Loveland, Ohio – The City completed the “closing” to purchase 507 Loveland Madeira Road last week. The property, was the former Donisi Mirror Company.
The City received $500,000 in grant funding from the Hamilton County Commissioners towards the purchase price. According to City Manager Dave Kennedy in his weekly report, “Now owned by the city, the structure will be razed and the property repurposed for a private development.”
The total cost of the property acquisition was $590,000, leaving a balance of $90,000 for the city to pay. Kennedy reported that the city has identified and has been working with a potential end user of the property who would construct a new office building on the site. To facilitate the city’s future sale or lease of the property, staff recommended the property be transferred to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), which would require council to hold a public hearing. He requested the public hearing be held at the August 27 city council meeting.
Kennedy said at the August 13 Council meeting that the cost of razing the structure was not included in the purchase price. He said that, “…razing the structure will be expensive and the city is currently working with our state legislators and the Cincinnati Port Authority to seek funding assistance.”
Ordinance 2024-64, authorizing the purchase was adopted by a vote of 7-0.
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
by David Miller
Last week I published an “Open Letter to City Hall”. Within hours of publishing A proposal for directional signs to accessible parking in Historic Downtown Loveland, I received a very encouraging response.
City Manager Dave Kennedy emailed saying, he spoke to Scott Wisby, the Public Works Director early the next morning. Kennedy said, “Public works is going to inventory all of our handicap parking signs in city parks and other public areas to make sure all of the signs are up to code and are not weathered/needing replacement. Any needing replacement or adjustment for code will be corrected. I think this is an important first step. I will keep you updated on the progress.”
The City Manager followed up shortly in another email saying that they will also be looking to better consolidate the reserved accessible spaces in the downtown area.
Although Kennedy did not address adding directional signs to the improved and perhaps consolidated spaces, the process he began was a very welcome one and a practicable first step.
The photo above is Fire Station 63 In Historic Downtown Loveland
Loveland, Ohio – A Fire Station 63 Relocation Focus Group has been meeting to determine the best site to re-locate the fire station in Historic Downtown and has concluded that the City should build a new firehouse at the site of the old Masonic Temple on East Loveland Avenue.
MSA Design was contracted by the City of Loveland to conduct a study of needs at the current station and search for a possible new location.
When the Focus Group was formed, there was a primary site for the new station that they looked at, that being 227 East Loveland Avenue which is already owned proportionally by the Loveland Symmes Fire Fighters Association and the City of Loveland. The rear portion of the property is also the site of a fire training tower. According to a memo to the committee from City Manager Dave Kennedy on May 20, the “primary drawbacks to the location are that a large portion of the property rests in the floodplain, it is not a flat site, requires a retaining wall and would not facilitate drive-through bays for emergency vehicles.”
The Loveland Moose Lodge is located at 227 East Loveland Avenue. This is also where a fire training tower is located. When the Focus Group was formed, this was the primary site for the new station that they looked at
The fire training tower at 227 East Loveland Avenue.
Two other possible sites sites were evaluated, one on Oakland Road and one at Grailville on O’Bannonville Road.
The preferred property at 220 East Loveland, is currently owned by the Firefighters Association, and was the former home of the Masonic Lodge #258.
MSA Design says in their report about the two East Loveland Avenue sites, “There are pros and cons to each of the two sites. While either site could be used for a new Station 63, it is MSA’s opinion that the newly studied site at 220 E. Loveland Avenue would be the best option as it eliminates the possibility of damage from flooding.”
The former Masonic Temple site is the preferred location for a new fire station. This is the front of the current building from 220 East Loveland Avenue.
The report goes on to say about the Masonic Temple site, “While the size of the property is less than 227 East Loveland, it has two primary advantages; 1) It is not located in the floodplain and 2) It would provide for drive-through bays as the rear of the property abuts O’Bannon Avenue. Also, the site is flat, will not require construction of a retaining wall, and is a further distance from potential visibility issues which occur with westbound vehicular traffic on East Loveland approaching the East Loveland bridge.”
