Preston Buying 2 Acres for Buffer with Hillside Village
Burton Village Planning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 6 to approve a lot split for recently-annexed property owned by village resident and businessman Dan Demko.
Burton Village Planning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 6 to approve a lot split for recently-annexed property owned by village resident and businessman Dan Demko.
Several years ago, Demko requested his 40-plus acres in Burton Township on Kinsman Road be annexed to the west side of the village so he could have village water and sewer service for Hillside Village, the senior living development he wants to build.
Once his property was annexed, he sold 5 acres to Preston Real Estate Holdings LLC, part of the Preston Superstore auto dealership, as he had promised to do.
The 5 acres are now a sales lot attached to Preston’s Kia dealership.
During the meeting last Wednesday, Pat Preston and his attorney, Dennis Ibold, explained Preston intends to buy 2 acres more of Demko’s property to facilitate a buffer between the car lot, which is zoned for highway business, and the area where Demko plans to build the residential units.
The permit includes consolidation of the two parcels creating a 7-acre parcel.
The 5-acre lot is narrow and extends south about 1,500 feet, Demko said in a phone conversation Jan. 7.
The 2 acres to be consolidated with the original parcel will widen the strip by about 82 feet, providing enough space for a landscaped earth mound designed as a buffer to separate the business from the residential development, he said.
During the meeting, Ibold said Preston expected the 2 acres to become zoned highway business as the 5-acre parcel is, according to unapproved planning commission meeting minutes.
However, Ibold said he was told by village attorney Todd Hicks Preston will have to go through the rezoning process beginning with submitting a zoning amendment application.
Commission member Curt Johnson said last Thursday the process includes a public hearing and action by the village council.
The north, south and west sides of the 7-acre parcel will have buffers, he said.
Demko said last Thursday the acreage he plans to develop has passed the soil depth testing needed for the installation of water and sewer infrastructure.
The project, which will include 120 dwelling units, is in the hands of his engineer and architect and he hopes to break ground in the spring, he said.
Expansion of the Kia dealership is a benefit to the community, Demko said.
“This is good for Pat (Preston). He continues to build his business and that’s good for Burton,” Demko said.
