Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog

The Cleveland Metroparks recently acquired two wetland properties. A 26-acre site on Engle Road in Middleburg Heights is now part of the Big Creek Reservation, and the 20-acre Heron Rookery wetland along the east branch of the Rocky River in North Royalton is now part of the Mill Stream Run Reservation. Funding for the Middleburg Heights purchase came from a legal settlement, and funding for the North Royalton conservation easement was provided by the WRSSP and NRAC.

After some delays, the City of North Royalton is preparing to begin its master planning process. City officials expect to assemble a master plan task force by February 1.

Election recap

This month's election included the following issues (PDF):

• Brecksville
  Issue 26 (institutional rezoning): passed
• Broadview Heights
  Issue 29 (prohibit oil and gas drilling): passed

  Activists celebrated its passage, while City officials said it wouldn't stop drilling and could lead to lawsuits against the city.

• Fairview Park
  Issue 52 (church rezoning): passed
• Garfield Heights
  Issue 55 (commercial rezoning): passed
• Highland Heights
  Issue 57 (parking lot rezoning): passed
  Issue 58 (retail rezoning): failed

  City officials and the developer are considering next steps.

• Moreland Hills
  Issue 68 (retail rezoning): passed
• North Royalton
  Issue 73 (planning commission referrals): passed
• Pepper Pike
  Issue 82 (procedures for zoning code revisions): passed
• Solon
  Issue 87 (zoning charter amendment): passed
  Issues 89 & 90 (zoning code changes): passed
• Strongsville
  Issue 97 (senior housing rezoning): passed
• Westlake
  Issue 102 (mixed-use rezoning): passed
• Cuyahoga County
  Issue 108 (Port Authority levy): failed

  Port Authority leaders said they need some time to review their options, and a Plain Dealer editorial said that they "must do a far better job convincing voters it's a good investment."

In Summit County, Green residents voted to ban casino gambling and horse racing.

Visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for complete results.

The City of North Royalton and the Cleveland Metroparks are purchasing the 14-acre Aukerman Farm property for $219,000. The site on York Road is adjacent to the Metroparks' Brecksville Reservation. Middleburg Heights City Council is considering a similar action that would protect a one-acre property near Big Creek.

The City of North Royalton is preparing to embark on an update of its master plan. The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission may prepare the update. The City's most recent plan (PDF) was completed in 2004 by Wilbur Smith Associates.

The Cleveland Metroparks purchased a 62-acre property along the east branch of the Rocky River in North Royalton. The site, which contains quality wetlands and a primary headwater stream, will be added to the Mill Stream Run Reservation.

Officials in Brecksville, Broadview Heights, and North Royalton have begun to seek funding for an extension of the Valley Parkway Trail through their communities. A trail alignment study (PDF, 35.6 MB), funded by a TLCI grant, was completed last year. It identified three alignment options.

North Royalton officials attended the recent ICSC conference in Las Vegas and came to the conclusion that the Town Center district must be developed in phases. Community Development Director Thomas Jordan said that "the concept of getting 300 acres under development all at one time and getting a bank to finance the acquisition and construction in one large loan is unrealistic."

North Royalton City Council may create an Earth and Environment Committee. It would be a place for members to discuss sustainable development topics.

Update: the committee may include residents in addition to council members.

North Royalton City Council has begun discussing whether to allow the construction of wind turbines. Hudson City Council decided to forbid wind turbines, but will review requests to install solar panels on a case-by-case basis.

The City of North Royalton may join South Euclid and Euclid in promulgating rules for rain barrels.

North Royalton City Council is resuming its exploration of Low Impact Design stormwater management techniques. Council President Vincent Gentile plans to form a Low Impact Design subcommittee that will make a recommendation to Council late next year.

Leaders of a youth football program are interested in building a fieldhouse on a ten acre site in south or southwest Cuyahoga County. The group has met with officials in Broadview Heights and North Royalton to discuss a possible joint venture.

The cities of Brecksville, Broadview Heights, and North Royalton passed legislation in support of the Chippewa Creek Balanced Growth Initiative.

The City of North Royalton and the Coral Co. decided to terminate a 2005 agreement for the development of the mixed-use Town Center District. In a statement, the City said that it "remains committed to pursuing the Town Center concept." However, it also removed materials relating to the development from its website.

North Royalton leaders recently passed a measure requiring increased notification when an oil or gas well is drilled. At least one company intends to ignore the new rules, because they are unenforceable under state law.

North Royalton leaders met with Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer district officials to discuss the agency's plans for a regional stormwater management program.

The City of North Royalton received another one year extension to meet the job creation requirements of a 1998 CDBG grant that was used for the expansion of York Road industrial park.

North Royalton City Council dropped discussion of the proposed North Royalton Greenways Plan because the plan's main advocates are no longer City Council members. Mayor Stefanik called it "feel good" legislation that wasn't realistic or legal.

