Rezoning of SOM Center Road property OK’d

Willoughby City Council voted in favor of a proposed rezoning in Ward 4 at its June 9 meeting.

Council voted 6-1 in favor of the rezoning of the 16-acre Millstein property at 5363 SOM Center Road from R100 to R60. Ward 3 Councilman John Tomaselli was the lone vote in opposition. The City Planning Commission had voted in favor of rezoning.

“We are encouraged that Willoughby sees continued economic growth during this unprecedented time,” Mayor Robert Fiala said.

Several residents read letters in opposition to the rezoning.

Among them were the Petricks, longtime city residents, who along with other neighbors and residents have opposed various rezoning requests and development proposals for the site since 2016.

“City leadership is well aware of the opposition and has heard many residents speak at numerous city meetings over the last four years, including last night’s council meeting,” said Lori Claire Petrick Flower of Willoughby, speaking on behalf of her family.

Her parents Deborah

and Thomas Petrick have been residents of Willoughby since 1981 and Aspen Wood Lane residents for 23 years.

“Obviously, we are very unhappy with this result. We deserved better representation from city leadership,” she said.

“We do not understand how City Council could have voted in favor of such a drastic zoning change when residents from all sides of the proposed development spoke unanimously against it for a multitude of reasons. Still, we are proud that so many neighbors took the time to make their voices heard over the years.” Among issues raise by the residents were increased traffic on the already congested SOM Center Road area, water

runoff, the devaluation of property, and a significant change in neighborhood character and nature.

Several other projects are still moving ahead in Ward 4, along the SOM Center corridor. Some of the most significant projects are:

• Town homes across from Big Turtle 1

• Marc’s grocery going into the former fitness center location, next to TJ Maxx

• Sheetz moving into the former Eat ‘n Park site

“Through the pandemic, we’ve been so focused on the safety of residents, and we can sometimes miss the good things that are happening in terms of economic development. We have at least four projects happening right now even through this,” Fiala said.