The rear of the Masonic Temple site as seen from O’Bannon Avenue. Vehicles returning from runs would be able to access the bays from the rear of the station
Jumping ahead to the conclusion, the study indicates that both sites are acceptable for the new station. Although both sites are acceptable, and the cost per square feet are proportionate, the advantage of constructing outside of the floodplain, utilizing O’Bannon Avenue for vehicles returning from runs and accessing the bays from the rear of the station, results in Masonic Temple site being preferred for the relocation of Fire Station 63.
MSA’s concept of how a new fire station would fit on the Masonic Temple site.
Another option that MSA Design looked at earlier was to tear down the current fire station and re-build on the existing site.
The assessment of Station 63 completed in October of 2020 was:
St. 63 is well maintained with exception of the roof- needs replaced due to leaks.
Code/Ada issues due to its usability and functionality
Overhead doors are 11×12 and considered small for firehouse doors. (This limits the equipment size to order (standard size vs. custom orders)
14×14 is typical size of new fire station bay doors
Size of bay also an issue: low ceiling and only 3-4 feet between parked vehicles
Living quarters are upstairs; typical firehouses have living quarters on same floor as vehicles
A new station would have bedrooms on the 1st floor with no stairs for fire personnel to go up/down for runs.
This would increase the turnaround time to get to vehicles as well
New code for stairs: 7-inch rise and 11-inch tread. Current St. 63 stairs are 8-inch rise and 10-inch tread.
Equipment/bunker gear also needs to be stored in separate rooms due to wear by diesel fuel fumes and UV light. Currently, at St. 63 all equipment and bunker gear is stored in the bay with the vehicles.
ADA requirements due to firehouse being a government facility need wheelchair access, which it currently does not have.
Elevator would be expensive to install
ADA also requires a storm shelter which would also be expensive to install
Any renovations done to the building means it would need to be brought up to current codes. Currently, the building is grandfathered in.
Current site is too small. A new building would mean no on-site parking.
It is MSA’s opinion that a single-story substation solution could be achieved on the site at 220 E. Loveland Avenue for, “$2.9 – $3.4 million ($335 – $390 per s.f.) in today’s dollars not including soft costs. It is MSA’s opinion that the cost of building at 227 E. Loveland Avenue as previously studied would be $5.5 – $6.5 million ($330 – $385 per s.f.) in today’s dollars plus soft costs.”
Kennedy told Loveland Magazine today, “I will say that the ability to have rear entry into the station is critical as one of the problems that plaques the current station is exiting and entering the station.”
Kennedy said he plans to make a presentation to Council at their second meeting in July.
Loveland, Ohio – In a memo to City Council on Wednesday, February 3, City Manager Dave Kennedy said, “While improvements have been completed to Nisbet Park, it is the consensus of staff that a plan for the city’s signature park be completed before commencing with future projects. With that, the 2021 budget included funding for said plan. Recently, the city secured the services of KZF Design to complete the plan (see attached proposal). To help facilitate this plan, the recreation board should play an active role.”
For the basic scope of services, KZF Design proposes a lump sum fee of $14,500.00. Additional services beyond the scope of the proposal will be billed on an hourly rate basis.
You can read the professional planning services proposal for the Nisbet Park Master Plan:
Loveland, Ohio – City Manager Dave Kennedy told Loveland Magazine that the demolition of the public tennis courts at the city-owned Steven Boike Park at #1 Tiger Trail will not impact the existing parking lot used by high school students.
Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy (Loveland Magazine file photo)
“The intent is that the area where the Boike Courts are will be used for a half-soccer field. They can then be used for soccer practices for the younger age groups,” explained Kennedy.
There were 5 five unlighted tennis courts at the park.
Kennedy added, “We also have courts at Lever Park which just got approval from Council for a repair, resurfacing, and re-striping like McCoy Park did in 2019.’ The work on the Lever Park Courts is scheduled to begin this spring.
McCoy Park after the recent improvements
There are two public tennis courts at Leever Park on Heidelberg Drive and two at McCoy Park on Oak Street.
Loveland, Ohio – On Tuesday, December 15, City Council had the first reading of an ordinance that would increase City Manager Dave Kennedy’s base salary by three (3) percent, retroactive to his pay period beginning December 29, 2020.
