the end of the year. One reason that plan is important, she said, is that the Oberlin Schools are building a new elementary school and will close two others, which will change the way kids travel to and from school. For Adelman, the issue hasn't been taken seriously enough. "There's been so much time for action, so much time for discussion, so much time for planning and nothing has happened," he said. Adelman eventually voted for Hydro Tube's site plan approval, but with one caveat: Oberlin Law Director Jon Clark will research whether the Planning Commission has any power to require sidewalks on Artino Street, and if so the company will have to put them in. Either way, commission member Eric Gaines strongly encouraged Hydro Tube to set aside money "in good community spirit" for sidewalks. Hydro Tube did not return a call requesting comment on its plans. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.