[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6086067,"mediaKeyId","2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8","parentId",2900421,"title","Committee approves rezoning of vacant CVS parcel on Madison Avenue despite planning opposition and wide public comment","audioSeconds",5247,"startMs",572000,"endMs",5819000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8&start=572&end=5819","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8/thumbnail_572000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6086067/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-approves-rezoning-of-vacant-CVS-parcel-on-Madison-Avenue-despite-planning-opposition-and-wide-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086067-9a9a974294a807b1971e074b3536cd10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=RH0IqmtQiaZDcdBp8mgohrKQc237AZJZI~E0O8FZJqb3U9EtmMHaeM7ehtchAvHY9UgQMlmdrN8Lxs70T1sbTFFy8FUifQh4xckUxRpf5Ey5PBu6BLpqhAQ1cjxDRRfPp1BTEI61ql7u~~2nmzEAMZMS6BaAxw6UOFf~Yx5mtTPQbaKyQa5I~iMUyIjLHifO--linFPT8Oe1S6WnjCLDF1EfWRePuJPi3P7sVsITzOU3hAUNRSFJi4U9XPO7UFGAl9T2stMTpa02HORBhJN4139FGINGogVybJV0V9SI2c2ypYaOnOFbdLuZCTXuWFooAj5h5U9kEm4jCf1QGz0AAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cleveland, OH ","date","2025-04-08T00:56:35Z","article","The Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee voted to approve Ordinance 791-2024, a zoning map change that removes the pedestrian retail overlay (PRO) and reclassifies a currently vacant CVS parcel on Madison Avenue from local retail to general retail.

City planning had urged the committee to reject the change. Kelly Merzman, director of city planning, told the committee, “Our recommendation to the committee is to not support the proposed ordinance 7 9 1 dash 20 24.” Shannon Leonard, chief zoning administrator, described the site and the overlay’s purpose and warned that the more permissive general retail zoning would allow “gas stations, car washes, vapor hookah lounges, nightclubs” and other auto-centric uses that the PRO was intended to prohibit.

Neighbors and community members largely urged rejection at the committee’s public comment period. Paula First opened public comment: “I am opposed to the, proposed zoning change,” citing public safety and concerns about spot zoning and the timing of the legislation while the city may be negotiating to buy the parcel. Nikki Hudson said putting “a gas station immediately next to a park, an elementary school, and a rec center” would be “detrimental to the children of the neighborhood.” DF Darissa said the parcels “are historic neighborhoods that predated the adaptation of the vehicle” and urged walkable uses. Other residents making similar points included Maria Lopez, Susan Zimmerman and Michael Armstrong.

Council members debated the matter at length. Councilwoman Stephanie Spencer (referred to in the meeting as Councilwoman Spencer) said she opposed the change and warned against a precedent of spot zoning; she noted the PRO had been adopted “with broad community support in 2013.” Councilman Danny Kelly, a sponsor, argued the parcel has been vacant for years and that finding a re-use is urgent. Council members also discussed whether the site might become a fire station; panelists clarified that under current PRO rules a fire station would require conditional approvals, while removing the PRO could reduce some zoning impediments to that use. Councilman Jay Westbrook and others urged robust public input and cautioned about community expectations for park-adjacent uses.

Despite planning’s opposition and the number of residents who testified against the map change, the committee recorded the ordinance as approved. The committee discussion included several suggestions to hold or delay the measure pending the outcome of any city purchase negotiations; the motion to proceed prevailed.

What happens next: approval by this committee advances the rezoning to the council floor. The change would remain in effect until the council votes to alter the zoning again.

Votes at a glance: the committee announced the ordinance “stands approved” after a roll call; individual “aye” responses were recorded during the roll call but a full numeric tally was not provided in the committee transcript.

Community context: the parcel sits directly across from multifamily housing and immediately adjacent to Caddell Recreation Center, Caddell Park and Marion Seltzer School. Speakers pressed the committee on traffic-safety data and on whether the zoning change was targeted to benefit a single property owner.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee, April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee voted to approve Ordinance 791-2024, changing zoning for a vacant CVS parcel on Madison Avenue from local retail with a pedestrian retail overlay to general retail, a move city planning opposed and neighborhood residents strongly contested.","taxTitle","Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",2662,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086054,"Committee approves three-year lead-safe auditor contract with Crowe LLP to replace prior auditor",325,12125000,12450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8&start=12125&end=12450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8/thumbnail_12125000.jpg","/articles/6086054/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-approves-three-year-lead-safe-auditor-contract-with-Crowe-LLP-to-replace-prior-auditor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086054-98a9ea42af1f6b239fe92952c56c98aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=aBdxf4UHQJM4C17xaDTSx2esegYt4oh3qmH33gPoOTgHs7st3BVKc8h2WkkDX6iR~1YAKFNfwn2jK25i4DDY9DcqY58unlgO17he0lD72~HBJ9AqJuOpn2nB5jtElNCcm5HhDn3yki4AQ1aezVF6S-hO-ca-RiTfuzOm8W3rebI4WdKaRjgpxWDWzUVJbHT~pC8KQTaJbwBt7TMN0MwG-ZKc5zIKiSc7dssCOaoz-nwqXo3hq-FNWW9CfnU87qpk58xNV28xj-1nAp8OnFvWxd0RgXQtT~0dvVmbckDNEbsBztNu75mMHEe4QsxI6AH~50~VdzuriiRPsuS6y0Dh9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of Building & Housing to enter a professional services contract with Crowe LLP to serve as the city’s lead-safe auditor for a three-year term.

