08/19/1997 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 8/19/97 John Poffenberger, 24733 Mitchell Drive, spoke about the proposed rezoning of Parcel E. ,r Mr. Poffenberger's property immediately abuts the center of the northern part of Parcel E. He bought his home two years ago and did a good deal of research into the zoning of the property. He was told by the Realtor and the city that only office buildings could be built on the property and that was guaranteed by the Zoning Code and Master Plan. Mr. Poffenberger commented, "Who does the city belong to? Who is the mast important, the residents or the developers? It is the residents who are the backbone of the city. They pay 83% of the taxes collected by the city. Biskind just wants to profit by selling Parcel E, and then we'll be left to live with the mess he leaves behind." Mr. Poffenberger purchased his home for approximately $150,000, and he noted that his home would be worth $200,000 in Westlake or Bay Village. The excessive amount of retail in North Olmsted is the reason for the difference. He asked for Council's no vote on Ordinance 97-76 to help stop the attempt to rezone more land for retail use because the city already has too much retail space. Maureen Diver, 24711 Mitchell Drive, spoke against the proposed rezoning of Parcel E. In 1988, Mrs. Diver was one of the residents who worked in good faith, at the city administration's request, to negotiate the rezoning of Parcel E from residential to office development. She and the other residents expected that the parcel would be developed as an office complex. Now, the developer has been able to buy the opportunity to put this rezoning on the ballot by paying people to acquire signatures. The residents of North Olmsted do not have such deep pockets; and, therefore, the residents depend on the City Council and the boards and commissions to uphold our zoning laws. The residents are asking for City Council's support in this matter as zoning by ballot can only seriously undermine the intention of the Master Plan. Al Koson, 25064 Linda Drive, spoke against the proposed rezoning of Parcel E. In 1998, he came before Council to speak in a positive way with regard to the zoning for office use for that parcel. At that time, Mr. Biskind had indicated that the property would probably generate 2,100 jobs for North Olmsted. That would mean approximately $1.3 million additional in the coffers of the city since office use generates more dollars than retail use. Retail generates about 18%. If the property were rezoned retail, that would mean instead of $1.3 million coming into our coffers, it would generate about $180,000. Mr. Koson is a former Councilman in Cleveland, and he has empathy for people that legislate because they have a decision to make. He hopes tonight the decision is going to be based on the merits of all that Council has heard. He feels it is most important that the residents of North Olmsted have a voice in their government. He asked for Council's continued support. Mayor Boyle said he wished to speak about why Parcel E should remain zoned for office use. He quoted from the August 18, 1997 Crain's Cleveland Business which published a report from Grubb & Ellis, real estate experts. The article stated: "In the western suburbs, there is currently 2,620,000 square feet of office space--388,000 vacant as opposed to 456,000 the prior year." This means that in one year 68,000 square feet of the "'~"° office space as been absorbed. The prior year we had actually gone done .8, so that would ;,, 11