Toledo City Plan Commission Meeting - June 11, 2026

The Toledo City Plan Commission held a regularly scheduled meeting on June 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The commission approved minutes, granted a deferral, and heard five cases involving special use permits and zone changes. Voting on individual waivers and overall cases took place, with several matters forwarded to City Council.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes from March 12, 2026, and May 14, 2026, were approved unanimously.
• Deferral: Case M1525 (tax amendment for post-environmental change certificates of appropriateness) was deferred for 30 days to the July 2026 agenda at the commission's own request. That case will not be heard until next month.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Case SUP 26-0015 (Cemetery at 722 East Bancroft Street):
  • Wanda Love, president of the Warren Sherman area council, stated she had not taken a stand for or against the cemetery but relayed community concerns. She requested a second neighborhood meeting to clarify the burial process and noted that some community members were considering a petition against the cemetery. She expressed offense at characterizations of the neighborhood as blighted.
  • Pastor Charles Walden, a member of the Warren Sherman area council, initially had concerns about groundwater contamination but changed his position after learning about the Islamic burial process. He expressed support for the cemetery, citing the mosque's community services and his own Native American heritage.
• Case Z 26-0008 (Zone change for Toledo Animal Rescue at 640 Wyman Street):
  • Lanny May, a resident since the early 1970s, opposed the zone change to CN Neighborhood Commercial. He cited concerns about increased truck traffic, poor road conditions, and the potential for future incompatible uses if the animal shelter relocates. He noted that the facility's current operations (dogs dropped off) have changed over time.
• Case SUP 26-0011 (Scrap and salvage facility at 4103 Lagrange Street):
  • No public speakers appeared, but the commission received five phone calls: one general inquiry and four expressing environmental concerns, including vibrations from operations reported by a neighbor.

Discussion Items

• Case SUP 26-0015 – Special Use Permit for a New Cemetery:
  • The applicant, Ibrahim Abdul Rahim (spiritual advisor of Toledo Masjid of Aldasma), presented the request. He explained the mosque is a historic landmark and aims to provide dignified burials consistent with green burial practices (no embalming, simple cloth, burial within 24 hours). He addressed environmental concerns, noting embalming is not required by law and that the health department had no objection. A neighborhood meeting was held on June 6, 2026, with about 20 mosque members and 4–5 neighborhood representatives. The applicant agreed to a decorative fence as a 13th condition of approval.
• Case Z 26-0009 – Zone Change for Compassion at Calvary Church:
  • Applicant Lynn Thomas requested the zone change from CO Office commercial and RS6 to RS6 to allow a new electronic sign (half electronic) for the combined congregation. The sign was already ordered and non-refundable. The change also corrects a split-zone issue. A variance for sign square footage will be needed from another body.
• Case Z 26-0010 – Zone Change for a Single-Family Dwelling at 5860 Seacor Road:
  • Applicant Stephen Heaney explained the property was originally a house and is best suited as a home. He wants to sell it, and the zone change would align with its use.
• Case Z 26-0008 – Zone Change for Toledo Animal Rescue:
  • Applicant Steve Keesling (director) requested a zone change to CN Neighborhood Commercial to expand the existing shelter by 2,300–2,400 square feet (building currently 3,600 sq ft). The current RS12 zoning only allows a 10% expansion. Staff recommended disapproval, noting inconsistency with the Ford Toledo plan and incompatibility with the residential neighborhood. The applicant argued the expansion is needed to increase capacity and improve animal welfare, and that the facility has been a stable presence for 96 years. Commissioners expressed concern that CR zoning would allow other commercial uses in the future. The applicant confirmed he had not explored purchasing adjacent vacant land fronting Burn Road.
• Case SUP 26-0011 – Special Use Permit for Scrap and Salvage Facility:
  • The applicant (Troy Barman, representing RM Recycling) requested amendments to an existing special use permit, including a new cold storage building, storage of empty trailers on a southern lot, and several waivers. The commission addressed each waiver:
    • Waiver A (scrap operations within 100 feet of Detroit Avenue): Approved with condition that scrap piles not exceed fence height.
    • Waiver B (scrap operations within 100 feet of residential area): The commission voted 4-0 to remove condition 31 (scrap not visible from residential streets), then approved the waiver 3-1, contingent on extending the type A landscape buffer (10-foot strip with trees and 8-foot fence) along all residential boundaries.
    • Waiver C (parking north of building within 30 feet of right-of-way): Disapproved 4-0; the five parking spaces must be moved or eliminated.
    • Waiver D (dirt/gravel surfaces north of railroad tracks): Approved unanimously.
    • Waiver E (asphalt grinding surface for southern trailer storage lot): Disapproved 3-1; transportation department typically requires paving.
    • Items 16/17 (sewer inspection requirements): No motion to remove; conditions remain.
    • Item 40 (pole sign update): The commission cannot waive this condition under current code; applicant may seek a monument sign with a height variance from the BZA.

Key Outcomes

• Case SUP 26-0015 (Cemetery): Approved unanimously with 13 conditions, including decorative fencing. Will appear before City Council on July 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
• Case Z 26-0009 (Zone change – Church): Approved unanimously. To go to City Council on July 15, 2026.
• Case Z 26-0010 (Zone change – Seacor Road): Approved unanimously. To go to City Council on July 15, 2026.
• Case Z 26-0008 (Zone change – Toledo Animal Rescue): Disapproved unanimously (affirmative vote for disapproval). The decision will be forwarded to City Council on July 15, 2026. The shelter may continue operating as a legal non-conforming use but cannot expand under current zoning.
• Case SUP 26-0011 (Scrap and salvage facility): Approved as amended (with waivers as voted) by a vote of 3-1 (one commissioner opposed on final vote). The case will be forwarded to City Council on July 15, 2026, with the commission's recommendations on each waiver.