Just a quick update to let you know that the Say No To Rezone political action committee is still hard at work trying to maintain the bucolic character of our community.
· The Western Reserve Land Conservancy tells us that they are having “good conversations” with the leadership of Beech Brook. This is going very slowly and we’re trying to be patient while we wait for positive results.
· We are currently working to start a park commission in Pepper Pike and are researching other park commissions in nearby communities. We have talked to most of our councilmen and received positive feedback on our idea. We will continue to gather details on how other park commissions operate and continue the dialogue with city officials.
· There is a Pepper Pike city council meeting and a PUBLIC HEARING this Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7:00 p.m. regarding proposed Ordinance 2020-25 and Chapter 1275. This is the ordinance that tightens-up the language for the U-2 (public buildings) zoning code and includes a new Chapter 1275 regarding Site Development Plans. Here is the link for the agenda and to join the meeting by Zoom:
o http://www.pepperpike.org/DocumentCenter/View/2859/1120-CouncilAgenda
o You can request a copy of the proposed ordinance by calling Katy Zippert at 216-896-6127 or emailing her at kzippert@pepperpike.org You may also request the report dated Oct. 7, 2020 by George Smerigan, City Planner, regarding this new legislation.
o U-2 properties in Pepper Pike include the two golf courses, school district property, synagogues, the Ursuline property and Beech Brook. Ordinance 2020-25 and Chapter 1275 are extremely important because, if properly written, this legislation will protect homeowners from development that may be detrimental to the residential areas of our city and will dictate how future land will be developed.
We wish you a happy and safe holiday season and we thank you for your continuing support.
Manny and Judi Naft (treasurers) Manny, cell - 440-567-4390
Say No To Rezone PAC
2632 SOM Center Rd., Pepper Pike OH 44124
Facebook: Keep Pepper Pike Beautiful Say No To Rezone
Letters to the editor - 10/08/2020--Several on Beech Brook
Commentary - Loss of trust
http://www.chagrinvalleytoday.com/viewpoint/article_4e93500e-08f2-11eb-a7ed-ffdad868de00.html
Beech Brook CEO says rezoning remains on ballot
Beech Brook CEO says Pepper Pike ‘mishandled’ process in dealing with Axiom proposal
October 4, 2020
· So what’s next for our political action committee?
Our goal is to have the entire 68 acres of Beech Brook conserved as a park and once again, we have already been in touch with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. If Beech Brook will work with them, WRLC and residents can fund raise to buy the property.
START A PARK IN PEPPER PIKE
· What are city officials doing now?
First of all, we thank Councilmen Jim LeMay, Scott Newell, Bob Freed, Richard Leskovec, Mano Daga and Mayor Rick Bain for publicly saying they would VOTE NO. The Planning Commission (Bill Melsop, Dave DeWolf, James Taylor, Richard Leskovec and Rick Bain) along with the City Planner (George Smerigan) and Council are in the process of updating the zoning code for U-2 (public buildings) and writing Chapter 1275 which will require and regulate Site Development Plans. We don’t want to make the same mistakes in the future that we made with the proposed rezoning of Beech Brook. Tell city officials that we need to add to the zoning code in order to prohibit mixed-use in our bucolic community. It just doesn’t belong.
· What can I do now to help?
It is extremely important that you monitor the city website for meeting updates www.pepperpike.org and that you contact city officials with your questions, concerns or comments. Please also start the conversation of START A PARK IN PEPPER PIKE.
Write editorials to the local newspapers. Voice your opinion to the CEO and Board of Beech Brook www.beechbrook.org While we truly believe they do important work, we also need them to be good neighbors and responsible stewards of the environment.
In the July 23 Issue of the Chagrin Valley Times, Pepper Pike Councilman Bob Freed was quoted as saying, "I was hoping that Axiom could show me why their development would be good for Pepper Pike. They didn't fulfill that hope. I'm concerned that this is the wrong development and the wrong developer for this project."
In that same article, George Smerigan (city planner) advised, "The issue for me is that they (Axiom) may have a vision, they may be entirely genuine about what they would like to do and intend to do, but once the property is rezoned, the property is rezoned. There's not a requirement to build in accordance with that vision. I think it's fair that everyone understands that."
The CVT continued by saying that Mr. Smerigan pointed out that there is not a cap on commercial space. Mayor Bain is quoted as saying, "I agree with that analysis (by Mr. Smerigan) and as the language now exists, I cannot support the ballot initiative as it is written because the way it is written does not adequately protect the city's interests in rezoning the property for the reasons at least as expressed by Mr. Smerigan in his report."
