02/08/1994 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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initiated changes to the map, a procedure should be set up and a formal motion should be required. A riotion was made to rezone the former Sherwin Williams parcel and also on the parcels on the west end of town, but none wras made on the last two. He has had several diseussion with Law Director Gareau and since North O7msted has never had a ma.ster plan before, the Commission must go step by step. Mr. Gareau believed that simply because the master plan was adopted, he does not believe that Planning Commission should take every block of land that is not zoned consistent with the master plan and attempt to rezone each parcel in the city so that it is consistent with that plan. He believed that the master plan is a guide, something that planners have loolced at from a planning perspective, but it might not necessarily be economically feasible. For example, iMr. Gareau does not believe it would make sense to rezone the lot on the corner of Dover Center and Lorain (the Sherwin Williams parcel) to Office Building, it might have made sense 5 years ago or perhaps five years in the future, but it does not make sense presently due to market conditions. It mi.ght be feasible from a pure planning perspective but, as he has pointed out in the past, a developer has to be able to get a fair return on his investment. Again, a motion must be made before a legislative request can be made, and Mr. Gareau does not want the Commission to feel that they have to recomMend t:hat every lot has to be rezoned to the proposed use. It is within the Planning Commission's authority to do it if they wish to. Mr. Gorris responded that he remembered 15 or 16 years ago, Mr. Gareau telling him that if he did not like something, the Planning Corrnnission coUld change it. The Commission spent two years of their lives doing a master plan, and it is his contention that everything should be rezoned according to that plan, if not the Commission will continue to have 42 hour meetings with residents throwing barbs at them; and the Council people will say that Mr. Gareau has stated that the Planning Commission can protect the residents, so they should be able to do something. This is the one thing that can be done to be effective and make a change. He, personally, will try to do everything in his power to get lots rezoned according to the master plan and if it does not produce the largest economic return for the owners, that is not the Commission's problem. They were supposed to make a ma.ster plan that was best for the citizens of North Olmsted, not so the residents would have to spend 4 to 6 million tax dollars on infra- structure repairs to line the pockets of some developer. This plan is supposed to be for the good of the town and the residents. He believed that it is Mr. Gareau's responsibility, since the Corrunission developed the plan in good faith with the Law Department sitting in and telling them they were doing everything properly, to defend an issue if it goes to court. Mr. Dubelko stated that he wanted to get this out in the open since there has been some mi.s-conumuLication on the part of a lot of people, and reiterated that he does not think that the Commission has to recommend that every lot be rezoned immediately or within the next 3 months just because they did a master plan; or, if Council does not believe ichat it makes sense to rezone, that does not mean that either party has not done his job. His opinion was that the Cor.?mission's function was to present a plan that would be an ideal worl.d, but never was there any discussion about economics of any piece of land, it was more or less a wish list as to what makes sense from the city's viewpoint. No developer came forward and stated that he could do this. He believed that there was a real problem between Council and Planning Commission on this issue, as to whether one of them is doing sonething wrong. The Commission has done it's job putting together a master plan, but that does not mean Council has to rezone each parcel and neither does Planning CoNffn.ission have to throw each proposed rezonings at Council and ask that they either turn it down or approve it. If anyone stated that a proposed office buildirg at Dover Center and Lorain does not make sense, the Commission should not take the attitude that despite everything, they are going to recommend 8