Once again, has developer Lance Osborne received special
treatment from the City of Highland Heights?
In my last blog posting I described developer Lance
Osborne’s appearance before the Highland Heights Planning & Zoning
Commission (P&Z) on August 27th and wondered whether Osborne thought he
was entitled to special treatment.
I now know the answer to that question.
The answer is yes, he does----and apparently with good reason.
The answer is yes, he does----and apparently with good reason.
Do you suppose he has friends in high places?
Although 3 of the 4 P&Z members in attendance on August
27th seemingly decided to postpone scheduling a public hearing on Osborne’s
mega GetGo-related variance requests because Osborne hadn’t specified the
specific variances he was requesting---which everyone else must do when filling
out P&Z variance request forms---that decision was apparently overruled.
A public hearing on Osborne’s variance requests has been scheduled for this Monday, September 10th. Required notices (to nearby property owners only) were sent out late last week.
The public hearing on Osborne’s variance requests will be
held on Monday September 10th, 8 pm, in the City Hall Council
Chambers.
Was the very quiet scheduling of the GetGo public
hearing---despite opposition of a majority of P&Z members---an attempt to
avoid publicity and minimize attendance at the hearing?
It surely could be interpreted that way.
Although the development agreement that the city signed anticipates that variances will be granted to Osborne if rezoning for the proposed mega GetGo is approved by voters in November, the agreement doesn’t state exactly what those variances will be, and the specifics have---so far at least---not been made public.
It surely could be interpreted that way.
Although the development agreement that the city signed anticipates that variances will be granted to Osborne if rezoning for the proposed mega GetGo is approved by voters in November, the agreement doesn’t state exactly what those variances will be, and the specifics have---so far at least---not been made public.
That lack of information is what caused concern on the part
of P&Z committee members last week---and that should cause concern to Highland
Heights residents who, unlike Osborne, are required to follow the rules.
One bone of contention is likely to be the huge 18’x6’
monument signs that Osborne wants to install along Wilson Mills and Brainard
Roads.
In addition to variances from the city’s sign rules, Osborne is also seeking variances from the city’s front and side yard and green space requirements.
In addition to variances from the city’s sign rules, Osborne is also seeking variances from the city’s front and side yard and green space requirements.
The September 10th hearing is open to the public.
Interested residents will be allowed to comment on Osborne’s variance requests.
Interested residents will be allowed to comment on Osborne’s variance requests.
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| Proposed Mega GetGo signs. This drawing was attached as an exhibit to the development agreement signed by the city and developer Lance Osborne |