City staff said the contract follows an RFQ process and that Crowe LLP — an accounting/consulting firm with a Cleveland office — was selected to provide more detailed operational auditing, triannual reporting and recommendations for improving the city’s lead-safe certification and compliance processes. Building & Housing staff described the agreement as a replacement for the prior auditor (Case Western Reserve University), and said the new contract totals $289,000 over three years.

Council members asked for more staff presence at the hearing and for assurance the auditor work would link to the city’s lead-remediation program and enforcement operations. A councilmember noted the lead-auditor contract had lapsed for months and emphasized the need for continuity while program staffing transitions occur. Committee members said they supported the contract and noted the department’s plan to fill staffing gaps to ensure timely remediation and compliance work.

What happens next: contracting steps will proceed and Crowe LLP will provide audit reports and suggested procedural changes to the Division of Building & Housing; staff will return with implementation details and any further staffing requests to the council.","The committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing a three-year professional services contract with Crowe LLP to serve as the city's lead-safe auditor, replacing Case Western Reserve in the role and providing triannual reports and operational recommendations for the lead-safe certification process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086059,"Committee clears land-swap with Cleveland schools to enable new JFK stadium and shared-use agreement",1507,10713000,12220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8&start=10713&end=12220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8/thumbnail_10713000.jpg","/articles/6086059/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-clears-land-swap-with-Cleveland-schools-to-enable-new-JFK-stadium-and-shared-use-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086059-3102f8b84e72593856ee338341e3c8d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=T~ORNIh6dD2UNHqdISYW1cYY6r5Ok~K19qYaXPfB6H8naweJsUIZImnubYgkHBhXuDibPsaLVz9o1mB8baDm2bbSI-5Gfx1NsOQA7nIoz6SQ7~3PN~TW21D9D17p~RfFSioPWZHImC3GGdbrGI3haKGOZkJi6JVhUfnqAdQ2WxJi-FPe5qAS3vEhRkeRu7QqdcXDHmwwVHGlBgNMgqJViiF1CAog8ZiqdDaZUL5mi3RL7Wd5coYTgbI65texA-QR0Ec0N-EQ0cvRADGF3BTyJqZ-vVgIM2h0FpNBX25O0Feuyhmn5eJ6YnQA5SSpC5YfjRX1jXI6g03nYBrHUOvIBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing property exchanges between the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) to facilitate redevelopment and a new shared athletic stadium adjacent to the new JFK High School and the city-owned Frederick Douglass Recreation Center.

Under the agreement the city will convey several small land-bank parcels to CMSD to support facilities at FDR Academy and Newcomers Academy, and the school district will convey the roughly 14-acre former JFK High School parcel at 17100 Harvard Avenue to the city for redevelopment. CMSD demolished the former school building and plans to build a new JFK High School on a separate campus adjacent to the city rec center.

CMSD representatives described a shared-use stadium project to be constructed by the district next to the new school. The district expects construction costs of approximately $4.1 million for an initial build; the board will be asked to approve an additional phase 2 package of improvements worth about $1.5 million (home and away bleachers, ticket booth, turf and track upgrades, fencing and storage), which would bring the total projected stadium cost to about $5.5 million. The city will contribute $2.1 million from bond funding toward construction. Director-level staff from CMSD attended the committee and described the site plan and shared-use arrangements.

Committee discussion addressed who will operate and schedule the stadium. Officials said CMSD would operate daily school programming and that the city’s Division of Recreation would schedule community or other non‑school uses for open hours. Council members asked whether neighborhood leagues and other non-CMSD youth programs would have access; both city and school representatives said the planned shared-use agreement would allow non-school programming subject to scheduling.

Several council members also put the project in the broader fiscal context for the city and for the district. One member noted CMSD’s operating shortfall and emphasized that the stadium funding is distinct: CMSD and the city will use bond proceeds for capital projects, not operating expenses. The committee recorded the ordinance as approved; an amendment replaced references to “JFK” with “Frederick Douglass” in certain title lines per a procedural change during the hearing.

