South Euclid Planning Commission Recommends Oakwood Rezoning

The South Euclid Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning the former Oakwood Country Club property from residential to commercial.

The issue now falls into the lap of City Council, which is expected to schedule a public hearing about the rezoning in the coming weeks before taking a vote of its own.

The rezoning was requested by First Interstate Properties, About 60 acres of country club land that falls within South Euclid was purchased by the company late last year. The company, which has also developed Legacy Village and Steelyard Commons, among others, .

Two of the five planning commission members addressed opposition to the rezoning before casting their votes, saying much of the naysaying was coming from non-residents. Cleveland Heights residents made up the majority of people who spoke against the development at a ; however, even the majority of South Euclid residents who spoke at that meeting were also opposed, many saying they did not want to live near the big box retailers that First Interstate has said will open there.

“When we were looking at the opposition, it primarily did not come from people in our community, so I think that we’ve taken a long period of time to review this and to make sure we’re doing this right,” Planning Commissioner Tracie Zamiska said to the 14 people who attended the hearing.

Zamiska said the commission used the section of city zoning ordinance that deals with rezoning to make their decision. The code says that any zoning change must “adhere to the development plans and objectives of the city,” will “not be detrimental to adjacent property owners” and will “maintain the health, safety and general welfare of the community.”

Commissioner Jennifer West agreed with Zamiska, saying “probably about 98 percent” of the opposition was from outside of South Euclid.

“We really have looked at this from the standpoint of what is in the best interest of the community and the ideas of health, safety and welfare of our residents,” she said. “Speaking for all of us, we’re all very long-time residents for the most part and we love our community. It’s not a decision we made lightly.”

Even if City Council eventually approves the rezoning, a local organization has already promised to start a petition drive to put the issue before South Euclid voters. Citizens for Oakwood, an arm of the Cleveland Heights nonprofit Severance Neighborhood Organization, has opposed any development there from the beginning and originally tried to raise money to purchase the land and turn it into a park.

SNO President Fran Mentch said mailers were sent out to 4,500 South Euclid households asking them to call, email or fill out a form on a website built by SNO if they would agree to sign a petition opposing the Oakwood development. She said of the 74 responses received, only two opposed the idea.

One SNO supporter, Cleveland Heights resident Rick Adorjan, stood outside South Euclid City Hall before the meeting with a green sign that read, "Please Keep Oakwood Green." Adorjan said he's concerned about the greenspace that will be torn up to make way for the development.

"What I really think is that it would be good for the morale of the people here if for once our leaders didn't give into the power of the dollar," he said.