Council is expected to vote on the ordinance during their next meeting on January 12. The Ordinance and employment agreement is below.
Loveland, Ohio – There is a public hearing Tuesday night at Loveland City Hall – to hear from the public and despite resident’s pleas about their COVID 19 concern, it will go on as scheduled. The legal requirement to avail the residents of the city the opportunity to make their case face-to-face with their elected council members whether or not they want condos built on North Second Street (St. Rt. 48) south of Sentry Hill subdivision with the potential use to build 25 condominiums.
Resident Dave Stanton who lives in Sentry Hill wrote to City Manager Dave Kennedy and his assistant Tom Smith on November 16 outlining several reasons for delaying the hearing:
“With the number of people that want to speak at the Public Hearing, we are requesting that the Public Hearing scheduled for November 24th be postponed until the COVID Levels return to Level 2 in all three counties and the State of Ohio changes their advisories to allow Public Gatherings. This request is for the best of the City Council, City Staff, and Loveland Residents in following the advisories and staying healthy.”
A Level 3 Public Emergency means there is very high exposure and spread. The advisory is to, “Limit activities as much as possible.”
Over the past two weeks, there have been 1,365 COVID 19 cases in Clermont County, 5,602 in Hamilton County, and 1,556 in Warren County. The revised health order issued by the Ohio Department of Health on November 20 said minimize the spread of COVID-19 through airborne particles passing between people in close contact there should be no activities in open congregate areas. Local doctors are pleading for people to stay home.
Stanton told the City administrators that the rezoning public hearing is very important to all residents however specifically the residents of North Loveland who wish to be heard in person and in front of the people they elected.
“Our concerns are with the current COVID virus at Level 3 in all 3 counties (Hamilton, Clermont, Warren) and participating in a public meeting based on the current advisories from Governor DeWine on Public Gatherings,” Stanton wrote. “Even with the City following the current CDC COVID guidelines, the 3 counties continue to see a significant increase in the number of new daily COVID cases.”
Stanton pointed out the State advisories on public meetings:
Avoid gatherings, limit contact with people outside of your household, and reconsider holiday plans
Reconsider hosting or attending gatherings of any size – this includes with friend and family
When Stanton did not hear back from Kennedy or Smith he followed up in another email on November 18 asking, “Can you please provide an update on this request for delaying the Rezoning Public Hearing in regards to the current COVID advisories?” He concluded with, “I need to let our residents know the status of the Public Hearing”
With “social distancing guidelines in place in the council chamber the occupancy has been greatly reduced. With 7 council members, the City Manager and his assistant, the Council Clerk, the city attorney, the Finance Director, police and fire chief, there are but a handful of seats remaining for an audience. A public hearing on a subject as controversial as this project is would, pre-pandemic, be expected to garner 50 or more attendees.
The response Stanton received from Smith was a pert, “The public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 24th .”
Stanton replied today copying all of the city council with a renewed plea on behalf of the 92 residents who have signed a petition opposing the re-zoning. He also attached the petition to his email along with the names of residents and the comments his group has gathered on their “No-Rezoning” website. So far 124 comments are opposing the condo project.
Stanton’s plea today to postpone the hearing said:
Dear Council Members;
We the citizens of Loveland are extremely disappointed in the City’s position and the response on not delaying this Rezoning Public Hearing until this current COVID crisis situation improves. This is based on Governor DeWine’s advisory on Mass Gatherings and all 3 Counties being at Level 3.
We have many people that want to speak directly to the City Council on this rezoning to have their voices heard. But, they are uncomfortable in attending a Mass Gathering with the risks associated with COVID under the current state and local county advisories. They will not be able to attend tomorrow’s public hearing.
We ask that you reconsider your position and delay this Rezoning Public Hearing until things improve and you can hear directly from the Citizens of Loveland. This rezoning is a very important issue for North Loveland and all of the Loveland Citizens in regards to following the current Comprehensive Plan and the lack of a plan on solving the RT 48 traffic congestion issues.
Attached are the responses from the no-rezoning website and the signed petition in opposition to this rezoning.
