INSIGHT: The issue of the North Howe Road land development that lead to a court victory for the Visconsi organization over the City of Strongsville; that will have an immediate impact on citizens of Ward 1, the Royalton Road/Fallingwater Road N.E. and the users of the Royalton Road/Howe Road area may be the result of the seven years it took Council leadership to pass what was to be the 1996 Comprehensive Plan, as the 2001 Comprehensive Plan in 2003.

The 1968 and the 1990 Comprehensive Plan identified the North Howe Road land use as "Retail Sales & Service". The PROPOSED 1996 Comprehensive Plan IDENTIFIED the LAND USE as OFFICE, DAY CARE, HOTEL, CLUSTER SINGLE FAMILY.

The LACK OF DUE DILIGENCE  on the part of Council leadership to revise the 1990 Comprehensive Plan and ACCEPT the 1996 Comprehensive Plan brings into question the ability of the Council leaders to act in the best interest of the citizens they represent.

"Comprehensive Plan....the plan and statement of the objectives and recommendations prepared by or for the Planning Commission and adopted by it, indicating the general location and extent of desirable future land development, community facilities and street plans for the city"...(from...#11220.06 Maps, Plans...Definitions..Codified Ordnances...)

INSIGHT: The following is the activity and time sequence that resulted in NOT THE 1996 PLAN BUT THE  2001 COMPREHENSIVE APPROVED IN 2003.

Ordinance N. 1996-30 by Mrs. Barth and Mr. Coyne

(Background information)..May 8, 1995, a proposal is submitted to, then President of Council, Charlene Barth by Robert C. Hill, City Planner, Re: Retail Business Study/Comprehensive Plan update.

Ordinance No. 1996-30 had its' first reading on 2/5/96 and passed on 3/4/96 and was approved on 3/5/96.

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN ADDENDUM TO AGREEMENT WITH ROBERT C. HILL, CITY PLANNER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING A STUDY TO REVIEW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY{ AS IT RELATES TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT}.

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June 28, 1996

Mr. Hill submits "Strongsville Comprehensive Plan/Business Supplement to: Hon. W. F. Ehrnfelt, Patrick J. Coyne, President of Council, Members of Strongsville City Council, R. L. Haseley, Planning Commission Chairman, Members of Strongsville Planning Commission.

Mr. Hill, in part writes,"...subject Business Study, WHICH WE BELIEVE IN ALL RESPECTS."...This separate report is intended as an integral component of the Comprehensive Plan update.

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INSIGHT OBSERVATION: Map-3 (Royalton Rd./Fallingwater Rd. (NE)..identifies the area to be developed on "N. Howe Rd." to be A. OFFICE, B. DAY CARE, C. HOTEL, D. CLUSTER SINGLE FAMILY.

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On Mr. Hill's Executive Summary page this is provided..."Based on the fact that Strongsville now has 1,035 acres of zoned business land, but a total potential for only 865 acres, Chapter 3 concludes that the City is fostering speculative development today. This issue is adddressed in the recommendations which follow"...

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INSIGHT: Speculate: To engage in the buying or selling..with an element of risk with the chance of profit.

INSIGHT: Development: A group of buildings...built by the same contractor.

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1998

A Comprehensive Plan Review Committee is formed. The Committee includes, but is not limited to, Dennis Beckman, Tony Bialowas, Erika Boehnke, Mike Daymut, Hank Obojski, Nancy Ringer...

BASED on a letter dated January, 2002 from Mr. Hill to the Strongsville City Council et. al. "At the Committee's 11-24-98 meeting, IT RECOMMENDED that the 1996 Comprehensive Plan (Update) including Business and Technical Supplement be ACCEPTED AND OFFICIALLY ADOPTED."...

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INSIGHT: AFTER a DELAY of two years, in 1998, a CITIZEN COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS  the acceptance and adoption of the 1996 Comprehensive Plan that would have altered the 1990 Comprehensive Plan and changed the identified use of the North Howe Road land.

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Ordinance No. 2001-206

AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE 1996 STRONGSVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (UPDATE) AND APPROVING AND ADOPTING A NEW STRONGSVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AS AMMENDED...//whereas, the City Planner reviewed and recommended changes to the 1990 Strongsville Comprehensive Plan and submitted those changes as the 1996 Comprehensive Plan to the City for its review; and...That the Strongsville Comprehensive Plan-2001 is..hereby approved....

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INSIGHT: The FIRST READING on Ord. No. 2001-206 was held on 10/15/01. The SECOND READING  was held on 9/23/03..

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LETTER OF JANUARY 2002

Mr. Hill, in his letter of January 2002 in part wrote.."This Plan (2001) incorporates ammendments to reflect current conditions within the City. IT DOES NOT DEPART FROM THE BASIC RECOMMENDATIONS OF  the 1996 UPDATE."....

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INSIGHT: The 1996 Comprehensive Plan became the 2001 Strongsville Comprehensive Plan when it was finally passed on November 3, 2003 and approved on November 5, 2003. This is long after Visconsi"s involvement with the property surrounding North Howe Road.

I believe that the two long term Council at Large and the long term Ward Council  Representative did not take a leadership position to approve this significant document. When Council finally acted to approved the legislation in 2003, it appears to have been long after the horse was out of the barn.

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COUNCIL LEADERSHIP 1995-2001

Council President: 1996-1997-2000-2001: Patrick J. Coyne

Council Chair's: 1995-1996-1997-1998-1999-2000-2001: Mark Roth-Pat Coyne-Joe DeMio.

Council Chair Rules & Ordinances: 1996-1997-2000-2001: PatCoyne

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INSIGHT: Leadership (n.) The position or office of a leader.
                   Leader (n) One that leads or guides...

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INSIGHT: the lack of ability to guide the 1996 Comprehensive Plan to an early and successful conclusion resulted in a seven year journey to nowhere and may well have a negative impact on the "quality of life" of the residents of Ward 1, the Environment, and the lives of everyone that must use Royalton Road.

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'IS IT'.." HERE WE GO AGAIN"

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

At the regular Strongsville Council meeting held Tuesday, September 6, 2005, the Council approved by a vote of 7 to 0 Ordinance No. 2005-169: " AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A PLANNING CONSULTANT FOR PLANNING SERVICES TO THE CITY OF STRONGSVILLE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY."

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Wenesday, July 4, 2007

"A group of residents hoping to save 49 acres of undeveloped land has lost their case."
A citizens group called Save Our Unique Land tried to stop development of the wooded site on Royalton Road, adjacent to I-71 and the Ledgewood area.
The Ohio Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Eighth District Cour of Appeals, dismissing the group's claim the city had disregarded its own comprehensive plan for zoning changes that would permit construction of a retail complex.

(For additional information www.sunnews.com .

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Contact Zubek at friendsoftonyzubek@hotmail.com or 440-238-1342