Auroraadvocate.com - Assisted living issue will head to Council

by Ken Lahmers

Editor

Aurora -- City Council will hear an appeal of the planning commission's decision not to grant a conditional zoning certificate to locate an assisted living facility at the former Geauga Lake Hotel.

Council will consider the appeal Feb. 22 at 5:15 p.m. in Town Hall prior to its regular second meeting of the month.

On Nov. 18, the planning commission turned down Lamplight Communities' request for a CZC by a 3-1 count, with only Ken Grohe voting in favor.

At that time, Lamplight President Severine Petras told the Advocate she had no plans to appeal the decision to Council.

"We do not wish to continue to pursue doing business in a city that clearly does not wish to welcome us," she said.

"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."

However, Planning-Zoning-Building Director Rich Wehrenberg said earlier this week that Petras has requested that the issue be passed on to Council.

"We've prepared 300 pages of documentation for Council to look at in regard to the case," he said. "If they uphold the planning commission's decision, Lamplight has the right to take the issue to common pleas court."

"WE FEEL IT makes sense to go the extra mile to meet with Council," Petras said.

"It is our hope that should Council feel this is not something they would favor we'd be made aware of it early in the process."

She added the firm has acquired an independent living building formerly known as Sterling Oaks in Maple Heights and is in the process of converting it to an assisted living facility.

The Aurora site in question is located on the southeast corner of Route 43 and Treat Road. Early in 2009, the planning panel and Council rejected another firm's attempt to get a CZC for a children's residential center there.

In making their decision in November, the three panelists who opposed the CZC -- Roy Shafer, Joe Kastelic and Maria Hydell -- said they didn't think the proposed use was consistent with the permitted uses in the industrial zoning district where the building is located.

Lamplight has proposed converting the hotel owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment to a 140-room assisted living complex.

The planning panel is scheduled to discuss Lamplight's appeal at its meeting tonight (Feb. 3) at 7 in Town Hall.

Also on the agenda tonight will be Aurora Recreation LLC's request to send a rezoning issue to Council and ultimately to the city's voters for the property now known as Aurora Golf Club.

E-mail: klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155