Vermilion City Council met September 22, 2025, at the Vermilion Municipal Court Complex. The evening began with two public hearings on rezoning proposals that drew extensive resident input before council moved into its regular legislative session.
Public Hearing: Rezoning Behind The Nest Restaurant
The first hearing concerned Ordinance 2025-50, which rezones 6.55 acres behind The Nest Restaurant from B-3 Highway Commercial District to R-5 Apartment Residence District with a cluster overlay.
Several residents spoke in favor of residential use over commercial but voiced concerns about variances, wetlands, and the possibility of low-income housing. Michelle Cooper, a neighbor on Guilford Road, questioned why setbacks would be reduced by 20 percent and whether a wetland study had been conducted. Others, including Arlene Olsen and Jean Anderson, urged council to pause rezoning until the city’s 25-year-old master plan is reviewed.
Developers responded that the project will consist of cluster homes priced above $300,000, not apartments or Section 8 housing, and that buffering and traffic studies will be completed. The property owner emphasized his long-standing investment in Vermilion as the owner of the Nest restaurant, saying he would not build “anything that would hurt the community.”
Council later approved the ordinance 6–0 during the regular meeting, noting that leaving the parcel as commercial zoning could invite less desirable uses.
Public Hearing: Rezoning Near Martial Arts Studio
The second hearing addressed Ordinance 2025-51, rezoning .5636 acres behind a martial arts studio on Vermilion Road from residential to B-3 Highway Commercial.
Resident Homer Taft argued the site plan resembled storage units, a prohibited use, and cautioned against “spot zoning.” Developers countered that the plan is for small business condominiums, not storage, and pledged to restrict use through homeowners’ associations.
Council members acknowledged the concerns but unanimously approved the measure during the regular session, clarifying that storage units would not be permitted.
Council Committee Reports
Each council member reported on the committees they serve:
- Finance, Historic Design & Review, Planning Commission, and Stormwater Advisory (Councilman Jeff Lucas): Reviewed the city’s finances, tax rates, and planning updates. Stormwater Advisory has no future meeting planned.
- Health & Safety, Tree Commission, and Streets & Grounds (Councilman Drew Werley): Reported on fire engine replacement planning and a presentation from Flock Safety. Werley then stated: “Mayor gave a update on the VPD building and continued to lie about his lies.”
- Parks & Recreation and Legislative (Councilman Gary Howell): Reported on AED installations, security cameras, Showse Park revitalization, and legislative updates including peddler/solicitor rules, marijuana zoning, noise ordinances, and the pending IT contract.
- Port Authority (Council President John Gabriel): Heard a presentation on automated docking but declined to pursue changes, citing budget challenges. Income at several marina locations is down due to weather.
- Utilities and Board of Zoning Appeals (Councilman Greg Drew): Reported that the BZA would meet the following day.
- Main Street Vermilion (Councilwoman West): Reported no new updates.
Reports from Administration
- Finance Director Amy Hendricks reported the city’s health insurance costs are projected to rise to nearly $1.8 million in 2026, up from $986,000 in 2025, driven by high claims in a small employee pool.
- City Engineer Chris Howard updated council on infrastructure projects. He reported the Edgewater Boulevard waterline replacement is progressing, with service laterals complete and work moving to side streets. Crews also continue paving and concrete repairs on the city’s sanitary sewer project, with streets such as Roland, Aldrich, Woodridge, Fairfax, and Essex seeing fresh pavement. Howard said work on the 2025 Road Program is underway, including base repairs on Larchmont. He noted that Sanford Street will need to be closed temporarily when its intersection is rebuilt, and said residents will be notified before the closure.
- Service Director Tony Valerius announced the completion of Sunnyside Road Phase 3, with striping and signage to follow, and said the annual crack sealing program has covered Liberty Avenue (Erie County portion), State Street, and Vermilion Road, with Jerusalem and West River Roads scheduled next.
Ordinances
Council acted on several ordinances and resolutions:
- 2025-50: Rezoning behind The Nest Restaurant, approved 6–0 after public hearing.
- 2025-51: Rezoning behind the martial arts studio on Vermilion Road, approved unanimously after public hearing.
- 2025-53: Amended the city’s food truck regulations to allow service inside gated communities. Passed as an emergency measure.
- 2025-55: Proposed three-year IT contract with Lorain County Data was tabled until the next meeting. Mayor Forthofer asked the law director to continue reviewing the agreement after resident concerns about costs and oversight.
- 2025-57: Updated appropriations and the 2025 certificate of estimated resources. Adopted after the second reading to meet financial deadlines.
- 2025R-11 (Resolution): Accepted tax amounts and rates from the county budget commission and authorized certification to the county auditor. Passed as an emergency.
Next Meetings
Council will meet again October 6 at 6 p.m. at the Vermilion Municipal Court Complex, with committee meetings scheduled for October 20 and a regular meeting October 27.
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