A request for rezoning of property on Ryan Road in Warren to accommodate the construction of condominiums has sparked concern among residents in the adjoining neighborhood.

Developers Andy Salama and his son Mark Salama requested the Warren Planning Commission approve rezoning of the property located on the west side of Ryan north of Dwight Drive and south of Martin Road from R-1-C single family dwelling to R-3 multiple family dwelling. The Salamas propose building 12, two-story condominiums on the site.

Andy Salama, who has owned the land since 2007 according to tax records, described the land as “useless” as it is currently zoned.

“It had a house and very large land and I could not rent it because it was just one house and a big lot,” said Andy Salama.

The house that was on the land has been razed and currently, the parcel contains only a short, paved driveway, a large grassy area and some remnants of the past such as metal clothesline poles.

Mark Salama said he and his father want to minimize inconvenience to residents in the neighborhood and are willing to put a fence, arborvitae, or some kind of buffer between the condo complex and the single family residential homes.

“We do not want to be an inconvenience to the bordering neighbors,” said Mark Salama. “My sister and I will be living on site the first year just to make sure everyone is happy and we are not disturbing anyone’s current living.”

Planning Director Ron Wuerth recommended the planning commission approve the rezoning, but a motion by Planning Commissioner Merle Boniecki to table the item until the Aug. 22 meeting was approved unanimously.

Boniecki indicated she lives near the property and shares resident concerns regarding the upkeep of the property over the years, adding she called the property owners multiple times about tall grass and overflowing dumpsters and that it took them several days to address the problems.

“There is one full dumpster on the property right now and enough debris on the property that could fill another dumpster,” said Boniecki. “I think we should table this until you have time to clean it up so we know you will be a good steward for our city going forward.”

Several residents spoke during the planning commission’s public hearing regarding the rezoning with many expressing concern about the state of the property over the years. The majority of those who spoke opposed the rezoning and the addition of the condominiums.

“This property has been an eyesore for years,” said resident Debbie Mazur. “The grass is not cut, the garbage is not picked up, and when the house was on the property it was condemned, yet people continued to live in it and move in and out of it.

“The owner seems to take the cheapest way to take care of the property and now he’s looking at building multi-family units.”

Some residents expressed a desire to make the area into a small park or build two single-family homes on the property.

“I’d like to keep it the way it is,” said resident Michael Taormino. “I love wildlife. I saw wild turkeys this year and it is getting better all of the time. Building condos is only going to make things worse and destroy the ecosystem. I’d like to see a greenspace there or a single-family home.”

The Warren Planning Commission meets at the Warren Community Center auditorium Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.

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