Auroraadvocate.com - Another proposal for hotel thwarted

by Ken Lahmers

Editor

Aurora -- The planning commission has turned down another proposal for the former Geauga Lake Hotel, this one for an assisted living facility.

At its Nov. 18 meeting, planners voted 3-1 against granting a conditional zoning certificate to a Toronto, Ohio, company for the project. Panelist Ken Grohe cast the only "yes" vote, and panelist Kathy Grandillo was absent.

Lamplight President Severine Petras said the company has no plans to appeal the decision to Council or to seek rezoning for the property.

"We are extremely disappointed about the decision," she said in an e-mail to the Advocate Nov. 19. "We have spent enough time and resources toward this project.

"We do not wish to continue to pursue doing business in a city that clearly does not wish to welcome us," she wrote. "There are too many opportunities in municipalities that are business friendly and eager to have an empty building converted into a new property that not only visually enhances their community, but provides jobs and economic development."

The site in question is located on the southeast corner of Route 43 and Treat Road. Earlier this year, the panel and Council rejected another firm's attempt to get a CZC for a children's residential center there.

CITY LEGAL adviser Tom Reitz told panelists the big question for them to decide was whether the proposed assisted living use has characteristics and impacts consistent with those of one or more of the permitted uses in the zoning district.

The three members who opposed the CZC -- chairman Roy Shafer, Councilman Joe Kastelic and Maria Heidel -- said they didn't think the proposed use exhibits any of those characteristics.

"The closest permitted use would be to a hotel," said Shafer, "but I don't believe it fits the definition of a hotel.

"People generally stay at an assisted living facility for long periods of time, and a hotel is generally for overnight stays or those no more than a few days."

"I see the proposed use as being more of a homestead for the people who will be there," added Kastelic.

Grohe, on the other hand, said he believes the proposed facility does have similarities to a hotel in that people stay and food is served there.

Lamplight Communities wanted to convert the former Geauga Lake Hotel, owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment, to a 140-room assisted living complex.

Petras previously told panelists the complex would include a community dining area, therapy room, workout area, private doctors' visiting room, a community center and office space.

Other plans included a new swimming pool, putt-putt golf layout, landscaping and banquet facilities. Petras estimated the facility would bring about 60 full-time jobs to the city.

EARLIER THIS year, Grant Edwards Enterprises LLC was rejected in its attempt to get a CZC for a children's residential center to be called Carrington Youth Academy.

The planning panel and Council also ruled then that it was not a comparable use.

"It's just difficult to comprehend that twice in the last year the planning commission has prevented the sale of the old hotel, and the last one cost the taxpayers $25,000," Petras said.

She was referring to the $25,000 settlement for legal costs agreed to by Council after the Grant Edwards decision.

"The true loss is really to the consumer, who could have otherwise enjoyed the many amenities and quality care that we hoped to provide at affordable prices," she added.

In other matters, panelists tabled a CZC request for Streetsboro Auto & Truck Inc., which seeks to locate a towing/auto repair service in an industrial building at 1340 Page Road.

Shafer said a resident in the Page Road area turned in some additional information about city decisions made years ago regarding the property, but panelists did not have ample time to study it.

The matter likely will be acted upon at the planners' Dec. 2 meeting. If they grant the CZC, Council would have the final say.

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klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155