North Canton City Council to Submit Letter of Opposition for Hotel Purchase

North Canton City Council will submit a letter of opposition to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency regarding ICAN Housing Solution’s purchase of the , which could be the final step in ending a heated discussion in the city.

ICAN pulled out of the purchase last week, saying it didn’t have sufficient funds to buy the hotel at 500 N. Main St. and rehab it into an apartment building of 17 efficiency and eight one-bedroom units. ICAN told City Council members and North Canton residents the building would house veterans, but it couldn’t guarantee only veterans would live there.

In the letter, council members say the building sits on one half acre, and under current city zoning ordinance, one acre can hold no more than 12 apartment units. The ordinance also requires two parking units (one covered) for each apartment.

ICAN’s proposal met neither requirement.

Council members also agreed the apartment building would be of no economic benefit to the city.

“In terms of economics, the proposed project will remove from the tax rolls a prime piece of Main Street real estate,” they wrote in the letter to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. “The manner in which the city developed 100 years ago has limited the amount of land available for commercial purposes. We believe there are uses for (the) Harleigh site that will enhance the city’s revenue.”

Councilwoman Marcia Kiesling said city officials realized while looking into the ICAN issue that current zoning laws do permit multi-family housing, or apartment buildings, in the city’s business district.

They discussed changing the zoning ordinance and will pick up discussion at upcoming meetings.

Council President Daryl Revoldt suggested the ordinance change might hurt development in the business district. He said he’s often heard of apartment buildings on the upper floors of businesses in thriving areas.

Council will meet again at 7 p.m. Monday in North Canton City Hall.