MINUTES OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

AUGUST 13, 2026

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (County Planning) was called to order by Director Christopher Alvarado at 2:01 p.m. and the roll call showed a quorum was present.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor of Brooklyn Heights, Mike Procuk spoke on behalf of Fred Shaker – who owns the land and is trying to sell this parcel of land – on the agenda today for Olmsted Township.

Ms. Marka Fields arrived.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 11, 2026, MEETING
On a motion by Mayor Dailey Jones, seconded by Mayor Kurtz, the minutes from the June 11, 2026, meeting were duly adopted with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Orcutt and Councilperson Simon arrived.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 260611-A – A Resolution recommending the disapproval of the Preliminary Plan for the Villas at Terra Creek in Olmsted Township.

Micah Stryker reported that the applicant is requesting approval of the preliminary plan for the Villas at Terra Creek Mixed-Use Town Center Planned Development (TCPD) Subdivision in Olmsted Township. The property is located on the south side of Bagley Road to the west of the Stearns Road intersection; PPN 265-04-002; 11.962 acres zoned as Town Center Planned Development (TCPD).

Pride One Construction submitted a preliminary plan for a mixed-use Town Center Planned Development (TCPD) subdivision consisting of:

• Fifty (50) market rate townhome units;
• Two (2) commercial outparcels facing Bagley Road;
• An unsubdivided parcel that will contain the residential portion of the development.

The application qualifies as a Major Subdivision under County Land Development Regulations due to new access needs, creation of more than five taxable properties, and inclusion of shared open space and utility easements. In accordance with Section 104.5 of the County Subdivision Regulations, multiple reviewing entities evaluated the preliminary plan for compliance with zoning, stormwater regulations, and County design standards. Highway Design issued a formal recommendation of disapproval due to the absence of any approved, scheduled, or funded roadway improvements to widen Bagley Road to include a left turn lane in to the development, as shown on their submitted plans. These improvements are necessary for the subdivision’s access to function legally and safely. Without active or scheduled plans, or funding, the preliminary plan fails to meet minimum County standards related to access, transportation safety, and coordination with public infrastructure.

County Planning staff found that the preliminary plan meets Subdivision Regulation requirements related to sidewalks, open space, street trees, and other design standards under Chapter 106. However, the project cannot demonstrate safe legal access to Bagley Road, nor meet the full set of County subdivision review standards per 104.5 (C4). Therefore, the staff recommended DISAPPROVAL of the Preliminary Plan for The Villas at Terra Creek. A County‑approved, engineered roadway plan demonstrating how Bagley Road will be widened is necessary before approval of a new preliminary plan will be considered. The following items are required as part of the new submission:

• A written Project Development Agreement entered into between Pride One Construction and Olmsted Township that demonstrates the cost of the necessary improvements shown in the Traffic Impact Study;
• A coordinated access plan if widening cannot occur immediately.

It was noted that materials shall be submitted no less than 20 business days prior to a scheduled Board meeting for consideration.

• October 8, 2026 (submit by September 10th)
• December 10, 2026 (submit by November 12th)

Discussion followed with the Board, Chris George from Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works; Gary Yelenosky, Township Administrator and Engineer; Justin Reed, Building Commissioner from Olmsted Township; and Loudan Klein from Pride One Construction. The discussion centered around the plans for widening Bagley Road and Stearns Road intersection improvements, their financing and timeline. Chris George noted that the preliminary plans submitted, and the traffic impact study results, both demonstrate access from the development onto Bagley Road with three (3) lanes of traffic, which don’t currently exist.

These issues first surfaced in May 2026 when the plans were originally submitted for review, prompting questions about who is doing the Bagley Road work, the timing, how the work will be done, and what financing is in place. So, while this is the first time this Preliminary Plan is being brought to the Board, it is the second time it is being reviewed. The developers’ own traffic impact study recommended that Bagley Road be widened to three lanes as the two lanes of through traffic will be insufficient. Justin Reed reported that the developer has been working well with Township officials and that from a zoning standpoint all the requirements have been met. It was noted by both Mr. Reed and Mr. George that Township officials have been cooperative and working with OHM Advisors and the County to improve the right of way in that area, including traffic and streetscape improvements. Gary Yelenosky noted that the developers are willing to put funds in escrow for necessary road infrastructure but also acknowledged that Bagley Road is County responsibility so there would be a shared cost of the right of way improvements. Yelenosky also noted that the Township is planning to send out an RFQ to hire an engineering firm, but this is a section of roadway that is part of a larger corridor, and improvements still need to be designed once the engineering firm is under contract with Olmsted Township.

Regarding traffic, Loudan Klein explained that this project has been in process over three years and acknowledged their traffic study indicated the need for three lanes. However, Loudan requested conditional approval for this preliminary plan suggesting that if the township is unable to move forward with widening Bagley Road by the end of 2028, then the developer would install the left-hand turn lane as part of their project. Mr. Klein also suggested that with their timeframe of starting work on the subdivision by the end of this year, with a projected completion of 50 residential units by mid-2027, and the development of the commercial lots between late 2027 to early 2028, it gives significant time before the third lane needs to be constructed.