What happens next: the land transfers clear the way for redevelopment planning of the former JFK parcel and for execution of a shared-use agreement between the city and CMSD. CMSD will seek board approval for the stadium phase 2 funding. City staff said they will proceed with an RFQ/RFP process for redevelopment of the former school parcel.","The committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing a land exchange with the Cleveland Municipal School District that transfers the former JFK High School parcel to the city and transfers multiple land-bank parcels to the district, and authorizes up to $2.1 million in city bond funds toward construction of a shared stadium.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086063,"Committee fast-tracks smoke-shop and window-sign rules; moves enforcement and licensing to health and finance committees",4043,5856000,9899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8&start=5856&end=9899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2900421-a5a123c0e01aad15103810ac93216fb8/thumbnail_5856000.jpg","/articles/6086063/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-fast-tracks-smoke-shop-and-window-sign-rules-moves-enforcement-and-licensing-to-health-and-finance-committees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086063-1ca7a6ddede2f577e0cc042bcbe95508/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=H7FwwePcXUAb3wCkPVaVDrF~v5g-mFvXew51FMG9-yw93v3WEgRHqXTXL9FIGkTCCE-1NCMprMSIpQ7MNpLPsIG0uswWekv7uLGUR9Vj5-cFqllue6Htd7wQ2KNjaYkZAMtAG0rSh894goWe8dfToxKAH49KdVjtVrxzALiNXeE~gJNjnyG3S9HVOCQbVkaV3nmanfVogFp64M4uD8rhybdsHIozHYcrrffdlfid88KhpeZslKJVZ25wr-bTy1njWdLplM203G7tAbvt01yshyoQv39jy0lLdXGpF9H3XHx7d0KJnC1kut6XLUP2DFGJxigmQr97TZSOH7YJXb9KbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee amended and approved two ordinances aimed at limiting the spread and visibility of smoke shops across Cleveland.

The first ordinance (188-2025) would regulate where smoke shops may locate. The proposed zoning text would define a “smoke shop” (retail establishments where 20% or more of floor/shelf/display area sells defined smoke-related products) and would prevent new smoke shops from opening within a 2-mile radius of one another and within 500 feet of churches, public libraries, playgrounds, parks or schools. City planning presented maps showing concentrations in neighborhoods and staff said permit applications surged after the city signaled it would act.

The second ordinance (189-2025) would limit permanent and temporary window signage to a maximum of 25% of each storefront’s glass frontage and would apply across commercial and industrial districts. Planning staff and public-health officials said the restriction is intended to restore “eyes on the street” for pedestrian safety and to stop storefronts from advertising illicit or misleading products and services.

Public-health and law staff described a coordinated, four-part package that also includes (1) a tobacco retail licensing framework for inspection and enforcement (the licensing ordinance would be heard in finance), (2) amendments to the municipal civil code to increase enforcement penalties, and (3) criminal-code changes for certain illicit sales. The committee voted to convert the signage (189) and smoke-shop (188) ordinances to emergency ordinances to speed implementation; members discussed a moratorium to stop new permit approvals while the ordinances are written and clarified.

Director of Public Health and committee staff said the city has received roughly a hundred smoke-shop permit applications since January; many businesses in the city’s inventory had not previously been categorized as smoke shops. Health staff described an enforcement plan modeled on restaurant inspections, with a tobacco-retail license and a timeline to give operators time to apply and come into compliance. The licensing measure (187-2025) was discussed as the venue where council could set a hard cap on the number of permitted smoke shops.

Committee members emphasized enforcement resources: the health director and staff said six health inspectors would be assigned initially, with the option to add staff if the number of regulated outlets exceeds estimates. Council members urged a moratorium to halt approvals while the rules are finalized; the administration indicated it was considering that step and the law department said it would advise on specifics.

Several council members and the health director said the city’s ability to act quickly was important because of the number of recent applications and the clustering of shops in some neighborhoods. The committee recorded both amended ordinances as approved.","The committee advanced two emergency ordinances to restrict the location of smoke shops and limit window sign coverage, and discussed a broader package that would create a tobacco retail license, enforcement checklists and a potential cap on the number of smoke shops in the city.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves rezoning of vacant CVS parcel on Madison Avenue despite planning opposition and wide public comment

Committee approves three-year lead-safe auditor contract with Crowe LLP to replace prior auditor

Committee clears land-swap with Cleveland schools to enable new JFK stadium and shared-use agreement

Committee fast-tracks smoke-shop and window-sign rules; moves enforcement and licensing to health and finance committees