Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog

North Olmsted City Council is considering ordinances that would amend the City's zoning code to allow businesses and homeowners to install wind turbines and solar panels.

Last week, North Olmsted City Council's Building, Zoning & Development Committee approved the proposed renovations of Great Northern Mall.

The Sun Post-Herald has more information about the planned renovation of Great Northern Mall.

Update: the North Olmsted Board of Zoning Appeals approved signage variances for the project.

Great Northern Mall officials are planning a multimillion-dollar renovation of the mall, including updates to the interior and exterior.

The City of North Olmsted is conducting the Great Northern Multi Modal Transportation Plan, which will "include recommendations and alternatives for encouraging transit usage, creating bicycle linkages, promoting pedestrian orientation and enhancing the streetscape through physical improvements."

Leaders in North Olmsted and Westlake are ready to enter the second phase of a study on creating a water district. The cties are contemplating a switch in water providers, from Cleveland to Avon Lake. Mayor Clough says the cost to buy water would be 75% less.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that attempting to obtain "federal money to get out from under the Cleveland water system smacks of a political ploy."

Leaders in North Olmsted and Westlake are pleased with the economic development opportunities created by the completion of the Crocker-Stearns connector. The City of North Olmsted has begun the process of rezoning and redeveloping the Stearns Road corridor south of the new construction.

The 1.6-mile Crocker-Stearns connector was officially opened on Thursday in a ceremony at the border of North Olmsted and Westlake. Leaders in Avon and Avon Lake are pleased with the news.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Crocker-Stearns Road Extension project will be held on December 18. The North Olmsted portion of the construction will be completed soon, and construction in Westlake will wrap up in the spring. Related work is scheduled to be finished in September 2009.

Research on the small house on Denison Avenue in Old Brooklyn indicates that it likely was built in 1853 by the son of one of Brooklyn Township's first settlers. Meanwhile, the North Olmsted Landmarks Commission may designate the Standen House on Kennedy Ridge Road as a historic property.

The installation of replacement noise barriers along I-480 in North Olmsted has been delayed, and will completed in October instead of August.

A 140 room hotel has been proposed for a property near the I-480 interchange at Great Northern Boulevard in North Olmsted. The 13.59 acre site is currently zoned for office development, and would require a rezoning to proceed.

Mayor O'Grady of North Olmsted pulled back his plans for a new recreation center and an income tax increase. He intends to revisit the proposal in the future.

Feedback from the public led North Olmsted leaders to part ways with YMCA for the proposed $18 million recreation center. Mayor O'Grady still hopes to have a tax issue on the November ballot. The dissolution of the partnership means that the income tax would run for 30 years instead of 20-25 years.

Leaders in North Olmsted hope to reach a decision by later this month about the proposed recreation master plan and a possible income tax issue.

North Olmsted residents packed a recent meeting to see a presentation (PDF) about the City's recreation facilities. Residents may be asked to approve an income tax increase to fund a redesign of the recreation center and other improvements.

The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to soon begin installing replacement noise barriers along I-480 in North Olmsted. They expect to complete construction by the end of this summer.

If the City's negotiations with the Greater Cleveland YMCA and Fairview Hospital are successful, North Olmsted voters will have the opportunity to vote on recreation center plans in November. Construction of a recreation center was a priority identified in the City's 2005 master plan.

The historic Barton Road Church, moved to the Frostville Museum in 2005, will be rededicated on August 3 as the Frostville Church. The restored church will serve as a museum and wedding chapel.

Cities such as Cleveland, Westlake, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, and Avon Lake are still dealing with the withdrawal of Tops Supermarkets from Northeast Ohio in 2006.

Construction of the Crocker-Stearns connector in North Olmsted and Westlake is stopping for the winter.

Completion of the North Olmsted portion of the Crocker-Stearns connector has been pushed back from late 2007 to spring 2008.

Westlake City Council approved a contract for a study that will analyze the implications of switching water providers from Cleveland to Avon Lake. Leaders in Bay Village and North Olmsted are considering whether to join the study.

Officials from North Olmsted and Westlake report that construction of the Crocker-Stearns connector is on schedule for its planned September 2009 completion.

North Olmsted officials say that the Ohio Department of Transportation will install new sound barriers along I-480 in spring 2008. The City will hold a public meeting about the barriers on August 15 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Cabin at North Olmsted Park.

Expansion of the North Olmsted Park-N-Ride will begin this month, and it is scheduled to open later this year.

With work on the Crocker-Stearns connector due to begin on March 1, the City of North Olmsted held a public meeting on Monday at which the Kent State Urban Design Center presented several development scenarios for the corridor and sought input from residents.

Construction of the Crocker-Stearns extension project in North Olmsted and Westlake will start next month, and site preparation began this week. The $13.29 million project is scheduled to be completed in September 2009.

North Olmsted City Council voted to rezone 17 parcels on Bradley Road from limited industrial to residential. Some residents and business owners object to the decision, but Council members said that it's best for the future of the area.

After opting not to hire an economic development officer, North Olmsted City Council is considering contracting with an economic development firm to supply consulting services.