Tom Jordan is North Royalton's new Director of Community Development. He previously served as the Director of Planning and Development in Lakewood, a position he held since 2004. Nathan Kelly now holds the Lakewood post.

The current and former mayors of North Royalton asked Ohio's senators for assistance in obtaining another extension for meeting the job creation requirements of a federal grant the City received in 1998 for the expansion of York Road industrial park. If the extension is not granted, the City may assess property owners to cover repayment of the grant.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted approval to the City of North Royalton to build a retention basin in the Chesapeake Drive area. The basin was the main project identified by the Citizens Flooding Oversight Committee.

Mayor Luks of North Royalton would like the City to purchase a 30 acre undeveloped site on State Road for use as athletic fields. Some City Council members would prefer to instead work with the school district.

Some North Royalton residents expressed an interest in forming a nonprofit organization similar to the West Creek Preservation Committee to implement the priorities identified in the City's Greenways Plan.

Developers of the planned North Royalton Town Center are expected to present a development plan to the North Royalton Planning Commission later this month. Plans for big box retail have been scaled back, with the largest store now at 87,000 square feet. The 619,000 square foot mixed-use development will include retail, office, and municipal space.

North Royalton City Council is considering a measure that would require wetlands or riparian areas lost to development to be remediated within the City. If suitable sites are unavailable, mitigation could be done outside of the City.

The North Royalton Greenways Plan remains stuck in a City Council committee because its sponsors fear that City Council would not approve it.

North Royalton officials will request another extension for meeting job creation requirements in a grant the City received for the York Road industrial park. The City will have to repay the grant if it is unable to obtain the extension.

Several Edgerton Road residents in North Royalton want the City to buy their homes because of potential flash flooding dangers identified in a recent report (PDF).

Several municipalities in Cuyahoga County are attempting to address stormwater issues in different ways:

• North Royalton organized a citizen's committee that recommended several strategies, including infrastructure improvements and floodplain expansions.
• Parma Heights is focusing on sewer maintenance.
• Broadview Heights City Council approved a funding mechanism for stormwater infrastructure maintenance and repair.

If North Royalton officials are unable to generate about 100 low- to moderate-paying jobs at the York Road industrial park, the City may need to return a $181,597 CDBG grant it received in 1998.

Royalton Place, a 132,000 square foot retail center with an additional 38,000 square feet of outlots, has been proposed for the northeast corner of Royalton and York Roads in North Royalton. The 32 acre site includes 7.32 acres of wetlands, and the Ohio EPA will accept public comments on the development until September 5.

Last month, North Royalton City Council extended the development moratorium for in Chippewa Creek watershed for an additional six months. A management plan is being developed for the watershed.

The North Royalton City Schools will likely sell a 33 acre property at Abbey and Albion Roads to the City. The site will be used as the new home for radio towers that must be moved for the planned North Royalton Town Center development.

Mayor Luks said that the preliminary site plan prepared by the Coral Company for the mixed-use North Royalton Town Center development "could change dramatically."

As part of the North Royalton Town Center project, the City's downtown radio towers may be relocated to a 38 acre site on Abbey Road. The Coral Company also prepared a preliminary site plan for the development, which calls for 603,000 square feet of retail (including anchor stores of 206,100 and 102,900 square feet) and 197,000 square feet of office space.

The transportation budget passed by Ohio legislators includes $500,000 over the next two years for an Ohio Turnpike Commission study and pilot program on reducing traffic noise. Local officials credited the four-city "Working Together to Make a Difference" group with drawing attention to the issue.

The owners of 25 acres of woods in North Royalton want to establish a farm on the property. The site on Abbey Road between Sprague and Albion Roads is zoned for residential construction, and the owners hope to build housing on the property after farming it for three years.

Some North Royalton City Council members worry that the North Royalton Greenways Plan might lower property values in the City.

North Royalton leaders are preparing a tax increment financing package that will be used to support the planned Town Center District development. Mayor Luks and other officials will also attend the annual ICSC convention in Las Vegas next month to court prospective retailers.

North Royalton Mayor Cathy Luks says that plans for the Town Center District are "very promising". Developer The Coral Company has entered phase two of the project, which includes property acquisition and site planning.

North Royalton activists were unable to obtain a grant to create the proposed Chippewa Creek Preserve, so the North Royalton Board of Education sold the 10 acres to Zillich Homes for $285,000 and 3 acres of land.

North Royalton City Council is considering adopting the North Royalton Greenways Plan (PDF), a concept for creating a system of interconnected parks and trails that was developed by the North Royalton Greenways Committee.

At the last of four public meetings, Turnpike officials, local leaders, and residents discussed the noise, flooding, and pollution generated by the Ohio Turnpike. Turnpike officials pledged to meet with community leaders within two months to discuss possible solutions.