Motorcycle Club Drops Plans for Kent Clubhouse

Last-minute withdrawals from the Kent planning and zoning commissions means won't be opening a clubhouse on West Elm Street anytime soon.

Born Free M.C. Toy Run Inc. withdrew requests to both the Kent Board of Zoning Appeals and Kent Planning Commission seeking to turn the club's house at 325 W. Elm St. into the headquarters for the philanthropic institution.

The withdrawals were made Monday afternoon. The zoning board and planning commission were scheduled to review the requests Monday evening and tonight, respectively.

Heather Phile, development planner for the city of Kent, said representatives for the group withdrew its requests for a variance, conditional zoning certificate and site plan approval. The group also asked for relief from the city code requiring philanthropic institutions be located on major thoroughfares and not neighborhood streets.

Phile said if the club had received approval for all its requests, then the house would have been considered a commercial structure, which would have needed updates ranging from a new sprinkler system to a handicap-accessible ramp.

No members of the club could be reached for comment.

Born Free Motorcycle Club was founded in Kent in 1968, and n 1987 the club did its first toy run in Portage County along with the Blue Knights, a law enforcement motorcycle club, with proceeds going to . The club sponsors annual toy drives in Portage County to benefit local service agencies.

In 1992 the club was incorporated as Born Free M.C. Toy Run, a non-profit 501 (c3) organization.