Friday, December 23, 2011
Members unanimously passed an agreement laying the basic legal framework for development at Crocker Park.
After long months of discussions and negotiations, the basic legal framework is set fo the construction of American Greetings's international headquarters at Crocker Park. City council members passed an agreement between Westlake, Crocker Park and American Greetings Friday afternoon. Under the agreement, American Greetings and Crocker Park managers Stark Enterprises will pay no taxes on the increased value of their property for 30 years, starting in 2014. "This creates the legal framework for the tax increment financing, but it won't go into effect yet," said Council President Michael Killeen. "This just sets up the structure... There are numbers in here based on current plans that have not yet been approved, so this will have to be …
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Westlake City Hall
27216 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/city-council-approves-property-tax-exemption-for-american-greetings
1076079
/locations/6066418
41.45739
-81.95193
Crocker Park
228 Market St, Westlake, OH
/articles/city-council-approves-property-tax-exemption-for-american-greetings
1075957
/locations/6066419
Thursday, December 22, 2011
City Council will meet Friday to vote on tax-exempt status and many other details for the planned development.
Westlake City Council is set to vote on an ordinance laying the legal groundwork for the American Greetings world headquarters and Crocker Park planned expansion. The agreement details tax exemptions for the property, infrastructure to be provided by the city, service payments from American Greetings, provisions for the school district and much more. “This is the agreement that solidifies what American Greetings promised the city and what the city promised American Greetings,” said Mayor Dennis Clough. “It doesn’t approve the development plan, but it at least gives parameters. As much as we could define is included in that agreement.” The agreement could not be passed at the last regular city council meeting because two members were absent…
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-81.95193
Crocker Park
228 Market St, Westlake, OH
/articles/american-greetings-and-city-to-finalize-finances
1075957
/locations/6062383
Friday, December 2, 2011
City Council also approved two natural gas contracts.
Council members passed two ordinances Thursday night to allow both Westlake Village and The Gardens at Westlake a conditional use permit to expand. The Gardens at Westlake will be adding a $4 million dementia care unit and 20 new employees by late summer. The brand-new 24-bed expansion will be exclusively for Alzheimer's patients, and others with memory loss or dementia. New technologies like sleep monitoring systems and high security systems will be installed in the new building. “I definitely think what residents are going to find is it’s not an area in the building we locked and created a supervised area,” said Christina Melarango, executive director at The Gardens at Westlake. “This is going to be innovative but I think what a lot of …
41.45969
-81.92185
Westlake City Hall
27216 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/assisted-living-facilities-given-conditional-use-permits-to-expand
1076079
/locations/5931780
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Recent study shows changing over from Cleveland Water Distribution could provide lower rates to residents, more control of infrastructure.
After years of studies, Westlake is moving forward with plans to switch water suppliers from the Cleveland Division of Water to Avon Lake Municipal Utilities. City Council's Committee of the Whole voted unanimously on Tuesday night to allow Mayor Dennis Clough to begin negotiations with Avon Lake, and to hire a consulting firm to create a plan for design and construction. Consultants at the firm HTNB began the first feasibility study for the switch back in 2007, and on Tuesday night, council members saw and discussed the results of a second study analyzing risks, benefits, costs and construction involved. The study recommends that Westlake pursue the change in suppliers, noting that it would improve water pressure, create a new revenue …
41.45969
-81.92185
Westlake City Hall
27216 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/westlake-pursuing-switch-to-avon-lake-municipal-utilities
1076079
/locations/5823897
Friday, July 22, 2011
City Council approved the plan before breaking for the month of August.
City Council gave the go-ahead to St. John Medical Center's master plan for a five-year, $100-million renovation and expansion project Thursday night. Several details like signage, lighting and tree locations still need city approval, but the joint project between University Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity Health System will go ahead as planned. The construction project will add 35,000 square feet to the site, along with technological upgrades, a relocated helipad, patient room renovations, a clinical decision unit, expanded parking and new entrances. "The plan is pretty similar to the plan approved in '07," said Planning Director Bob Parry, noting that the city recommends a new master plan about every five years. Six parcels of the …
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St. John Medical Center
29000 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH
/articles/st-john-medical-center-master-plan-approved
1838470
/locations/4912359
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday night's City Council meeting will also include discussion on the purchase of construction equipment.
