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<br />The proposal is to subdivide peiYnanent parcel numbers 231-14-1, 2; 3 and 4, located on the north side of
<br />Loraui Road between Clague Road and West 231 Street and abutting the east terminal ends of Sharon
<br />and Woodview Drives, into forty eight (48) "C" Residence, Single lots plus a center land `Island" Block
<br />"A", plus remnant commercial property fronting on Lorain Road. All proposed residential lots are located
<br />within the residentially zoned area. This proposal is a minor revision of the April 11, 1995 proposed
<br />subdivision which was tabled by Plauning Commission.
<br />Mr. Martin, general counsel, and Mr. Basalla, represented Whitlatch Development Company. Mr. Basalla
<br />explained that the proposal is in compliance with both the zoning and subdivision regulations of the city.
<br />Mr. Martin advised that they are requesting approval of the consolidation of the four parcels that were
<br />mentioned and a lot split which will split offthe commercial frontage from the residential portion in the
<br />rear. Chairmau Tallon advised all present that this proposal is a preliminary plan which is part of the
<br />plotting process, it may or may not be perfect, but it is part of a process, the actual plotting does not
<br />occur u.ntil this is approved. This merely divides the property into lots, streets, turning radu and accesses
<br />all of which must meet the codes. The final plat will be presented at a later date. Mr. Martin advised Mrs.
<br />O'Rourke that they had a contract to sell the commercial portion as a single parcel to a commercial
<br />developer and it will not be part of their residential development. Mr. Basalla clarified that they do have
<br />half of the Maple Ridge Road access on their property, which they intend to convey that to the city as
<br />part of the dedication plat, and they are continuing to work with the Gaitanaros family to obtain the other
<br />half. It was clarified that "dedication" meant that they are giving the properiy to the city for a street, but
<br />at present they only own half of it. A neighbor, speaking from the audience, asked why they did not open
<br />the development to Lorain Road, since their street is like a race track as it is. Mr. Margevicius, a resident
<br />who had submitted a letter to the commission questioning several minor irregularities on the plat, verified
<br />that tonight's hearing would not be a final approvaL He does have a concern about the Maple Ridge
<br />access as defined since Councilmau Miller stated that it is not allowable under current codes and asked
<br />that this be addressed or removed until the Gaitanaros people have addressed the issue. His second
<br />concern is the wetlands situation since, if the entire area is a wetland, by Federal Law they would have to
<br />set aside property, double the size of that plot, in the immediate area; and there is no 40 acre parcel
<br />available in the immecliate area for purchase. So, if that is the case, this whole process may be for nothing,
<br />and since there is reasonable doubt, it is too preliminary to bring this to the table. Mr. Tallon responded
<br />that the wetlands map in Engineering Department indicated where'wetlands are located and is checked by
<br />them The responsibility still lies with the developer and, if he gets the platting, and it proves to be
<br />wetlands, he cannot develop. Mr. Margevicius believes that it should not be left to the developer since he
<br />could always develop a wetland without getting caught. He stated that the soil on this property was listed
<br />as a non hydrick soil by Cuyahoga County which is not definitely considered one way or the other, but it
<br />may be a wetland. In surrounding counties it is listed as being a candidate material for wetlands. Three
<br />issues determine a wetland: hydrology, soil type, and vegetation, in this case, the soil type is inconclusive,
<br />but hydrology and vegetation suggest that it is a wetland. He believed that there are many unanswered
<br />questions and omissions on this plat and requested that a formal plat not be approved until these are
<br />addressed, or if formal approval is given tonight, it be contingent on addressing these issues. Mr. Tallon
<br />reiterated that this is a preliminary plan and these questions will have to be answered before the final
<br />approval. Mr. Margevicius believed that approving this would set a dangerous precedent. Assistant City
<br />Engineer McDermott advised that he had reviewed the wetlands issue with the city engineer, who verified
<br />that this is not listed on the Federal wetlands map. He clarified that wetlands is not a platting issue, the
<br />property can be platted with or without wetlands and, if it were wetlands, it would not appear on the plat.
<br />Before a plat is approved, it has to conform to all city ordinances and platting regulations or it will neither
<br />recommended by the Engineering Department nor recorded by the county. A title search must be done
<br />before the plat can be recorded. Mr. Tallon clarified again that the purpose of this hearing is to either
<br />approve or disapprove the preluninary plan and the next step will be the final platting. Mr. McDermott
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