Thank you, Dave Stanton
Joe Farruggia with Zicka Homes has been trying to rezone property off North Second Street (St. Rt. 48) south of the Sentry Hill subdivision with the potential use to build a 28-unit condominium development called the Blossom Hill Project since the first week in June. He has submitted three variations of the proposal, the latest on October 20. The current proposal is to limit the project to 25 or fewer individual units.
The site is approximately 5.5 acres on St. Rt. 48 adjacent to the Sentry Hill subdivision and on the opposite side of the street of the Loveland Health Care facility.
Council is expected to make the first of two required votes on the re-zoning tomorrow night.
For more background on the condo proposal and video of resident opposition:
For 3rd time Zicka is back requesting condo approval
Loveland, Ohio – City Manager Dave Kennedy has reported, “With the rising COVID-19 cases around the tri-state, LPD is migrating back to remote working and restricted responses to non-emergency calls.”
All of Loveland is currently in RED – Level 3 the Ohio Public Health Advisory System which is defined as “very high exposure and spread”.
Chief of Police Sean Rahe explained the procedure to Loveland Magazine:
On July 17th the Loveland Police Department developed a tiered response plan to coincide with the directions provided by the Ohio Department of Health. These new directions were commonly referred to as the county color chart.
Several LPD procedures, including response to calls, follow this chart. When two of our 3 counties (Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren) are red LPD is at Tier 2 – Red. Tier 2 includes the following procedures:
Officers will always continue to respond to priority 1 calls for service and crimes in progress. However, information requests, reports, and non-criminal service calls are handled remotely, if possible. Officers will not respond to medical calls unless requested by emergency medical responders. And non-essential proactive activity is discouraged.
STATEWIDE HIGH INCIDENCE
New health data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health and reported yesterday found that all 88 counties in Ohio remain at “high incidence” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to Thursday’s updated Ohio Public Health Advisory System map, 68 counties are currently rated as having a very high risk of exposure and spread (Red Level 3), up from 56 counties last week. This represents the highest number of Red Level 3 counties since the launch of the advisory system in July.
Both Franklin and Tuscarawas counties met six of seven advisory-system indicators and are approaching Purple Level 4.
Ohio also had another record-breaking day for new cases reported in a 24-hour period, with 7,101 cases reported between Wednesday and Thursday.
A total of 268 new hospitalizations were reported, as well as 35 more deaths.
To date there have been 5,700 deaths attributed to COVID 19 in Ohio.
Clermont County is currently experiencing 52.6 daily new cases per 100K population.
HamiltonCounty is currently experiencing 47.1 daily new cases per 100K population.
Warren County is currently experiencing 47.2 daily new cases per 100K population.
Loveland, Ohio – Joe Farruggia with Zicka Homes has been trying to rezone property off North Second Street (St. Rt. 48) south of the Sentry Hill subdivision with the potential use to build a 28-unit condominium development called the Blossom Hill Project since the first week in June. He has submitted three variations of the proposal, the latest on October 20. The current proposal is to limit the project to 25 or fewer individual units.
The site is approximately 5.5 acres on St. Rt. 48 adjacent to the Sentry Hill subdivision and on the opposite side of the street of the Loveland Health Care facility.
Previously, on June 24th and July 21, the Planning and Zoning Commission held public hearings for the zoning map amendment and recommended approval of the amendment. However, each time, Farruggia chose not to move forward with the processes which would be to have a public hearing before the City Council.
The latest iteration was also approved by the Planning Commission last week and sent to City Council for their consideration. The recommendation from Assistant City Manager Tom Smith is for Council to schedule a public hearing for the re-zoning on November 24.
The developer is asking for changes to the Loveland Zoning Map from the current zoning of Medium Density Residential to Residential Multi-Family.
The recommendation of the Commission according to Smith included the following conditions:
The proposed housing development for the property as submitted o Planning and Zoning Commission must be actively under construction within eighteen (18) months from the date of approval by City Council in order to maintain the zoning;
The approval shall be withdrawn, and the zoning shall revert to Residential Medium Density (R-MD) should the eighteen (18) month condition lapse.
Approval shall be exclusive to this applicant. No transferees or assignees of the applicant are subject to this approval.
