MINUTES OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

February 13, 2020

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (County Planning) was called to order by Chair Mr. Michael Dever at 2:02 p.m. and the roll call showed a quorum was present.

MINUTES

On a motion by Mayor Sellers, seconded by Mayor Brennan, the minutes of the January 9, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting were duly adopted by unanimous vote.

OLD BUSINESS

No old business.

Mayor Bobst and Councilperson Simon arrived at 2:09 p.m. 

NEW BUSINESS

Resolution No. 200213-A

Approving with Conditions a Modified Master Subdivision Plan and Preliminary Plan Phase 1 & 2 for The Sanctuary of Olmsted and The Preserve of Olmsted PRD Subdivision located in Olmsted Township.

Ms. Meghan Chaney presented the subdivision plans and introduced Mr. Anthony Valore the applicant, Mr. Ehtesham Suhail the builder, Mr. Brian Sowers from Public Works and Trustee Jeanne Kress of Olmsted Township all present to answer any questions. The property is located on the south side of John Road, between Fitch and Columbia Roads in Olmsted Township and consists of 67 acres.  Ms. Chaney gave the project history from 2018 when it was first brought before the Planning Commission and granted conditional approval.  In 2019 a redesigned Master Subdivision Plan was introduced and conditionally approved by the Planning Commission. Information received from the U.S. Army Corps concerning wetlands permits, and the partnership with Pulte Homes were changes which necessitated coming before the Planning Commission. The phasing plan, open space area – even with a reduction due to additional stormwater detention areas and a wetlands buffer that will change some of the setbacks, still exceeds the Township minimum requirements. Ms. Chaney reported that Pulte Homes is building on phases I, III, IV which is considered “the Preserve” portion of the subdivision while Valore Homes is building on Phases II and V which I considered the “the Sanctuary” portion. The Planning Commission Staff findings and recommendations were described, and Ms. Chaney certified, it is only after all the conditions have been met may the applicant submit a Final Plat application for review to the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. Trustee Kress spoke in support of the conditional approval.

On a motion by Mayor Gammella, seconded by Mayor Bobst, the foregoing conditional resolution was duly adopted by unanimous vote.

Resolution No. 200213-B

Approving the provision of planning and administrative services to the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability in supporting the implementation of the PY2020 Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant Program.

Mr. Shawn Leininger explained that the resolution will authorize County Planning to expend funds and enter into agreements as necessary for the administration of the Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant Program 2020 on behalf of the Department of Sustainability that was started in 2019. Funding for Program Year 2020 has been allocated to the County Planning budget as part of the 2020-21 Biennial Budget approved by Cuyahoga County Council as reported at the last meeting by Ms. Jennifer Karaffa, Fiscal Officer. County Planning will receive $25,000 for administering the program; from entering into agreements and expending funds. Any expenditure over $5,000 requires the authorization from the County Planning Commission and this authorization will allow staff to proceed in accordance to the program requirements that were approved by the Department of Sustainability. Cuyahoga County Soil & Water Conservation District will monitor the implementation and track success of grant-awarded projects.

On a motion by Mayor Gammella, seconded by Councilperson Simon, the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by unanimous vote.

EXECUTIVE DIRECOR’S REPORT

Mr. Leininger updated the Planning Commission that he has been working with Ms. Stefanie Deka from the Law Department on amendments to the Bylaws as a result to the chair position coming open last June. The changes are slated to be introduced at the next meeting in April and any action by the Commission would be at the June meeting unless a May meeting is held.

Mr. Leininger spoke about implementation of portions of the Cuyahoga County Greenways Plan that has been a two-year effort with NOACA and Cleveland Metroparks; from on-street trail construction on Mastick Road as part of a Bridge Replacement in Fairview Park, Dunham Road widening in Maple Heights, to Tinkers Creek widening in Walton Hills.  Mr. Leininger also reported that off-street trail construction has been awarded funding for the Cleveland Foundation Lake Link Trail North from Mulberry to the Willow Street Bridge. The City of Cleveland is moving forward with design authorization for the Downtown Connector Trail Phase 1 on Fleet Avenue to Pershing Avenue along I-77 through Slavic Village and there is a funding request for the Gates Mills Boulevard Connector in Mayfield Heights. Mr. Leininger noted that more funding is going to be needed to continue bringing this plan to life and that as a region we need to be proactive in identifying existing sources and creating new ones where necessary.

Several County Planning projects have been in the news as the Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Update that was released in December was picked up by a number of media outlets in the last 30 days along with the Westlake Center Ridge Corridor Study and Zoning in Cuyahoga County.

A 2020 County Planning workplan was handed out by Mr. Leininger to tell the story of what the agency is doing. The document allows tracking and accountability while also used as a resource to report on work being done and its status and timeframe for completion. The work plan is broken down by four sections of the agency; Information and Research, Planning Services, Special Initiatives and Administration.  It provides a high-level view of the work being done by County Planning and where the efforts will be focused for the foreseeable future. Included in the report is a listing of other agency Boards and Committees that County Planning is involved.  Mr. Leininger welcomes any input on the direction of the Commission and intends to update the workplan quarterly. 

PRESENTATION – CENSUS 2020

Ms. Audrey Wynne, partnership specialist from the U.S. Census Bureau, gave a presentation on how and why an accurate population count is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2. Population counts determine the appointment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives; redistricting at the federal, state, and local levels; distribution of over $675 billion dollars to state and local governments and provides statistical support for grant applications. Ms. Wynne explained that Title 13 of the U.S. Code keeps the census information confidential and that Title 44 of the U.S. Code allows the National Archives and Records Administration to publish the census information after 72 years. Children under the age of 5 were the highest undercounted of any age group in the 2010 census.  There are four (4) ways to respond; secure internet, phone, mail or an in-person interview in twelve (12) languages in addition to English.

The questions to be asked on the 2020 Census form included:

• Population Count (number of people living or staying in household)
• Name
• Phone Number (in case the Census Bureau has a question)
• Any Additional People Living or Staying in Household
• Whether a Person Lives or Stays Somewhere Else
• Owner/Renter
• Sex
• Age and Date of Birth
• Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin
• Race
• Relationship (to others in household)

Ms. Wynne gave information on how cities can assist with the Census count and answered questions on how to identify a Census worker and the timeframe when Census workers would be out in NE Ohio, estimated between March 12^th through July 31^st. Ms. Wynne will work with Mr. Kevin Leeson of County Planning to communicate the names of the Individual Partnership Specialist assigned each area in the region to every Mayor, for additional information and support. It is estimated that for every Ohioan missed in the Census count $1206 per person per year in federal funding is lost.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

No comments from the public.

ADJOURNMENT

On a motion by Mayor Byrne, seconded by Mayor Brennan, the meeting was adjourned with unanimous vote at 3:04 p.m.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2020.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

MEETING ATTENDANCE
February 13, 2020