ThisWeek Northland 6/2

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June 2, 2011

Development committee

Group ‘critical to success of Northland’ By KEVIN PARKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers

The leader of a once-prominent civic association wanted a bank to open on Cleveland Avenue; she was tired of driving all the way to East Dublin-Granville Road. Existing zoning didn’t allow for a bank. The members of the Northland Com-

munity Council’s development committee acceded to the woman’s wishes and allowed a seemingly minor change in zoning. The result: A national chain restaurant with a liquor license went in, followed by some fast-food restaurants, all serving to completely change the character of a low-intensity commercial area next to residential property. Oh, and the bank was never built. Former NCC president Mark Bell,

who was also chairman or vice chairman of the development committee for many years in the 1990s, made a special guest appearance before last week’s meeting of the current panel to emphasize the importance — and possible consequences — of the recommendations they make. Bell, now district director for U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Genoa Township), joined the development committee in

1991 and became chairman, he said, two or three years later. “In my opinion, zoning is really the fundamental foundation of a community,” Bell told the eight NCC members on hand for the monthly committee meeting at the Minerva Park Community Center. “At the end of the day, this committee sets how this community is going to look tomorrow, 10, 20, 30 years in the future.”

Bell said he used the example of the rezoning that was supposed to make way for a bank to emphasize to current committee members the potential Pandora’s Box of problems their decisions can open. Zoning, he said, is “forever.” “The zoning runs with the land,” Bell said. “It doesn’t run with the owner. It doesn’t run with the use. See GROUP, page A2

Used-car lot

Special permit denied for ‘temporary’ buildings By KEVIN PARKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers

By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek

CHA volunteer Elissa O’Sullivan pets Marley, a 5-year-old mixed breed, who is looking for a home. Marley was returned to the shelter after being adopted because the family divorced and couldn’t keep him. He has been back at the shelter for quite some time now and is looking for a new family.

Special promotion helped find homes for shelter’s dogs, cats By KEVIN PARKS

‘It feels like she has always been with us’

ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Saying goodbye to old friends is never easy, even if it is for the best. A lot of bittersweet partings have been taking place of late at CHA Animal Shelter on Corporate Drive. Thanks to a rollback in adoption fees during most of the month of May, in some cases to 1950s-era levels, “forever homes” were found for many dogs and cats, including some who had been residents of the shelter long enough to find their way into the hearts of staff members and volunteers, according to development director Terri Montigny. Adoption fees were trimmed to $50 from May 10 to May 31, and during the weekend of May 20-22, the charge for a neutered dog or cat who had been at the shelter five months or more was only $5. “It’s the first time we’ve done this particular promotion,” Montigny said. It was instituted because the facility was full. “We had maxed out our numbers,” Montigny said. Uncertainty stemming from troubled economic times was no doubt part of the reason for that, she added. “I think people, rightfully so, look at the long-term commitment of having another mouth to feed,” Montigny said. Special adoption fee promotions in 2010 helped increase the number of pets placed in permanent

For information on adopting Marley, visit CHA’s website: chaanimalshelter.org. Watch a video of Marley at ThisWeekNEWS.com.

homes over the previous year. “We’re all looking for the best price out there right now on everything,” Montigny said. Special promotional pricing has helped find new homes for animals that had been around the shelter for many, many months. While the 350-plus volunteers who come in to help out every week and the CHA Animal Shelter employees come to love these dogs and cats, Montigny said there is a great deal of joy involved in watching someone take them home. “The happiest moment of our lives,” she said. “It really is. But we get extremely attached to those animals.” CHA is one of the few adoption organizations to have a pit bull program, she pointed out. One of CHA’s pit bulls, named Lois, called the shelter home for 13 months before someone finally took her. “You see an animal every single day for 13 months, you become very attached to that animal,” Montigny pointed out. Attached or not, though, a loving household is the ultimate goal, she added.