Gary Yelenosky stated that the Township’s goal is to address all the Bagley Road improvement needs and sync this up with the other development in this area. Board members expressed concern about safety for pedestrians and vehicles in and around the area and asked for a cost estimate of the engineered roadway improvements of which was still unknown. Board members also expressed concern about the proposed subdivision adhering to County Subdivision Regulations guidelines and staff recommendations, given the uncertainty of determining a reasonable escrow cost since the full estimated cost of the roadway improvements is unknown.

Mr. Alex Cortez from the County Law Department weighed in and read the County Subdivision Regulation 104.5 (V) providing some guidance on how the Board should approach preliminary plan approvals and stated verbatim: “In order to approve a Preliminary Plan application, the County Planning commission shall find that: 104.5 (V) C. number four, the County Public Works Engineering Division has determined the preliminary plan for streets, storm water management, and natural drainage ways is acceptable subject to approval of a more detailed construction draw.” Mr. Cortez stated that the Board can decide how to handle the resolution but if approved conditionally could potentially expose the resolution to legal challenge should someone want to question it at a later date because it is factually incorrect given the disapproval from the County Highway Design Department. The Board asked if the item could be tabled since there were issues with timing and cost estimates. Mr. Cortex explained that only the applicant could request that the agenda item be tabled. Loudan Klein from Pride One Construction then made a request to table the Villas at Terra Creek agenda item, Resolution 260611-A.

On a motion by Mayor Orcutt, seconded by Mayor Welo, to accept the tabling of resolution 260611-A was duly adopted with a unanimous vote.

INFORMATION-ONLY PRESENTATIONS

Brooklyn Comprehensive Plan Overview

Micah Stryker reported that the City of Brooklyn completed a Master Plan in 2021 and has been aggressively pursuing implementation. Having completed many of the recommended actions, the City of Brooklyn desired a strategic update to gather community feedback and provide new recommendations. The Master Plan update was started in May 2025, and the draft was completed May 2026. Community engagement strategies included an online community-wide survey and a student survey. The key takeaways were:

• Desire for updated recreation center
• Improved property maintenance
• Street cleanliness/beautification
• Additional/focused Recreation & community-wide events
• Improved Public safety
• Improved sidewalks and traffic flow or calming measures
• Local economic development

A total of thirty-five (35) recommendations were made with updated focus areas and corridors. Implementation was organized with timeframes for short-term goals (1-2 years), mid-term goals (3-5 years), and long-term goals and effort (5+ years). Each term list also ranked the items in importance of the recommendations with high, medium, and low priority. The Master Plan Update is currently before City Council for adoption, and the community is ready to pursue implementation of some of the actions once the Master Plan Update has been officially adopted.

Lakewood Public Arts Master Plan Overview

Meghan Chaney presented on the Lakewood Public Arts Master Plan that County Planning recently completed. Ms. Chaney reported that the City of Lakewood allocates $50,000 for public art investment from its annual capital budget. The Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB) helps determine how that annual allocation is spent. The project included multiple goals including: to grow Lakewood’s public art in an innovative, strategic, and equitable way; to understand how demographics inform accessibility; to increase the efficacy of the PAAB; and to identify solutions to potential installation and maintenance challenges.

The Steering Committee that met monthly included:

• City of Lakewood Planning Department
• City of Lakewood Public Works
• Lakewood City Council
• Lakewood City Schools
• Artists & Public Arts Advisory Board
• Chamber of Commerce
• Lakewood Alive

An existing art inventory was provided by Lakewood and mapped in GIS but excluded the utility box wraps because they are ubiquitous and were being installed at a rapid rate. A quarter-mile walkshed was then created around each piece of public art to highlight those areas that have less public art accessible on a very localized scale. As expected, those areas closest to the main commercial corridors of Detroit Avenue, Madison Avenue and West 117^th Street have the greatest proximity to public art, with less in residential areas that extend farther away from these main corridors.

County Planning identified and researched demographics based on the diversity index, senior populations, differently abled populations against impervious surfaces and tree canopy and considered numerous case studies to then overlay the research to see where those populations existed in relation to where the public art was currently and then tailor recommendations.

