You've got to be kidding me. Two flower pots an improvement does not make.

That's 2 flower pots more then what was there before. Improvement is improvement, no matter how big or small. Funny how no one cared about the building and how it looked before all this.

Haha! Yeah, right. If Kent and KSU wasn't around, Stow would be a one-stoplight town. Without Handel's and Swenson's, nobody would ever have a reason to visit Stow, let alone stop through there on the way out of town.

Well, I appreciate that you recognize my aficionado of tow trucks (I figured it would be nice to have someone on here that knows something about how that type of business works)
As far as me "having to settle" I guess that depends on if Bakers is going to court or not. As I stated in another comment already, at this point, I wouldn't want to be associated with that neighborhood now if I was Bakers, after seeing all the comments made by them during this process.

@Chris: So now I am suppose to call every time I drive by a run down building? It's the fact that the neighbors all seem to care NOW about their property value, but nothing was done before about it. Seriously, your comment makes no sense.

Molly, your circular argument style is tiresome. I understand you didn't get your way, but you have a misguided sense of what compromise means. What is a compromise about the company relocating to this property - illegally - and operating as-is even though a great many people in that neighborhood didn't want such a wrongful zoning violation to persist? Why must it be up to the residents of that neighborhood to bail out the company when they had short notice?

You are one of the very few people who fail to see how cut and dried this case is. It was a violation of the zoning laws and to change the laws would have run counter to every sense of sound city planning and growth. There are plenty of places in town for a company like Baker. Have you selflessly offered your property yet? If not, why won't you compromise and let them use your land?

@joseph: If I had property to offer, I would. It's not cut & dry. There was a chance that zoning could have been changed, if not, then why even have a vote? There wouldn't even be such a thing as a non-conforming use certificate.
You say I have a misguided sense of compromise because no one gave Bakers a chance? How exactly is that misguided. You may feel that a neighborhood isn't responsible for bailing out a company that has been serving that community for many years, well I disagree! You are all selfish. That is my opinion.

tacky.

Yes, TACKY is a much more appropriate word

Not TACKY at all, nor childish.

Tact: a sense of what is appropriate and tasteful.
Tacky: In bad taste.
Childish: marked by or suggestive of immaturity and lack of poise.

@stace: with all due respect: times have changed. I don't know one person who leaves their doors open at night.

It was the grand parents and great grand parents you speak of- who lived the life you described- that started the zoning codes. They were the ones who realized the need for separation of business and residential properties.

@ teresa with all due respect also.. coming to a happy medium for instance would have been commendable on all parties involved. not only would it have shown a respect for each other in a professional manner, i am sure it would have been meaningful to mr baker to receive you all in a warmer atmosphere..i understand all parties have quirks and disagreements.. i am also a little confused as to this property. i remember things being worked on in that garage.. and not to point fingers but i believe the chemicals and solvents used in a body shop ( 100 ft away on the same side of the road in a residential area) are more of a risk that everyday motor oils and lubricants they sell over the counter at wal-mart.although i am a professional towing and recovery co owner. with my family having owned a business in kent (Schumann's Fly Fish Kit Co)..since 1934..and family being buried in the standing rock cemetery.. i had better mention my ties with kent. i do not want anyone to mistake me for an outsider not familiar with the area.. i just feel this could have taken better avenues. than to bicker so.. have a good evening..

Instead of wishing things upon the neighborhood that you would obviously not want in yours, why don't you run for the zoning board when the next vacancy comes up?

duck: dont give too much info away. please leave some surprises for us. ( an impound lot in our backyard wasn't surprising enough. )

you are correct though. the building is wholesale and distributing.... not industrial / auto repair / towing zoned.

- You can't get a 53 or even a 48 FT Tractor-trailer onto the premises...
If anything, a 28 ft. box truck (single axle I presume).
From: X-trucker

The neighborhood of assumptions!
Chris, you say because he posted about a distributing company moving in there, he wouldn't like it in his backyard. ASSUMPTION! Nowhere in that post does he state he wouldn't approve of it in his neighborhood.
Teresa, an impound yard in your backyard? REALLY? Bakers is paying someone at another location to keep his impounded cars. Just because people who work there park their cars in the parking lot, and a few cars they are working on are there, does not an impound lot make. ASSUMPTION!
~Assumption: a proposition that is taken for granted, as if it were true based upon presupposition without preponderance of the facts.
~Fact: something that actually exists.

Molly: Fan of tow trucks, lover of capital letters.

@Joesph: is there a law against CAPITAL LETTERS?
My comments are based on the comments of others made here by the "neighbors" (which are mostly assumptions) I know what it is zoned for and blah blah blah...all I stated is that zoning can be changed. You people act like it wasn't even an option to be able to get zoning changed. It's rather comical how people have such strong opinions without knowing the facts.
At least your last comment was based on facts.
Kudos! or should I say KUDOS! I LOVE CAPITAL LETTERS (and tow trucks) ;)

well chris .joann has passed a few yrs ago.. bill has passed also.. my aunt tamara lives in alliance and mother sally lives in rootstown which were both robert and gloria's daughters (my grandparents) i am currently in ravenna twp. and have a well known and professional towing and recovery service along with the auto service and AAA provider we handle the county.and are based out of the rootstown/ravenna/kent area.. it is a pleasure to see someone than remembers the Schumann name..a well respected name in a community that such deserves one is paramount.. it was a pleasure to have spoken to you chris.