TWINSBURG TWP. – Construction of homes along three streets on the Guyuron property south of East Aurora Road and east of Hadden Road will be permitted after the community trustees approved the zoning plan changes.
West Creek Land Conservancy has contracted the property for purchase with most of the 80 acres earmarked for conservation. However, the nonprofit group plans to sell about 40 lots along the North Park, East Park and South Park driveways to help fund the acquisition.
The Conservancy’s mission is to reclaim vacant urban land and restore streams, wetlands, forests and natural habitats. When the land purchase is completed, no development is planned apart from the few houses.
The land is located in the community’s Interchange Mixed Use Zoning District, which was created in 2008 after Dr. Bahman Guyuron bought it with retail or industrial development in mind. Several houses in the three streets were demolished at that time.
Community manager Rob Kagler told the trustees at their Aug. 10 meeting that the conservancy has received two grants — one from the Clean Ohio program — to help purchase the land and is talking to potential home builders about the lots to tap into.
Kagler explained that when the IMU district was created and the zoning of R-3 residential areas was changed, housing construction was banned. But to accommodate the Conservancy’s proposals, the zoning had to be changed to accommodate house construction.
Therefore, the zoning changes will allow single-family homes as a permitted use, subject to the requirements of the R-3 district. The community zoning commission and Summit County planning commission approved the change.
Meanwhile, Kagler said he hopes there are offers for the trustees to act on so that a contract can be awarded – possibly at the September 14 meeting – for the rebuilding of the three streets, including installing streetlights, curbs / Gutters and sidewalks.
OHM Advisors is providing construction management services for the road reconstruction/street lighting project at a cost of $181,550.
“Also, an agreement with the prospective developer/homebuilder is required so that the road improvements can be funded through assessment districts rather than grants,” Kagler said. “This will speed up the project and reduce the timeline from about three years to one.”
OTHER BUSINESS
The trustees approved a five-year lease with Pitney-Bowes for a new digital mail system at a cost of $212 per quarter ($4,255 total) and agreed to specify the cost of grass mowing and street lighting for tax duplicates assess property owners.
Kagler reported that Phase I improvements to Ravenna Road are expected to begin soon and be completed by the end of 2022. They include shoulder stabilization, repaving and removal of objects on the right of way from Old Mill Road to the Twinsburg city limits.
Phase II, which runs south from Old Mill Road to the Portage County line, is scheduled for completion in 2025.
Kagler announced that an asbestos assessment had been completed and a contract to demolish a house at 8265 Stow Road could be awarded in September. Completion is expected by the end of October, taking into account the cost of the deceased homeowner’s estate.
Kagler also reported that Phase 18 of the Heights road improvements will begin soon, while contracts for Phases 19-20 — the final in the 20-year line of Heights road improvements — are expected to be awarded later this year, with work on are planned for 2023.
Tri-Mor Corp. submitted the low bid of $1.075 million for Phase 18 (west block of Stanford Street to Cul-de-sac and south block of Harvard Road from Case to Stanford). A new cul-de-sac is planned at the end of Stanford.
Kagler said $400,000 to $450,000 will come from a state grant, $166,000 from the community’s American Rescue Plan allocation, and about $450,000 from the community.
Phases 19-20 include Stanford’s East Block and Yale’s South Block.
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