The Observation Deck

When Tom George was talking about tax hike, everyone agreed the city needed it and more. Some were upset over bookkeeping, some were upset over a lack of plans or vision. Now i spoke with Vic Nogalo after retiring, and he was able to explain the plan in about 15 minutes. Still the administration went back to sharping their pencils, and drawing up plans that we have been told will be presented over the summer.

This leads me to ask DOES ANYONE ELSE have plans? i have heard from one person in the know about some beautiful side-by-side condos going up, then heard from another about someone wanting to build a hotel within a lot of them? I have seen plans for "luxury" condos ala Crocker Park within feet of the train tracks. i have heard of one group wanting to buy a building and move it back 500' as this would give room for a bar and restaurant on Detroit. The city allowed Ryser to build $440,000 dollar condos over looking the newest bad parking neighbor Baker Motors.

Now i am not saying any of this is bad. the Ryser properties are very nice. Rosewood will be beautiful, but a lot of this seems to work against each other if they are all built. Is there a plan? How is this organized? How much eco development do we need to reach "some magic tax number"? 50%, 60%, 80%. While playing Monopoly is fun, and feeds egos, we are talking about real lives, real families, real stores, and real life. Does Lakewood have a plan/control or have we become sluts. Taken everything and anything just to say we are liked?

Any thoughts?

Morning, Mr O.

Your question about "plans" leads me to revisit a point I struggled to make in the Dollar Tree discussion.
I believe that a city, particularly one like Lakewood, is limited in what it can do to "approve" one business or development over another. Zoning imposes some limits, and the city can make certain traffic or environmental impact arguments, but beyond that, private property is private property. I can do what I want, sell when I want, build what I want.
It's not within a city's power to choose Whole Foods over Dollar Trees, much as we might prefer one over the other.
What you're really asking for, possibly, is a conversation about expanded zoning restrictions. It is patently illegal to say "no Wal-Mart". It is not NECESSARILY illegal to say "no stores bigger than 50,000 square feet". You could rezone the apartment complex on the western end of Detroit to make it residential-only, but you have to do it NOW. If you do it after plans are announced for a shopping mall there, the owner has a different kind of "takings" case.
Of course, if that conversation starts, you have to be prepared to accept where it goes.

Joan

I agree. We cannot legislate out business especially after it has been announced.

My question was more to the point of overall planning, future planning and thoughts how they mix. Belden Village is the only town in Ohio with no residents? How did that happen, was it a small city that never tracked developements?





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5. Communication from Council President Seelie, Council Vice President Dever, Councilmembers Antonio, Butler, Demro, FitzGerald and Madigan regarding Strategic Plan. (Pg. 16)

This was on the last council meeting docket. I think the council has the right idea. I think we will have a plan and I think the citizens will have input just like they did with the schools.