Heritage News
of Chillicothe, Ross County & South-Central Ohio
Timeline for the L.T. Franklin / Henry Barlow Property new 2/04/05
c1926-27 Brothers Dr. L.T. Franklin and John Franklin build large Tudor Revival styled homes on their shared 15 acre property on the suburban outskirts of Chillicothe.
c1950 Mrs. Franklin insists that wood siding be installed over the decorative half-timbering of the L.T. Franklin house.
c1993 The Barlows buy the western tract, the former home of Dr. L.T. Franklin, and renovate the house and grounds.
c1994 The city widens Western Avenue, and the south end of the stone bridge that carries the driveway across Honey Creek was removed.
2004, May 12 Chillicothe Planning & Zoning Board recommended that the zoning of Barlow's entire 7.3 acre property be changed from R-4 to C-2 - at the first meeting in which it was discussed, contrary to typical rezoning procedures, and without proper public notice.
2004, June 9 Chillicothe Planning & Zoning Board rescinded their decision after being informed by the Chillicothe Conservancy that it did not follow due process.
2004, July 14 Chillicothe Planning & Zoning Board re-debated the rezoning. The developer reduced their request to be rezoned from 7.2 acres to about 3 acres. The Board approved it. Chillicothe City Council would be the next step, to give final approval to the rezoning.
2004, August 9 and 23 Chillicothe City Council reads the ordinance three times, per standard procedure, to rezone the Barlow property.
2004, September 20 Chillicothe City Council had a review session where only council members could discuss the rezoning.
2004, October 11 Lack of legal counsel delayed the Chillicothe City Council decision two days to a Wednesday special session.
2004, October 13 Chillicothe City Council debated the single vote inn an hour-long special session. Attorney Jim Cutright was acting legal counsel. Per his advice, three council members were prohibited from voting: Cindy Henderson, Tom Trutchel, and Joe Herlihy. Herlihy almost lost the opportunity to give a slide show on the rezoning issue and its context. More debate followed. The vote, as asked for in alphabetical order:
Bill Bonner, D-5th Ward... ...agonizing for several seconds...
no.
Bart Henshaw, D-At large, no.
Jean Malone, D-4th Ward, yes.
Pat Patrick, R-6th Ward, yes.
Eric Rinehart, R-2nd Ward, yes.
Jonathon Schobelock, R-3rd Ward, yes.
4 yes, 2 no: Failed for lack of 5 affirmatives.
2005, February 1(?) Barlow and the developer file suit against the City of Chillicothe for not granting him a rezoning.
2005, February 2 The Chillicothe Gazette and Clear Channel radio Chillicothe (WBEX and WKKJ) report the filing of the lawsuit.
A panorama of the property as it is now...before any more changes. This is the first of a series of visual suggestions of what might happen with this property if it is rezoned.
All links on this issue:
The main article on this issue updated 10/15/04, 9/21/04, 9/9/04, 8/26/04, linked 8/18/04, revised 7/26/04 from May and June
A visual suggestion of what might happen with this property if the development happens new 8/18/04
Timeline for the L.T. Franklin / Henry Barlow Property new 2/04/05
Extensive notes of the July 14 Zoning Commission meeting when this issue was re-debated...and re-approved new 9/10/04
Verbatim excerpts from WBEX's September 7th "Sounding Board" show where City Council President Bob Shoultz and Councilman Eric Rinehart commented on this proposal new 9/10/04
Heritage News
of Chillicothe, Ross County & South-Central Ohio
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