Eastern Hills Journal 10/02/19

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EASTERN HILLS JOURNAL Your Community Press newspaper serving Columbia Tusculum, Hyde Park, Mariemont, Mount Lookout, Oakley and other Northeast Cincinnati neighborhoods

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 ❚ BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS ❚ PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

Madeira repeals political yard-sign regulations Jeanne Houck Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Madeira has repealed its political yard-sign regulations following a federal court challenge by self-styled watchdog Doug Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer sued the city after Madeira Police Chief Michael Schaefer told him Sept. 9 to take down two, 16-square-foot political signs in his yard that violated city regulations in size and number. One sign said, “Remove the Clowns on City Oppenheimer Council" ” and the other, “Elect the Rerformers (sic) to City Council.” Oppenheimer removed the signs, but argued in a lawsuit fi led three days later in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati that provisions of Madeira’s political yardsign regulations trample his constitutional rights to free speech, including those that say: ❚ Political yard signs may be no larger than six square feet, even though temporary signs advertising events such as church bazaars and charitable fundraisers may sometimes be as large as 50 square feet. ❚ Generally, no more than one political yard sign is allowed per candidate or issue on an upcoming ballot – in this case, the Nov. 5 Madeira City Council race. Oppenheimer’s suit says “rerformers” was deliberately misspelled on one of his signs “to promote additional discussion about the sign.” Madeira and Oppenheimer were already embroiled in an unrelated lawsuit pending in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, in which the city has sued to put restrictions on Oppenheimer’s ability to sue Madeira. The city says Oppenheimer keeps fi ling unsuccessful, harassing lawsuits against it. Oppenheimer insists he is standing up for taxpayers.

New court ruling But Madeira appears to be conceding in Oppenheimer’s federal lawsuit over See SIGNS, Page 2A

Madeira resident Doug Oppenheimer prompted a review of the city's political yard-sign regulations when he put these signs in his yard. DOUG OPPENHEIMER/PROVIDED

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The historic Stewart house in Madisonville is at the center of a rezoning request. JEANNE HOUCK/THE ENQUIRER

Madisonville council raises concerns over apartments Jeanne Houck Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Some Madisonville residents are demanding that a development fi rm with plans to build a 150-unit apartment complex hard by a historic home take their concerns more seriously – and that Cincinnati City Hall back up the neighborhood. But the fi rm, PLK Communities of Kenwood, says it has met seven times with Madisonville residents and groups - although it has attended just one meeting of the Madisonville Community Council, the organization voicing concerns. PLK Communities is investing about $18 million to build market-rate apartments and preserve the historic Stewart house on about 4.5 acres at the northwest corner of Madison Road and Stewart Avenue. The development fi rm also says it is following Madisonville’s “form-based code,” a zoning tool that takes the place of Cincinnati’s zoning laws in some areas of the neighborhood. Madisonville residents created the form-based code in 2013 to show developers what kind of new construction the neighborhood wants and to streamline the development process. After meeting last week with a representative of PLK Communities, the general membership of the Madisonville Community Council voted to table further discussion on whether to support the development fi rm’s request that Cincinnati change the zoning of some of its property for the complex, community council President Kate Botos said. Botos said that was to allow “key stakeholders” aff ected by the development a chance to fi rst share their concerns with Cincinnati zoning, transportation and engineering offi cials.

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PLK Communities wants to build a 150-unit apartment complex at Madison Road and Stewart Avenue in Madisonville. PROVIDED

Community council: ‘Cincinnati needs to hear the voice of the neighborhood’ “The city of Cincinnati needs to hear the voice of the neighborhood and help facilitate a productive and inclusive PLK Communities, LLC. development that Madisonville can be proud to boast about,” Botos said. Madisonville Community Council member Bill Collins said the membership voted 43 to 0 to delay formally weighing in on the apartment complex being built by PLK Communities, which has already demolished some homes and cleared trees. “Our resolution demands that the developer essentially start over with a thorough engagement process with the immediate neighbors of this project — residents, business owners and a school – located See APARTMENTS, Page 2A

Vol. 39 No. 37 © 2019 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED $1.00

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