Cuyahoga Falls City Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee has signed off on a proposal to change the zoning of property that is part of the planned Portage Crossing retail development.
It will now be up to City Council to decide the fate of the proposal to allow Stark Enterprises to move forward with the redevelopment of the old State Road Shopping Center site.
Falls Planning Director Fred Guerra said the city favors allowing the change from mixed use – commercial and residential – to only commercial.
Stark asked for the zoning change because construction of a Menard’s and Giant Eagle as part of the development will require a number of changes if the property is not rezoned.
Improvements involving another large shopping area will go before council next week.
The council’s Public and Industrial Improvements Committee passed two motions Monday concerning the improvement of Howe Avenue from Main Street to Buchholzer Boulevard.
City officials say the pavement on Howe is not up to par and the city would like to join with the Ohio Department of Transportation to make improvements.
“We will be able to completely rebuild the concrete pavement, using the most current design standards, and improve the storm system,” said City Engineer Tony Demasi.
Demasi said the improvements would include work on the traffic lights to help with the flow of traffic and emergency vehicles.
