9/12/2005 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of a Meeting of the North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission September 12, 2005 lights. Mr. Limpert said he brought it before Council as a whole to place it on the new fire station property, as much on the cusp in one direction as the other direction. Mr. Limpert said that, with so many tall trees around it, he’s not sure it will be that visible, except from Lorain Road, and then that would be a lot more than 500 feet; probably closer to 1,000 feet away from the Tower. Mr. Kelley said that you can say that people wouldn’t want it but when it’s done they won’t notice it, but you’re still taking away from Park property. Mr. Kelley did not think the Rec Department can afford to do that – especially up high. Back in the back would be different, but in the middle of the property was never agreed upon; the Commission did say maybe in the back. The more we think about it; see about somewhere else. Ask Council about that fire department property. Mr. Limpert said Council did not want that. Mr. Baxter asked about the property at the Rec Center. Mr. Limpert said that one of the problems about putting a Tower at the Complex is that it is in fairly close proximity to the two high rises, and there are a number of these units on top of those buildings. Mr. Kelley said that another thing to look at is modern technology: people are telling him that in five years or so the towers will be obsolete. Ms. Jones said that she’s not sure that anyone would know unless they were in the playground area. There’s the bathroom, the pavilion, and then the playground. Mr. Limpert said that when it’s not useful or square footage can’t be forfeited, theoretically, if they were not going to build a new bathroom but would put revenue towards it, they probably could literally build their building to the back of the Community Cabin or wherever. (At this point, the members of the Commission viewed a map and discussed a possible location for the Tower, conversation overlapping). Mr. Lasko said that the Company would build a bathroom wherever it is wanted if they thought they could get a tower out of it. Mr. Limpert said that it’s not proper negotiation to say, “You give us a bathroom; I’ll give you a Tower location.” They will go through their corporate red tape and say that here’s your bathroom and then Mr. Limpert would say that they are not getting any Tower. Mr. Lasko said that that is the question: it’s more from an aesthetics standpoint. It seemed to him that there is a difference between having the Tower at Clague Park where just because it’s so built up around it and even the Park is set back from the street, you don’t even see that Tower. If you put the Tower in the middle of the Park, everyone along Lorain Road will see that thing sticking up through the trees. So it goes back to investing in the City of North Olmsted in terms of dollars or what image do we have as a community. Do we want a Tower sticking up in the center of the Park. If we’re willing to say yes because of the change of technology that they’re not as obtrusive as they used to be when they first started to design these things and we can get over that hurdle, then yes, as long as they’re willing to sweeten the pot enough as far as providing capital improvements again, maybe it turns out to be fine. Mr. Kelley asked if the Commission wanted to give permission to wheel and deal. Ms. Kanis said once the leaves fall, the Tower will really be noticeable. Mr. Limpert said that it would stick up 60 feet above the 90 foot trees. Mr. Lasko said it’s an aesthetic question first. Ms. Kanis asked why it could not be placed at the fire station. Mr. Limpert said it’s because they feel it’s not where they want to put it. The City may come down to saying that if you want it someplace around the circle and you want to put it on City property because where else can you put with spaces close to homes, etc., maybe they will change their minds. Page 16