Smith also said the developer agreed to requests made by Sentry Hill resident, Dave Stanton. These items were also part of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s motion for recommendation:
Construct a four to five-inch earth berm, fully landscaped with trees and grass, to be constructed along the property line of the two homes in the Sentry Hill subdivision and maintained by the new subdivision’s HOA.
Street lighting and exterior lighting on the townhomes be designed to prevent light pollution into the Sentry Hill Subdivision.
Townhomes to be constructed, at 40 feet, shall not exceed the height of the referenced home of 214 Sentry Hill Drive.
Limit the number of townhomes to be built at 25 or less.
No dumpsters or centralized garage collection. Individual residential trash and recycling pickup to be consistent with all the residential surrounding areas.
No stand-alone garages or sheds.
Exterior architecture and materials (brick, stone, and Hardie Plank) shall be consistent with the look and feel of neighboring communities.
Even though there are COVID 19 restrictions for the number of audience members in the hearing chamber, five residents appeared to express their displeasure with the re-zoning. No residents spoke in favor of the rezoning or the condos.
These signs were erected in July by citizens opposed to multi-family zoning adjacent to their homes on St. Route 48 in North Loveland.
Residents have pointed out that the proposal must follow the guidance of the City Master Plan specifically for North State Route 48. They say the project must maintain similar development densities, preserve open space, a rural atmosphere, and assure that there is adequate infrastructure to support the development as mandated in the current plan. They cite the current gridlock of Historic Downtown that must be addressed before the development moves forward.
City Manager Dave Kennedy has argued that the current Comprehensive Strategic Plan (2002) is old and not in line with the current needs of the City. The City is currently rewriting a new master plan for the City. Residents say re-writing the plan is well and good, but until there is a new plan the City and Zicka are governed by the one that exists.
Residents of South 48 also protest that adding so many residential units will add to their already current traffic nightmares of trying drive into and out of Historic Downtown.
During the hearing, Tom Scovanner told the Commission they should be skeptical of the studies Zicka presented to them. One presenter represented that they had prepared their study for the Commission, and Scovanner said, “No, they represent Zicka.” He posed the question to the Commission of whether they would have ever seen the study if it did not turn out favorably to the developer.
Scovanner, a litigator for Clermont County also said in no uncertain terms that the P&Z cannot do anything the Loveland law doesn’t allow them to do. Holding up the code, he said, “You’re bound by these codes. This doesn’t comport with the Comprehensive Master Plan.”
Tom Scovanner spoke to Planning Commission against the re-zoning for condos on Rt. 48.
Dave Stanton spoke to Planning Commission against the re-zoning for condos on Rt. 48.
Sue Ann Walker spoke to Planning Commission against the re-zoning for condos on Rt. 48.
Allen Brooks spoke to Planning Commission against the re-zoning for condos on Rt. 48.
Courtney Hauck spoke to Planning Commission against the re-zoning for 28 condos on Rt. 48.
Loveland, Ohio – “I’ve reached a point where I want to re-shift my focus to my family and the next stage of our life,” Michelle Byrde told Loveland Magazine. “I will miss my team and co-workers and wish everyone the best.”
Loveland’s Director of Finance, Michelle Byrde, has submitted her letter of resignation. Her resignation is effective no later than December 30 according to City Manager Dave Kennedy in his weekly up-date to Council on October 2.
Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy
Kennedy said in the memo, “Michelle has worked tirelessly during her time with the city which began in October of 2012, and that effort continued following her appointment as the city’s Director of Finance in September of 2018.”
Byrde also told Loveland Magazine, “In my eight years with the City, I have had the opportunity to learn about government operations and am lucky enough to have met and worked with a number of very good people.”
Kennedy added, “I have always been impressed that no job was too great or too small for Michelle to tackle, and for always being receptive to my constant interruptions to ask questions about an invoice, budgeting, or the myriad of other items we worked on together.”
Byrde expressed appreciation to all those who mentored her in her three different roles at City Hall.
“On behalf of all of us with the city, we want to thank Michelle for her service to the Loveland community. I only wish that her beloved Reds could have scored at least one run for her in the play-offs,” said Kennedy.
The process for filling the Director of Finance position was to have begun last week.
