Council members join opposition

Mercy zoning change at issue for west side

At least five members of Lorain City Council say they oppose a zoning change that would allow Mercy Health to build a new medical facility on Oak Point Road.

On Nov. 13, Lorain City Council held its public hearing for Mercy Health’s requested zoning change. The hospital has asked to change zoning from R-1A Residential to B-1 Business to build a new 30,000-squarefoot medical office center on 8.19 acres of land just west of the intersection of Oak Point Road and South Mayflower Drive.

At least 71 people packed the Council chambers for the discussion, which lasted almost two hours. About 30 people commented publicly and Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Springowski, who conducted the hearing, banged her gavel more than once when the crowd jeered.

There were some supporters but most residents offered their concerns about spot zoning, increased traffic and the possibility of Mercy Health selecting a better location that would serve more of Lorain.

“There’s no reason to sacrifice stable neighborhoods,” said Jacqueline Graff, who has lived on Oak Point Road since 1957.

“There’s no reason to sacrifice stable neighborhoods” — Jacqueline Graff

“Please understand that we are not against expansion, we are not against the hospital, we are not against jobs, we are for all those things,” said Graff, one of several residents whose comments prompted applause from the audience. “We’re all on the same team, but we have to respect each other’s investments.”

The Lorain City Planning Commission has recommended approval of the zoning change.

On Nov. 13, there was no formal Council vote on that recommendation; Council’s formal vote could come at its next regular meeting.

But that didn’t stop five members from voicing their opposition to the project location.

Councilmen Joe Koziura, Mitch Fallis, Greg Argenti, Dennis Flores and Angel Arroyo Jr. said they would support residents who argue their neighborhood around the two-lane Oak Point is not the right place for the medical office building.

“The folks who reside there all around this property bought and live there because they were under the assumption that this was going to be continued residential zoning,” Fallis said. “And I’m vehemently opposed to this being changed to business zoning. We have other areas in our city that would be a more appropriate location for this particular facility. I think it’s a great idea but it’s just in the wrong location.”

Later in the meeting, Councilwoman Pamela Carter and Councilman Joshua Thornsberry, whose Ward 8 would have the new building, voiced support for the zoning change.

Carter cited Lorain’s need for jobs and Mercy’s work in Lorain as the city’s largest employer. Thornsberry said a vocal minority were trying to hijack progress in the part of Lorain that is a “beaming light” for growth in the city.

Thornsberry cited the last 20 years of history of neighbors fearing developments that have created a pleasant place to live.

“And it’s always been a vocal minority that lives next to the project with exactly the same complaints: traffic, property values, it’s going to ruin everything,” he said. “And we have 20 years of history to prove none of that’s happened.”

Councilwoman Mary Springowski, who served as president pro tem, Councilwoman JoAnne Moon and Councilmen Brian Gates and Joe Faga did not say how they would vote on the issue.

In the comments, speaking against the project were: Myron Naymik, Marilyn Finch, Janine Mawson, Pete Bates of Oak Point Estates; and Dennis McGee, Jacob Walter and Kristyne McDougle, Tom Priebe, Jean Shotter, Richard Johnson, Donald Woltman, of Oak Point Road.

“The only thing this is going to do is make the world worse,” Johnson said.

Also opposing were Denver Casto and John Franko of Jaeger Road; Karen Edwards of North Mayflower Drive; Gary Gross of South Mayflower Drive; Mark Lombardi of Colony Court; Steve Nemmer of Doe Crossing; city residents Martha Pye, Jerry Donovan and John Wargo, a frequent attendee at Council meetings.

Attorney Gerald Phillips of Avon Lake cited the court cases that have ruled against spot zoning.

Kim Mulder, president of STAR Design-Build Contractors, served as spokesman for Mercy Health and the Bitar family, which would donate the land to the hospital.

The site is not by accident, Mulder said. Mercy Health wants to be adjacent to the State Route 2 corridor like the Cleveland Clinic does, he said.

Catherine Woskobnick, a neighboring resident who also is a Mercy vice president, said the hospital provides $24 million in charitable care to help people who are poor or underserved.

Dave Richards of Yorktown Road said he would support the project.

“This is natural progress on an interchange that is growing,” he said.

On Nov. 13, there was no formal Council vote on that recommendation; Council’s formal vote could come at its next regular meeting.