The Editor of the Chagrin Valley Times wrote in her column on July 23, "Has a study been done to determine if the region can economically support another mixed-use center?" She continues, "Last week, council members were expecting Axiom to have answers to a plethora of questions. Surprisingly, a company representative (attorney Dale Markowitz) said they had no time to gather the information. They were too busy with other projects."
The Editor also wrote, "There's nothing in the proposed rezoning to hold developers to a specific plan with specific limitations....Once the land is rezoned, the people lose their voice."
In the opinion of the Say No To Rezone PAC, the PAC believes that Axiom's proposed rezoning ordinance would not have been approved by city council if Axiom had not withdrawn their application to rezone.
Please email saynotorezone@roadrunner.com if you’d like a yard sign. We have installed 496 yard signs!
The Sierra Club is currently involved in environmentally protecting the Beech Brook, New Directions and Parker/Passov properties from the effects of construction, particularly 195,500 sq. ft. of commercial, office, retail and dense-housing development. The Sierra Club states:
“…To be clear, the proposed project degrades a desirable mature forest ecosystem, valued by the community, and a deep, wide one at that, that are even more rare, and that cannot be replaced without great cost and labor,stewarded over the courses of decades. Pepper Pike now has, as nearly a gift, a mature forest that other cities would love to possess-and that attracts home buyers. Natural areas and canopy cover are desirable to buyers, and increasingly so, for aesthetics, health, sustainability and personal enjoyment…”
The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. They amplify the power of 3.8 million members and supporters to defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. There are almost 70 Sierra Club members who call Pepper Pike home.
Fran Mentch, Executive Committee Chair and Linda Sekura, Conservation Co-Chair of the Northeast Ohio Sierra Club have both taken an active interest in the proposed rezoning issue in Pepper Pike which will destroy at least 73 green and wooded acres in our bucolic community.
Linda Sekura has issued a formal “Statement of Northeast Ohio Sierra Club Regarding the Proposed Development of the Beech Brook Property in Pepper Pike.” The findings should be very concerning to the residents and city officials of Pepper Pike and the surrounding communities.
Linda offered to make herself available for Axiom’s webinar panel discussion on the environment on August 25, 2020 but her offer was declined by Axiom’s Bryan Stone.
Bryan Stone, the Principal of Axiom, was selling that he is from Pepper Pike and should be the one to develop these 70+ acres, but he was selling out his Community?
Say NO to Rezone
Axiom's proposal had included ~200,000 sq, ft. of retail/commercial/office space and over 150 attached and detached dwellings and townhomes.
Axiom was pushing for rezoning approval in 2 ways:
Petition and thru City Council.
PLEASE read the ordinance Chapter 1271 carefully and George Smerigan’s analysis And vote NO to Mixed-Use Rezoning o
Axiom's proposal had included ~200,000 sq, ft. of retail/commercial/office space and over 150 attached and detached dwellings and townhomes.
Axiom was pushing for rezoning approval in 2 ways:
Petition and thru City Council.
PLEASE read the ordinance Chapter 1271 carefully and George Smerigan’s analysis And vote NO to Mixed-Use Rezoning of Beech Brook/Willey Creek this November!
Wiley Creek Mixed-Use Overlay District is:
Beech Brook (U-2) 68 acres
New Directions (U-2) 4 acres
Parker/Passov (U-3) 2 acres
These areas are just South of Lander Circle and next to all of our schools in Pepper Pike, Ohio.
By law, 75 feet on each side of Willey Creek (which goes thru Beech Brook) MUST be preserved. The developer had been telling you he was preserving some of this land, but he HAD TO BY LAW. He says he is speaking with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy but he was actually surrounding the Creek with a development and saying he was preservi
By law, 75 feet on each side of Willey Creek (which goes thru Beech Brook) MUST be preserved. The developer had been telling you he was preserving some of this land, but he HAD TO BY LAW. He says he is speaking with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy but he was actually surrounding the Creek with a development and saying he was preserving it with WRLC, when the entire area could be preserved. Say NO to Rezone
Say YES to Preserving Pepper Pike
Say No To Rezone is a grassroots political action committee formed by two 35-year residents of Pepper Pike in 9/2019 registered with the Board of Elections. We have over 400 supporters.
Our goal is to preserve the character and bucolic landscape of Pepper Pike and promote facts regarding the proposed rezoning issue.
Any Donation will help defray costs of flyers, yard signs, postage, and spreading the word.
Please make checks payable to: Say No to Rezone
and send to: Manny and Judi Naft
2632 SOM Center Road, Pepper Pike OH 44124
A donations at any level is welcome and meaningful.