Wednesday evening Sheffield Lake held a city council meeting regarding the proposed development and revamping of the property at 4128 East Lake Road. The meeting started with a “presentation” from developers Tom Torrini and Kelly Iken. The “presentation” included a rendering concept of what the building would look like, site plan from above showing phases 1, 2, and 3.
Phase one would include two buildings, both five stories with parking being the first story. One building would have 96 units with the second having 92 units. Phase two would include a 33,000 square foot retail space at the south end of the already existing plaza and a new look for the plaza itself. Phase three would include a nine-story apartment building in the southeast corner of the property. This building would have the first story as park, just like the first two, and 8 stories of apartments making 128 additional units.
After the presentation, council allowed citizen’s commentary to get some of the public’s opinions on the project. About 20 people took to the stand Wednesday, with majority being against the redevelopment of the plaza.
Many concerns from the public included no studies had been done for sewage control, storm water, and even more added traffic to the area. “I wait 10 even 15 minutes sometimes waiting to turn onto lake road” one man said. Other concerns included first response access and stress, the project not making it onto the later stages, and even the apartments being turned into section 8 properties. Torrini responded by saying ” We’re not going to spend 50 million so these buildings can be turned into section 8 properties”.
One woman shared she has lived in Sheffield Lake for 50 years, and in the past three years her basement has flooded not from storm water, but from sewer water. “I can’t do my laundry, run my dish washer when it rains without having to worry about flooding. I pay too much for this to keep happening.” She said.
Near the ending of citizen’s commentary one woman said “Is this all for the presentation? Where’s the little plastic buildings, with the fake trees and grass?” Council responded by saying “models don’t usually come this early”. At the end of the meeting council introduced a motion to recommend for approval to council- all voting yay to move on. In which many citizens in the audience responded with “shameless”. With the idea moving on to council for eventual vote, there will be three more reading and one public hearing prior.
On Thursday, many citizens took to social media to express their displeasure about the project. Several expressing the unprofessionalism of the “presentation” the company showed, lack of information regarding what businesses are apparently interested in moving into the current plaza, and even the vague answers the developers gave.