Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog

On Thursday, the mayors of Orange, Pepper Pike, and Woodmere discussed the potential merger of their communities (along with the Village of Moreland Hills) at a Corporate Club forum. They spoke about their motivations and the potential cost savings.

Update: the Chagrin Solon Sun and Cleveland Jewish News reported on the event. Meanwhile, Jill Miller Zimon interviewed Gary Norton, the mayor of East Cleveland and Beryl Rothschild, the former mayor of University Heights.

The City of University Heights will establish a blue-ribbon economic development committee. Mayor Infeld will appoint its members by June 15. The City of Shaker Heights hopes to create a high-end office corridor along Warrensville Road, and hired Allegro Realty Advisors to develop economic development strategies.

Cleveland Heights and University Heights municipal officials, business owners, and nonprofit leaders met on Monday to discuss the future of the Cedar Taylor business district.

A Sun Press editorial says that "neighboring municipalities are pooling resources to purchase items or utilize services that can benefit all municipalities involved" and that municipal collaboration can save money.

The Plain Dealer looked at John Carroll University's desire to expand and the frictions with its neighbors in University Heights and Shaker Heights.

The cities of South Euclid and University Heights are collaborating on the Nine Mile Creek Green Street Project, an effort to improve water quality and reduce runoff by installing stormwater bioretention cells.

John Carroll University's desire to create more green space for athletic fields by demolishing six houses remains a contentious issue in University Heights. City Council's University Affairs Committee is exploring alternatives.

South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo, University Heights Councilman Kevin Patrick Murphy, and Cleveland Heights Councilman Mark Tumeo spoke at a panel discussion on regionalism last week.

In a Plain Dealer op-ed, Mayor Beryl Rothschild of University Heights says that her city would gain "absolutely nothing" from a merger with Cleveland Heights.

Cleveland Heights Councilman Mark Tumeo's suggestion to begin talks about a possible merger of Cleveland Heights and University Heights continues to elicit a wide variety of reactions.

Prompted by the recent proposal from Cleveland Heights Councilman Mark Tumeo, this morning's Sound of Ideas program on WCPN was devoted to a discussion of municipal mergers and collaborations. Mayor Rothschild of University Heights remains strongly opposed to the concept.

Cleveland Heights Councilman Mark Tumeo said he has received good feedback about his proposal to begin examining a potential Cleveland Heights-University Heights merger. He also advocated for the concept in a Plain Dealer op-ed.

At a recent University Heights Charter Review Commission meeting, a Cleveland Heights councilman introduced a proposal to begin discussing a possible merger of the two cities. The Charter Review Commission did not comment on the topic, but Mayor Rothschild of University Heights is not interested. Mayor Kelley of Cleveland Heights has raised the subject of combining fire departments.

Neighbors of John Carroll University remain concerned about the school's plans to grow, and recently presented their own vision to University Heights City Council. Meanwhile, Shaker Heights neighbors of the University want more information about the plans. University officials say that they are keeping Shaker Heights informed.

University Heights City Council's Committee on University Affairs is considering the proposed footprint (PDF) offered by John Carroll University. The committee will hold its next meeting on March 5.

At a committee work session in University Heights, John Carroll University officials shared a map that shows the University's envisioned footprint in five years. Neighbors of the University say that it's a step in the right direction. The University's expansion plans have been a source of friction with nearby residents, which can be seen in the disagreements over a recent request by the University to demolish six houses for a new athletic field and campus greenspace.

Two residents who live near John Carroll University proposed a study intended to quantify the economic benefits of the neighborhood surrounding the campus.

The Sun Press examined the causes of population declines in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, and University Heights and how leaders have reacted to the changes.

The new issue of the Heights Observer includes a look at the Severance Center area, an essay on the prospects of a Cleveland Heights-University Heights merger, and more details about the transportation and streetscape planning process in the Cedar-Fairmount district. The City of Cleveland Heights is currently conducting a stakeholder survey.

The University Square shopping center in University Heights has not performed up to expectations, both financially and physically. It has never been fully leased, and cracks in its garage support beams were discovered in March.

John Carroll University officials presented their new campus master plan to University Heights City Council on Monday. The University is interested in expanding its footprint in order to provide additional athletic fields, residence halls, and surface parking.

A proposal prepared by neighbors of John Carroll University says that when the University purchases houses near its campus, it creates a loss of municipal income tax revenue. Meanwhile, a study done for the University by CSU's Center for Economic Development says that JCU had a $115.8 million economic impact on Greater Cleveland over a recent one-year period.

Neighbors of John Carroll University in University Heights and Shaker Heights are concerned about the institution's plans for growth. The University intends to unveil its new master plan in May.

The Fairmount Area Neighborhood Association presented a petition to Shaker Heights City Council. The petition notes their concerns about "gradual degradation of the Fairmount Circle area over the past 20 years and a lack of appropriate planning and oversight". Residents are particularly troubled by the behavior of John Carroll University students in off-campus housing.

Mayor Welo of South Euclid is optimistic about the future of the Hillcrest Heights Area Recreation Council, and hopes to obtain federal or state funding for the proposed regional recreation center.

Last month, John Carroll University held three neighborhood meetings about the campus master plan at the homes of nearby residents. University officials expect the plan to be finalized in spring 2008.

University Heights officials say that John Carroll University's decision to rent houses it owns solely to students is not consistent with the properties' current residential zoning.

The South Euclid-Lyndhurst Board of Education decided to not join the Hillcrest Heights Area Recreation Council "at this time", instead choosing to concentrate on passing an operating levy in March.

The master planning process for John Carroll University is taking longer than expected. Sasaki Associates is preparing the plan and is currently gathering information. Representatives from the University and Sasaki are scheduled to meet with community leaders next month and plan to hold a community meeting in late November or early December.

Fuchs Mizrachi School will move from University Heights to a 10 acre site on Shaker Boulevard in Beachwood. Beachwood City Council approved preliminary site plans for the new school.

Mayor Welo assured South Euclid residents that the Hillcrest Heights Area Recreation Council will not build a proposed recreation center if they are unable to align grant funding.

Mayor Welo of South Euclid offered to personally pay the startup fees for the South Euclid-Lyndhurst School District's entry into the Hillcrest Heights Area Recreation Council. This fall, the mayors of Richmond Heights, South Euclid, and University Heights will meet with Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones to discuss funding sources. They hope to build a new recreation center without the use of local tax dollars.

Financial concerns may prevent the South Euclid-Lyndhurst School District from joining the Hillcrest Heights Area Recreation Council. The Cities of Richmond Heights, South Euclid, and University Heights have agreed to establish the council of governments.

In the second installment of their "A Region Uniting?" series, the Plain Dealer looked at the potential for merging suburban communities in Greater Cleveland. They used Cleveland Heights and University Heights as an example, and compared the demographics of their proposed mergers with existing cities.

On June 25, South Euclid City Council is expected to vote on a proposal to create a council of governments with Richmond Heights, University Heights, and the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Board of Education to study the feasibility of a regional recreation center. University Heights passed similar legislation on June 4, while Lyndhurst leaders reiterated that they were not interested in participating.

In the wake of a recent rash of burglaries, University Heights leaders and residents are reactivating the City's dormant neighborhood watch program.