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EASTERN HILLS

JOURNAL

Your Community Press newspaper serving Columbia Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Fairfax, Hyde Park, Madisonville, Mariemont, Mt. Lookout, Oakley, Terrace Park

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015

75¢

BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS

Community fears long-term impact of zone change Forrest Sellers fsellers@communitypress.com

THANKS TO MIKE BATCHLER

Veteran Mike Batchler is a veteran who served in Vietnam and lives in Pierce Township with his wife Township Trustee Bonnie Batchler.

Respect for all veterans shown today; a new experience for some Sheila A. Vilvens svilvens@communitypress.com

When it comes to appreciating and respecting active duty, nonactive and retired military men and women, Americans are earning high marks from at least three area veterans. “Truly I believe we do a pretty good job,” Anderson Township Veteran Todd Mayer said. He is a retired Army Colonel who served for 30 years, six years of active duty then 24 in the Ohio Army National Guard which included another four years of active duty. He is a combat wounded veteran of the First Gulf War and a veteran of Kosovo. “I am a patient of the VA. Once you get through the paperwork and administration procedures, I’m very happy with the medical attention I have received from both the clinic in Union Township and the VA Hospital in Clifton,” he said. While today’s Americans are respectful of their veterans, this wasn’t always the way. There was a period in the nation’s history when veterans were not treated with respect and dignity. Pierce Township’s Mike Batchler remembers coming home from Vietnam and being processed in Oakland. The returning veterans were advised not to wear their uniform in the city. “I had been gone for so long, I didn’t realize people would throw garbage on you or spit on you if you wore a uniform. It wasn’t very nice,” he said.

THANKS TO TODD MAYER

THANKS TO ALLEN TABE

Veteran Todd Mayer is a retired Army Col. living in Anderson Township.

Allen Tabe lives in Anderson Township and is a veteran who served in Vietnam.

“We’re able to do the things we do, enjoy the freedoms we have, that were put forth by our founding fathers, that’s what we’re protecting.”

ans) now,” he said. It’s a big difference between then and now, Batchler noted. He also recalled the first time someone thanked him for his service. He had just filled out an application for a car loan and the salesman noticed he was a veteran. “He said, ‘thank you for your service.’ That was the first time I had heard that in 40 years. All civilians have no idea what it’s like to be in a combat zone. If you haven’t been there and done this stuff, there’s no way you can explain the sacrifices you made to come back alive,” he said. Thank you goes a long way. The experiences for veterans are different and generational, Mayer said. The Korean

TODD MAYER Anderson Township veteran

Batchler had the rank of Spec. 5 and was an Army diver with a MP unit in Vietnam. He served active duty there for 14 months first on a patrol boat and then on a diving barge. “I think we’re doing a pretty good job of (supporting veter-

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See VETERANS, Page 2A

HYDE PARK – Zumstein Avenue residents fear the residential character of their street may be in jeopardy. The Cincinnati Neighborhoods Committee was expected to weigh in on a zoning change proposed for 3443 Zumstein Ave. the first week of November. Legal firm Stagnaro, Saba and Patterson has requested a zone change that would allow for limited office use in a building that is zoned for residential use. The city’s Planning Commission has approved the zone change, but residents and the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council are hoping a vote by the Neighborhoods Committee will prevent a zone change. Cincinnati City Council would have to approve the zone change as well. “We want to keep our 100 percent residential cul-desac,” Zumstein Avenue resident Scott Hassell said. He has been a vocal opponent of the zone change. Hassell said he fears the potential long-term impact of a zone change and that allowing it will open the door to “commercial creep.” Hassell said 120 Hyde Park residents have signed a letter opposing the zone change. This letter has been presented to city officials. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council has also expressed its opposition to the zone change. Council has said that while it supports appropriate business development in the Hyde Park Square business district, it does not consider this zone change “appropriate.” Council has also said the zone change would create potential Scarpitti parking problems. and “Businesses residents need each other,” Hyde Park Neighborhood

Council President Andy Scarpitti said. “The concerns we have are when the commercial businesses tend to creep into the neighborhood and continue to expand from the Square itself.” However, Peter Saba, a shareholder with Stagnaro, Saba and Patterson, said the zone change would actually be consistent with a 1984 Hyde Park Conservation Plan and that commercial use of this particular property on Zumstein would be acceptable based on that plan. Saba said the concerns are primarily based on what a future tenant might do and not on what the firm currently plans, which is to use several floors of the building for office space. “I don’t know what the next (tenant) will be like in 20 years,” he said. “All I can say is that we will continue (to) make positive contributions to the community both economically and aesthetically.” The Neighborhoods Committee was expected to discuss the topic during its Nov. 2 meeting.

FORREST SELLERS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS

Hyde Park resident Scott Hassell fears the potential impact of a zone change that would allow limited office use on Zumstein Avenue, a street which is zoned residential.

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FORREST SELLERS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS

A Hyde Park legal firm wants a zone change that would allow for limited office use of a property at 3443 Zumstein Ave. Residents and the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council have opposed the zone change.