04/20/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Hearing of 4/20/2004 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Bruce Bruehler, 4440 Root Road, owns the property directly north of the subject. property. He, and other residents who live on Ranchview, bought their property with the understanding it was surrounded by residential property. He owns five parcels in that area, and those properties are not landlocked as he owns two houses on Root Road that connect into the property. He bought that property with the understanding that it was residential and at some point, for his retirement, he would sell it to a housing developer. When the Lazy Boy store went in, they wanted to put a parking lot behind there. The citizens complained, and the city worked out a deal where they land banked it, and it's now a nice green area. When the oil change business went in, the city again agreed that should not be commercial. The lot on Root Road was split, and the back part of that is residential. He understands there is the feeling that the courts will back up Ganley because it's a split lot and they have a tendency to do that. But it should be kept in mind that residernial is bordering on three sides of Ganley. They want to go back 380 feet in addition to what they have for a total of 980 feet of commercial. He does not think there is any other place on Lorain Road that goes back that far commercial. In the original plan presented at the planning meeting, Ganley only came back to the end of their commercial property. The back part was supposed to be for water retention, clear cut and then grassed over. The Planning Commission thought that was a terrible idea, and they took it off the planning board. They then came back and, when they wanted to blacktop it all the way back, it was a wonderfully acceptable idea. He doesn't understand what caused the huge change that quickly. Obviously, the residents are not happy about it. They can see the parking lot now-it's only going to get worse. Ganley bought that property in 1995 and 1996. They certainly knew that the back property was residential. They are not a good neighbor. If any one of our homeowners had a gravel front yard with a sidewalk that you can't ride a bike on or you can't walk on, they would be cited. Ganley gets away with everything. They trespass on his property. They took back a drilling rig and knocked down trees. For two weeks, he tried to get satisfaction from them. Finally, he called the police, and only then did he get apost-dated apology letter from Ganley. That's the last he has heard of them. They are not a good neighbor. This is not good for the city, and it's certainly not good for the residents. He understands Ganley's relationship with Lakewood where they have a dealership is not good. He thinks the city needs to look at this again and start respecting the residents who appear to be second-class citizens in this city. Over the years, he has asked several Planning Commissions and several mayors what was the master plan for North Olmsted. Everyone of them has said there is no master plan. It seems as that is continuing. It is very frustrating. He moved to the city and invested in five parcels based on it being a residential area. Now the proposal is to come back 980 feet with blacktop and lighting that will shine off the windshields and come right back to the residents. He cannot go along with this-it is a bad plan. The land is residential for a reason. He could have his land developed for about 20 homes, which would be a very good tax base. But nobody is going to put in a development when the homes would be facing a parking lot. He wonders what the plan for water retention will be as there is a creek in the area. He is very upset with the city and does not think enough thought has been put into this 2