Signatures Being Collected to Put GetGo Issue on Ballot

Rather than rezone the former Catalano's site to general business, Lance Osborne wants to change local business zoning to allow for development plans that include a GetGo gas station/convenience store and another 17,265 square feet of retail space.

"Consultants are out getting signatures to try to get that on the November ballot," Osborne said at Tuesday's City Council meeting. There is an Aug. 10 deadline to submit the issue to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for the November ballot.

Local business zoning limits size of buildings to 10,000 square feet and all business activities must be conducted "wholly" indoors. Osborne wants a ballot issue to remove the "wholly" restriction to allow gas stations and car washes as accessory uses and to increase the size of buildings to 25,000 square feet.

Osborne, president of Osborne Capital Group, which would own the property, said he addressed concerns raised by city officials earlier this month.

He said a traffic study he submitted to the city showed the intersection of Bishop/Brainard Road and Wilson Mills Road would not be negatively affected by the development.

"It specifically says that there will be no degradation to the intersection," Osborne said. He added that he addressed concerns about a 24-hour GetGo by including language in the petitions to restrict businesses from operating between 1-5 a.m.

The concessions from Osborne weren't convincing to resident Amy Feran, who voiced her opposition to the proposal.

"I think they're attempting to gut our current zoning code," she said.

When Osborne addressed council earlier this month, city officials appeared to favor rezoning the property for general business, which would require voter approval, and adding motor service use under general business zoning, requiring a second ballot issue.