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Committee approves ordinance to add lakefront parcels to submerged land lease for future waterfront control
Summary
A committee approved an ordinance authorizing submerged land leases with the state to place additional lakefront parcels under a city-managed submerged land lease, a step city staff said is needed for future development and grant eligibility around North Coast Harbor and stadium areas.
A Cleveland committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of Port Control and other appropriate directors to enter into one or more submerged land leases with the state of Ohio and to consent to future subleases for lakefront parcels between West Third Street and about East 49th Street.
Port Control staff explained that state law prevents local governments from owning lakebed; to obtain control of newly created or previously unleased lakefront lands the city must obtain submerged land leases from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ordinance would add areas around North Coast Harbor, south of Burke Lakefront Airport, municipal lots, and stadium-adjacent lands into an expanded submerged land lease.
Assistant staff (identified in the meeting as John Hoos) said bringing additional lakefront lands under a single submerged land lease would facilitate future development, improve site control and support grant applications. Committee members pressed staff on term length and potential restrictions. Staff said negotiation with ODNR produced a proposal for a 99-year lease with two 50-year renewal options; staff said a longer term benefits the city by improving site control for development and financing.
Council members asked whether the lease would prohibit particular future uses such as parks, playgrounds or airports. Staff replied the lease itself does not inherently prohibit those uses; any future use would need appropriate approvals and must be consistent with the city's lakefront master plan and applicable submerged lease terms.
The committee recorded that Ordinance 1173-2024 "stands approved." City staff said the office will return with related resolutions and that the aim is to consolidate multiple submerged land leases into a single coterminous lease (0070 referenced in discussion) to simplify future management.
