Former Franklin Elementary to go back to Elyria Planning Commission

ELYRIA — Changing the use of the former Franklin Elementary School will once again come before Planning Commission. The issue, which was denied earlier this year, came back to Planning Tuesday, but was tabled as no one was there to represent the owner. It will be put back on the budget for a future meeting. In February, Chyora Distribution's request to rezone the residential property to a business general one was denied. Planning Commission members expressed concern about the possible uses business general would bring. Business general allows for restaurants, dog kennels, retail and office space, among many other things. Once a property is rezoned, it remains that way even under new ownership. Jessica Rogers, owner Chyora Distribution, plans to use the former as a multitenant space. Since that meeting, Building official Darryl Farkas said they've met with Rogers multiple times to fine tune plans for the site. The city hopes to narrow down the permitted uses of the building to make it more cohesive for the surrounding area. Farkas said that out of those meetings, some uses were taken out while others were kept as open to discussion. However, Farkas said some of those are not "characteristic of preserving the existing residential district." The uses still open for discussion are: commercial recreation, fast food, kennels, research and development and veterinary and animal hospital. Rogers' own plans for the site are offices, distribution, community services and a business incubator. She bought the former school in September 2019. Elyria Schools traded the building, along with two others, with the city in exchange for some parcels of land near the new Northwood campus. City Council put the land into its Community Improvement Corporation. Rogers also owns Elegant Assets, which runs out of the former Edison School on Lake Avenue. That company is a different division from Chyroa Distribution. Once the issue comes back to Planning Commission, it will face another vote from the members on the rezoning. In other Planning Commission news, Rapha Academy received its go ahead to be rezoned as a childcare facility. Rapha Academy will operate out of the former Northwood Middle School.