April 4: Cleveland City Planning Commission
Covered by Documenters Kellie Morris (notes) and Caelum Burns (notes)
Fairview Hospital expansion approval postponed
The Cleveland City Planning Commission has postponed approvals for expansion plans at the Cleveland Clinic’s Fairview Hospital. Demolition of buildings next to the current Moll Cancer Center on Lorain Avenue was also postponed.
At the commission’s April 4 meeting, representatives from the Cleveland Clinic and Cannon Design, the architects for the expansion, presented on changes they’ve made from prior proposed plans, including changes to parking and facility entrances and landscaping schemes.
West Park resident Wally Grossman told the commission he opposes the expansion. “The addition they want to put on now is obviously too big for the property that they have,” he said during the public comment section of the meeting. “For them, it’s no problem, they just want us to make all the sacrifices.”
Resident and business owner George Gorze called the proposed expansion plans “preposterous” and raised concerns about drivers cutting through his parking lot to get around traffic lights.
Commissioner August Fluker made a motion to postpone further development until the Cleveland Clinic can present a full campus plan that demonstrates further community engagement, includes a wildlife study, and addresses entrances, exits, and traffic flow concerns. This motion was also approved by the full commission.
The commission also approved Fluker’s motion to postpone the demolition because “they are inextricably connected.”
But the commission did approve a zoning change that would create an institutional research (I-R) district around Fairview Hospital, saying “that’s a good planning move for everyone.” An I-R district is for educational, medical and research institutions, which can include residential and retail that’s “supportive.” A City Council ordinance is required to zone properties as I-R.
New zoning approved around St. Ignatius
The City Planning Commission approved zoning changes that will expand the institutional research district around St. Ignatius High School in Ohio City.
Chief Zoning Administrator Shannan Leonard said the purpose of the rezoning is to “[make] sure the commission has the ability to work with the community and institutions to ensure that their site design and their campuses are walkable, they’re safe, they’re pedestrian friendly.
“The [requirements] are specific conditions that are laid out within the district,” she added.
Cleveland Moves Ahead
The City Planning Commission also approved a review of the Cleveland Moves initiative, a plan meant to improve street conditions and access for bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit users. City transportation planner Sarah Davis explained that some of the goals of the Cleveland Moves initiative are to install more speed tables and build 50 miles of protected bike lanes within the next three years.
“The goal [is] that when we complete this, every Clevelander has a five-minute walk to a bikeway,” she added.
Read the notes from Documenter Kellie Morris:
Read the notes from Documenter Caelum Burns:
