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<br />and if she had wanted to live in the back yard of the Mall of America she would have move to
<br />Minnesota. Mrs. Schuller, a resident of Claireshire Condominiums, mentioned the noise that they get
<br />from Wal-Mart and if this goes in they would be facing it. They are in complete agreement with what
<br />Mr. Skoulis has said. She mentioned that they own their condominiums. She presented a petition
<br />opposing this development which was presented by a resident who collected 95 signatures in just the
<br />past two days. Mr. Orlowski, who lives in a section of the city where a brokerage coinpany was seeking
<br />to purchase all the homes in the area, as they were informed, for Home Depot along with several other
<br />stores. Originally, they came in with a price that was $20,000 u.nder county appraised values, secondly,
<br />they were sent an option contract by the brokerage firm, but the wording contradicted itself as to who
<br />would receive the down payment money if the project is ever completed. He was put off tremendously
<br />by their approach and requested that the commission scrutinize the proposal that is being cliscussed. Mr.
<br />Corsi asked if the proposal could be tabled so they could discuss and respond to some of the statements
<br />that were made, and Mr. Richardson agreed that there would be a ueed to continue this in order to
<br />digest and respond to the comments. Mr. Jacko, a resident, stated that they have been through this so
<br />many times, and asked not to let the developers prostitute the City of North Olmsted. Mr. Skoulis
<br />preferred that the proposal not be tabled and would like a decision, since the developers have had ample
<br />time to prepare; have had mauy people to help them; and have made their presentation. Mr. Mauuiug
<br />stated that it was not that easy, he had some difficulties with it but he was not so sure of what is best for
<br />the community. He would like an office there too, but it might not be feasible. He noted that Biskind
<br />originally had plans for 5 office towers, but he could not fill the two he built, and has now sold them. He
<br />also wondered why there was still a parking lot in downtown Cleveland, where Mr. Jacobs had intended
<br />to build an office, if office space was in such demand. He would like to mull this over. Mr. Skoulis
<br />responded that tlus was Cleveland's problem, and what if these owners could not put an office on this
<br />property, how would that hurt North Olmsted, it should be decided on what was best for the city. He
<br />questioned why North Olmsted had the second highest tax rate in the area, if retail was such a Uonanza.
<br />He maintained that the city had to go into bomded debt to build up the infrastructure to service all these
<br />retail establishments. He does uot believe that the retail establishments pay their way, he thinks the more
<br />retail in the city, the costlier it is to the city. The surrounding towns are surviving with less retail, and
<br />their housing values have gone up more than those in North Olmsted. Mr. McICay noted that since the
<br />property was bought as residential, the owners should have expected to develop as it was zoned. He
<br />stated just because Mr. Biskind made a mistake, the city shou.ld not have to rectify it. Mr. Brennau
<br />stated that it took aggressive marketing tactics to get the Moen Office Building, and asked if there had
<br />been any kind of aggressive marketing coalition formed by the city and Biskind to develop Parcel "E"
<br />into an office park. Mr. McKay responded that they city does have a committee that is attempting to
<br />develop offices and industrial property on the west end of town. This committee brought in Moen and
<br />the Mac Systems. He stated that Mr. Boss, a contractor in the city, had to go to North Ridgeville to get
<br />an office. Mrs. Seman, a resident, who stated that she is the Clerk of Council for the city, advised that
<br />Mayor Boyle had told her, and had also told a newspaper, that if these people present this proposal to
<br />him wrapped in red, wlute, and blue, he still would not accept it. She further stated that city council is
<br />not in favor of it. She advised that in order for a rezoning to go througla it is necessary for legislation to
<br />be sponsored by the Mayor or a member of Council and she does not believe that city council is in favor
<br />of tlus rezoning. She maintained that the Law Director had told her that he is ready, willing and able to
<br />defend this in court and the city will win. 5he also advised that she did not think that the ovvners
<br />attempted to seek office builders, since their sign stated "sites available", and there were no sites
<br />available, there were office sites available, the sigu for their other parcel states "office sites available".
<br />She believed that tlus spoke to how they were trying to market the property. Mr. Brennan stated that he
<br />received several northern Oluo business magazines, aud he has never seen an ad for Biskind properiy
<br />under real estate for auy part of North Olmsted. Mrs. Seman stated that one of Bisldnd's tenauts is the
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