City Council will meet Thursday to discuss employee contracts, the purchase of construction equipment and the acquisition of a 10-foot strip of land in the Capel Vale subdivision. The city employs workers from six unions three of which just recently agreed to new contracts: the firefighters' union, the City Hall employees' union and the city workers' union - the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees. The police patrolmen's union signed a new contract after settling arbitration with the city in April. Police patrol officers will receive no raise this year, a 3 percent raise in 2011 and a 3 percent raise in 2012. "That was pretty much in accordance with the arbitrator's award," said Mayor Dennis Clough. "Most of the …
41.45969
-81.92185
Westlake City Hall
27216 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/three-union-contracts-and-more-up-for-discussion
1076079
/locations/4374175
Friday, January 7, 2011
Here's a look back at the biggest stories from the first week of 2011.
It's the end of the first week in 2011 and the first full week of stories from Westlake Patch. Here are the headlines you might have missed: Girls Basketball Player Breaks Career Point Record Kalpana Beach became the career scoring leader for Westlake High School girls basketball at Wednesday night’s game. The 6-foot-1 senior now has 1,266 career points. City Councilman Decides To Stay On Ward 2 Councilman Jim Connole decided not to resign his seat. Connole announced in November that he would leave his seat due to personal and professional commitments. The representative will leave his duties at planning commission, but remain on council. Pick a Store and Stick With It The state is restricting the number of times you can switch pharmacies …
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St John Medical Center
29000 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH
/articles/week-in-review-491
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/locations/2982934
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-81.927815
Westlake High School
27830 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/week-in-review-491
1075568
/locations/2982935
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Borders
30121 Detroit Rd, Westlake, OH
/articles/week-in-review-491
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/locations/2982936
Connole will leave Planning Commission to lighten his load.
Ward 2 Councilman Jim Connole will be staying on Westlake City Council, but leaving Planning Commission in February. Connole had announced in November that he would be giving up his seat due to demands in his personal and professional life. But he said Friday that he changed his mind in large part because his load will be lessened by leaving the Planning Commission post. Also, he said, many asked him to remain on council. “It all panned out over the last six to eight weeks where my concerns were alleviated,” he said. “It was very humbling that a lot of people asked me to stay and my colleagues asked me to stay.” Planning Commission often meets twice a month, and Connole said much preparation work is required. “My concern was that I couldn’…
41.45969
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Westlake City Hall
27216 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/westlakes-ward-2-councilman-decides-to-stay
1076079
/locations/2980493
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Council members will interview candidates to replace Connole Jan. 4
The New Year will bring a fresh face to Westlake City Council. Ward 2 Councilman Jim Connole will step down after the first meeting of the year and council members will appoint a replacement. Eleven applicants are in the running to represent Ward 2, located in the southeastern part of the city. Council President Michael Kileen said he does not expect that the new council member will be appointed Tuesday. Council members will interview everyone who applied, except for one candidate who did not meet the 18-month residency requirement, said Denise Rosenbaum, council clerk. Council members will speak with candidates Jan. 4 and then decide if they need further interviews. Applicants for the part-time position are Cecelia Baker, Nate Cross, …
41.45993
-81.92515
27700 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/city-council-continues-search-for-ward-2-representative
/locations/2888809
Members take time to find best person for the job.
It's a process that seems fairly simple, but somehow can become so complicated. The procedure to appoint a public official, or any kind of government employee, should be one that reassures taxpayers. We need to know not only that our funds are being used wisely for salaries, but also that our interests are being represented, even if we did not elect the representative. That's exactly what Westlake City Council seems to be concerned with while searching for a new councilmember in Ward 2. Members have taken careful and laudable efforts to maintain a fair and open application process in their call for candidates. One can't help but notice that as Cuyahoga County government undergoes a complete restructure after corruption charges and …
41.45969
-81.92185
Westlake City Hall
27216 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH
/articles/city-council-makes-commendable-effort-to-keep-appointment-process-open
1076079
/locations/2879140
Chris M.
7:45 am on Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sounds like AG got a super-sweet deal. Hope it's worth it. more ›