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Resident urges council to reject spot-zoning that could allow gas station near Cadell Park
Summary
A resident told council that proposed spot-zoning to remove a former CVS site from a pedestrian overlay could permit a gas station adjacent to a park and elementary school and questioned recent negotiation comments by a council member.
A resident urged Cleveland City Council to reject ordinance 7 91 20 24, saying the proposed spot-zoning would remove the former CVS site at Madison and West Boulevard from a protective pedestrian overlay district and could permit a gas station next to Cadell Park and Marion Seltzer Elementary School.
"This legislation would allow a gas station and other currently prohibited uses at this site, which is immediately next to Cadell Park, Cadell Recreation Center, and Marion Seltzer Elementary School," Nikki Hudson told the council during public comment. Hudson said the community strongly opposes rezoning the property and that she had filed a public-records request for negotiation documents.
Hudson also raised concerns about a news report she said indicated the city had discussed purchasing the site for a fire station and quoted a council member as saying developers "would need to be made whole," language Hudson said was troubling because the developers were aware of the site's restrictive zoning when they bought the property. "If the city pays a large premium over the assessed value, we should all be very alarmed," she said.
Hudson alleged, without presenting documentary proof in the meeting, that developers have paid people to testify at zoning hearings in other cases; she said she had learned of payments of $100 to $200 to witnesses in a prior matter. She urged council to "reject this legislation, whatever its motivation may be."
The transcript records Hudson's public comment but does not show a council vote on ordinance 7 91 20 24 during this meeting. The topic remains before the city's planning and legislative process; any formal council action or negotiation details Hudson referenced were not presented on the record in the transcript.
Hudson's remarks were made during the public-comment period and were not followed by council debate or a motion recorded in the public record at this session.
