09/06/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/6/2005 Councilman Nashar, chairperson of the Streets & Transportation Committee: 1) The committee met on August 30 to discuss the Crocker/Steams Road extension. Present were committee members McKay, Tallon and Nashar; all of Council; Mayor O'Grady, Law Director Dubelko, Service Director Driscoll, Planning Director Wenger; representatives from Cuyahoga County Engineer Klaiber's office Brian Driscoll, Jamal Husani, and Mathew Wahl; 60 to 70 residents who are very much concerned with the proposed wall. The noise walls are to be constructed as part of the Crocker/Steams roadway improvement project. The walls will start north of Lorain and extend 1,660 feet along the west side and the 3,523 feet along the east side of the new road. Each wall will be approximately 13 feet high to effectively mitigate the noise impact of the road. The wall that is being proposed is approximately 2 feet from the sidewalk. The sidewalk on the east side will be 7 feet wide; and on the west side, it will be 5 feet wide. The 7 feet side will help accommodate a bike path. This project was first approved in 1978 by the voters and will finally begin in 2006. One of the concerns that Council addressed is the street lighting along the roadway. We were told the street lighting would be the expense of the city-this was not included in the proposed project. If we were to ask for relocation of the wall to be moved further away from the sidewalk, this would be an additional expense to the city as there would be further engineering costs. A question was asked about erecting a mound along both sides of the roadway. If we were to erect a mound with landscaping, that would require additional right-of- way. This is not included in the project we will still be discussing this. An open meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 26, for the residents to ask questions. The representatives from the County Engineer's office will be present. Councilman Miller, chairperson of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee, commented on the tragedy of hurricane Katrina. Certainly all of our prayers and thoughts are with the people who were affected. Personally, he is very disappointed with federal government's reaction, timeliness of the response. Looking at other issues, it seems that gas prices are going to be affected. In our city, we have the number one most utilized Park-n-Ride facility in this county. In order to reduce our dependency on oil, it's important we start looking at mass transportation. We should ask the federal, state and local governments to start looking at extending the RTA rapid system perhaps down the I-480 corridor out to North Olmsted and the county line. We've shown that this area would utilize something like that, needs it and will help our area grow. It will help our own residents and our businesses. He asked that issue be taken into the appropriate committee. Councilman Gareau, chairperson of the Building, Zoning and Development Committee: 1) The BZD Committee met on Monday, August 29. In attendance were committee members Gareau, McKay and Barker; City Planner Wenger, Law Director Dubelko, Mayor O'Grady, Assistant Building Commissioner Rymarczyk; Council member Tallon. Three items were on the agenda: • Carpet & Tile Liquidators, 28595 Lorain Road. A proposal for a new commercial building on commercially zoned property. There is an existing residential home that will be demolished to accommodate the development. This is the lot immediately adjacent to the current sign that says, "Future Home of Kacirek's." There is a rather ill-kept bungalow right now which is in a state of disrepair, and apparently that will be gone if the project is approved. The building is designed to give an attractive yet low-key appearance that one would see with awarehouse-type construction. The business 11