People who adopt cats and dogs from the CHA Animal Shelter “become part of the CHA family,” according to development director Terri Montigny. They’re always encouraged to stay in touch because shelter volunteers and staff members enjoy finding out what happens after an animal finds a permanent home. Social networking has helped make that even more possible, Montigny said. Below are some examples of postings to the CHA Animal Shelter Facebook page in recent months: • “Here is a quick update on Jade. She hates storms, loves to run and play in the mud in her new backyard, she loves to follow me around and also sleeps with me. Jade watches TV with me every night.” • “Anna and Princess are doing great. They are finally getting along. (It) took Anna a long time to make nice with her. Now they lay together on the stairs and look out the window; too cute. Anna loves my husband, Bob. She lays all over him and even lets him pick her up and carry and hold her. We love them. Thank you all for taking such great care of them.” • “We adopted Kohlbie, formerly known as Mickey, about a month and a half ago from CHA. Since then, I have not stopped smiling and laughing as he is such a precious funny little guy. He is absolutely perfect and 99.9 percent housebroken! Thank you!” • “Many of you remember Zulu. My husband and I adopted her in January of 2010. If everyone can pray for her recovery — though she is already doing so well — she was hit by a car last Friday and had to have surgery on her mouth. Like I said, she is mobile, eating well and practically normal except the stitches and soft-food diet. Having her in our life means the world and your group made that possible. So your prayers for her healing are appreciated!” • “Brenna is very comfortable in her new forever home, and we are so happy to have her here. She is the one of the best dogs ever!” • “Lu Lu Grace, formerly known as Shasta, is fitting right in with her new family. It feels like she has always been with us. Lu Lu has See THANKS FROM FAMILIES, page A3

See CHA, page A3

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emorial Day was not conceived to be the kickoff to summer activities or as a reason to schedule a three-day weekend. It was established to recognize the nation’s military veterans who died while fighting for their country. In keeping with efforts to recognize and honor the sacrifices and service of military veterans, ThisWeek Community Media is launching Honoring Heroes, a continuing series through which we will share the stories and remembrances from and about local men and women who are either on active duty or retired from service. As part of covering their beats, our reporters often hear about and write about veterans leaving for overseas or com-

Northland Community Council development committee members last week gave a unanimous thumbs-down to a request for a permanent special permit relating to “temporary buildings” at a usedcar lot. Committee members did give their unanimous backing to two other matters on the agenda while voting to table a fourth. (See related story.) In the case that failed to get the support of even one of the eight committee members voting at the May meeting, Steven R. Cuckler appeared before the panel representing Miracle Realty Ltd. LCC, doing business as Miracle Motor Mart at 2380 Morse Road. Miracle Motor Mart has been operating for 22 years at what was previously Key Oldsmobile, Cuckler told committee members. A zoning issue relating to some portable structures placed on the lot years ago, sometime between 1980 and 1989 — the exact date is not known — came up during improvements that were made to Morse Road at Cleveland Avenue, Cuckler said. “We just want to keep on doing what we’ve been doing, and that is to sell cars from that location,” he added. In light of the zoning not allowing for what are defined as temporary structures, Cuckler said the owners of the lot have had the buildings anchored to the ground. “Really, I don’t know how portable they are,” he said. Asked in what way the special permit request should be granted on the basis of a hardship, CuckSee SPECIAL PERMIT, page A2

Issue of twofamily house in single-family zoning tabled By KEVIN PARKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Miscommunication has compounded a decadesold mistake by further delaying the sale of a twofamily house in the Devonshire neighborhood. At last week’s meeting of the Northland Community Council development committee, those present voted 7-0 with one abstention to table ruling on a variance request regarding property at 1187-89 Newbury Drive. Attorney Brad Fry, appearing on behalf of RE/MAX Achievers, explained that city officials made a mistake years ago, perhaps as far back as 1967, in not having the zoning classification reflect the existence of not only this two-family home but others nearby. “They gave us full support and kind of their apologies,” Fry said. He added that he tried, on behalf of his clients See ISSUE OF, page A2

ing home at the end of a tour of duty. We’ve covered funeral services of those who have sacrificed their lives. We’ve written about soldiers who arrive at their homes or their children’s schools to unexpectedly surprise their delighted families. We know many more stories are out there, waiting to be told. We want to tell them. And we need your help. If you have a story idea about a friend, family member or colleague, let us know by emailing editorial@thisweeknews.com, with the subject line, “Honoring Heroes.” Honoring Heroes isn’t just a ThisWeek Community Media project: It’s about sharing history.


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