An opportunity inventory map was produced for the City of Lakewood for potential wall murals, sculptures, social seating street murals or interactive art. Community engagement included stakeholder interviews, meetings, Highschool youth engagement, area artists, service providers, advocacy groups, along with a community survey. The result was

• Over 90% of respondents felt Good or Very Good about current public art in Lakewood
• Almost 80% of respondents supported a requirement of public art in new development
• Almost 80% of respondents supported an increased city budget for new public art
• Preferred places for community art included significant buildings and places and commercial corridors
• Preferred types of public art included murals, infrastructural art, and sculpture
• Preferred themes of public art included nature, community and diversity

The guiding principles developed from all the research:

• Authentic – public art is meaningful and thought-provoking. The artist and the artwork strive to connect to and resonate with community members living, visiting, and working in Lakewood.
• Inclusive & Accessible – public art welcomes and showcases a wide range of human experiences, actively including art by artists of diverse populations, accounting for racial and cultural backgrounds, gender and sexual orientation (LGBTQ+ representation), differently abled populations, and emerging artists. Public art is furthermore experienced in unexpected and accessible ways that introduce art beyond typical places and transcends traditional limitations of age, race, ability, and education.
• Innovative- public art will showcase new materials, mediums, ways to interact, and technologies such as solar power, 3D printing, and digital projections in unexpected ways to inspire and engage audiences. Public art will feature kinetic, experiential, and immersive elements.
• Placemaking- public art will celebrate the community, create a sense of place, and connect community members through the establishment of spaces and that engage the community, enhance well-being, and create collaborative experiences.
• Functional- public art will enhance the presence, usefulness, efficiency, and safety of places and infrastructure, including parks and public spaces, road and rail structures and rights-of-way, signage, and stormwater.

Recommendations included four (4) goals. First is to continue to inspire and embrace the community through a diversity of public art forms, styles, and themes. Second is to continue to pursue the installation of public art in targeted areas throughout Lakewood. Third is to ensure public art in Lakewood embraces all aspects of equity. Last is to create sustaining processes for the PAAB, including planning, funding, strategies, and public relations procedures. A maintenance plan is required to be submitted by the artist and must include the cost and whether the artist will be able to contribute and lend their expertise on art maintenance.

The next steps of the Lakewood Public Arts Master Plan are to present to Lakewood City Council for adoption, tentatively scheduled for Monday, September 14^th at 6:00 p.m.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Cierebiej congratulated Patrick Hewitt who was promoted to Assistant Director, Susan Infeld on her retirement and Erik Engle on his next chapter. Operationally there will be changes with Micah Stryker who is now leading Olmsted Township matters, Maureen Riley who is taking over Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC) for Meghan Chaney, and Paul Triolo who will transition to leading State Capital Infrastructure Program (SCIP) in 2027. Executive Director Mary Cierebiej has been appointed to Cuyahoga County Improvement Corporation (CCIC) due to Susan Infeld’s retirement and County Planning will be posting for Planning Services Manager position.

Executive Director Cierebiej updated the Board on the four-year Personnel Review Commission (PRC) Class Plan Maintenance. All participating staff members completed Comprehensive Position Questionnaire (CPQ) and Executive Director Cierebiej is now coordinating with HR and PRC for next steps. Reviews and assessments are underway with recommendations pending for positions and salary.

2026 Community Planning Services Program (CPSP) selected five (5) projects out of twelve (12) applications received and is working through those award scopes, budgets, and timelines. The awardees include:

• Oakwood Village Master Plan
• Bedford Heights Master Plan
• Rocky River Detroit Road Corridor Plan
• Seven Hills Park Connectivity Study
• Shaker Heights Online Interactive Mapping

Executive Director Cierebiej also mentioned that Brooklyn MP Update, Lakewood Public Arts MP, and Orange Wayfinding plans are all complete but pending final presentation/approval by the communities. The Valley View Master Plan and the Bedford Master Plan are also both still underway.

Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A): County Planning received six (6) proposals from the RFQ issued in 2Q2026. The project team reviewed and scored them, and two (2) firms are advancing to interviews, with one being selected and likely seeking Board approval for a consultant contract in October 2026.

Unified Zoning Code Update: There are six confirmed communities and one pending/delayed commitment. Fundraising efforts are continuing, County Planning has received $75k of the $150k commitment from Cleveland Foundation, $25k from Cuyahoga Land Bank, and $25k from Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors (ACAR). In addition, County Planning has received preliminary authorization to dedicate $200k of its revenue over three years to support this effort. Next steps include contracting with individual communities that are opting in and drafting an RFP for a zoning consultant to analyze existing zoning codes and developing the new code. Anticipate bringing contracts to the Board and releasing the RFP in Q3/Q4 2026.

The West 117th Street Corridor Plan: the project is now underway with the goal of identifying challenges and opportunities in the corridor and making recommendations that support multi-modal transportation and support transit-oriented development. Memos of Understanding are being drafted with City of Cleveland & City of Lakewood to partner in studying the length of the corridor from Edgewater Drive to Berea Road (1.1 miles). County Planning will lead the effort with in-kind support from communities and key stakeholders like GCRTA and County Public Works.

OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.

ADJOURN
With no other business, Mayor Kurtz made a motion to adjourn the meeting with a second by Mayor Orcutt at 3:30 p.m.

NEXT MEETING
Next Meeting (Tentative) September 10, 2026; Next Regular Meeting October 8, 2026