Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Tag: master plan

For 3rd time Zicka is back requesting condo approval
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:
1. 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;
2. The approval shall be withdrawn, and the zoning shall revert to Residential Medium Density (R-MD) should the eighteen (18) month condition lapse.
3. 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:
1. 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.
2. Street lighting and exterior lighting on the townhomes be designed to prevent light pollution into the Sentry Hill Subdivision.
3. Townhomes to be constructed, at 40 feet, shall not exceed the height of the referenced home of 214 Sentry Hill Drive.
4. Limit the number of townhomes to be built at 25 or less.
5. No dumpsters or centralized garage collection. Individual residential trash and recycling pickup to be consistent with all the residential surrounding areas.
6. No stand-alone garages or sheds.
7. 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.

You can view the application and proposal that is now before City Council in this document and going to page 14 b. 2020-10-27 City Council – Full Agenda-1355

BACKGROUND

Re-zoning for possible 28-Unit condo project proposed for North Second Street (Jun 22, 2020)

[VIDEOS] Re-zoning for 28-Unit condo project passes Planning Commission muster Jul 23, 2020

32 unit condo project sent back to P&Z Aug 21, 2020
Oct 28, 2020
You are invited: Building Tiger Nation Community Meeting #2

Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District is moving forward in its master planning process to determine the needs of the school buildings and facilities. All stakeholders in the Loveland community – parents, students, teachers, residents and businesses – are invited to attend Community Meeting #2 in the Loveland Intermediate/Middle School cafeteria (757 South Lebanon Road) on November 28, 6:30-8:30 PM.

This is the second community meeting during the master plan assessment phase and will focus on the ability of the Loveland school buildings to accommodate the delivery of education as it compares to the stakeholder vision for the Tiger student experience and research related to 21^stcentury learning. The first meeting, held in September with more than 100 community members in attendance, presented data from the physical building assessments completed over the summer.

The purpose of the physical building assessments and educational facility evaluation conducted in 2018 is to provide data for decision-making regarding a master plan to be presented to the Loveland Board of Education in spring 2019. Community Meeting #3 is planned for January 23.

(Registration is not required to attend.)

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Nov 18, 2018
Loveland City School District seeks community input in master planning process

Community Meeting #1 scheduled for September 6 at Loveland Middle School

Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District (LCSD) is currently in the midst of a master planning process to determine the future needs of the school facilities. All stakeholders in the community – parents, students, staff, residents and businesses – are invited to attend and lend their voices at two community meetings this fall to inform the vision for the Loveland Schools facilities.

Community Meeting #1 will be held in the Loveland Middle/Intermediate School cafeteria on September 6, 6:30-8:30 PM. At this meeting, community members will learn more about the master planning process, the overall state of facilities and the specific results of the physical building assessments conducted by an architect/engineering team over the summer. Information will also be shared about opportunities over the coming months to get involved in committee work and how to stay current on the developments.

Community Meeting #2 is tentatively scheduled for November 28. At this meeting, attendees will learn about the specific results of the educational adequacy assessment, as well as the vision that will guide the options for a district facilities master plan.

(Registration is not required to attend.)

Aug 30, 2018
Loveland School District Financial Update

Terrah Floyd is the Interim Treasurer & CFO of the Loveland City School District

By Terrah Floyd,

Loveland’s recent update to the district’s financial projections show that the district remains committed to keeping the promises made from the last levy – to make the last levy last through 2018 through conservative fiscal management while maintaining excellent educational opportunities for the students we serve. The district’s forecast, called the five-year financial forecast, was approved by the Board at the April 17 Business Meeting. The five-year financial forecast is a tool that aligns our income and expenses to our district’s current and future goals with respect to academics, operations and facilities. There are some updates to note.

The district is investing in additional school building safety and security updates. These are needed in order to keep pace with the current safety and security needs and to reflect the changing times.

First, the forecast shows that the district is investing in additional school building safety and security updates. These are needed in order to keep pace with the current safety and security needs and to reflect the changing times. They include placing fire-code approved locks on interior doors of our buildings, and plan for increased school resource officer presence.

Plans include placing fire-code approved locks on interior doors of our buildings, and plan for increased school resource officer presence.

The district is engaging in a Master Planning process with the community. This is an investment, and it is critical to the long-term planning and operations of the district. Aging buildings bring significant costs, and in order to help minimize these for the future we are working now to make sure that we are deliberate about our next steps.

In fact, we will be able to stretch it a bit longer, and anticipate that an operating levy will be needed in 2019.

Loveland continues to stretch every dollar and to wisely plan for the future. Our Board of Education kept the promise of making the last levy last through 2018. In fact, we will be able to stretch it a bit longer, and anticipate that an operating levy will be needed in 2019. Operating levies fund the day-to-day operations of our schools like staff, programs, textbooks and supplies.

To provide you with relevant history, the Loveland City School District passed a 5.6 mill operating levy in May of 2014; passage of the levy provided the district the opportunity to invest in and enrich the excellent education we provide by enhancing the classroom experience for the 4,800 students we serve. None of these investments could have happened without your support, and – as always – we offer a sincere thank you to those who believed in our mission and continue to support our district.

Jun 4, 2018
Loveland Board of Education moves to begin community engagement around new facilities
Emersion Design to serve as the Master Planning Architects; District engages Task Force to provide input

Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District will begin a year-long process of community engagement under the management of Emersion Design – a master planning architecture firm that will serve the district in the capacity of community engagement around the assessment of current facilities and future facility needs. The Loveland Board of Education approved the contract with Emersion Design at the March 20 Board Business Meeting.

“We look forward to engaging the school community and the community at large to understand the future expectations of the district and how those expectations can be provided,” said Loveland Business Manager John Ames, who worked directly with the Board Facilities Committee on the selection of the firm.

The master planning process will work in three phases:

Phase One: Assessment (Research & Analysis)
- Assessment of the condition of all six buildings
- Evaluation of enrollment trends and the effect of the trends on the district
- Analysis of how the current facilities meet the needs of 21^st century education methodologies
- Community engagement to provide an overview of the findings of the assessment phase
Phase Two: Translation (Interpretation of Needs)
- Evaluation of feedback from Phase One community engagement
- Exploration of educational trends to identify how these trends can influence facilities
- Development of options with cost implications
- Community engagement to present options and solicit feedback
- Revise options based upon feedback
- Community engagement to present final options and solicit feedback
- Evaluation to determine if additional refining is needed
Phase Three: Master Plan Delivery
- Provide Final Master Facilities Plan containing rendered floor plans of chosen option(s)
- Rendered site plans of chosen option(s)
- Budget
- Phasing
Dr. Amy Crouse

Additionally, under the leadership of Loveland Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse, the district has engaged a task force comprised of administrators, staff, students, parents, and business and community leaders to work with the master planning firm to help advance the goals of the district.

“Strong schools – strong communities; we believe in this connection and we intend to build the future together,” said Dr. Crouse. “This is the work driven by our Loveland Board of Education that partners the district with our Loveland community in ensuring we support each other in this initiative.”

The task force is led by a steering committee that will meet every two weeks to make sure the group is hitting target dates that will be defined in conjunction with Emersion Design, with three additional committees to focus on the student experience, facilities and finance.

“Everyone will work both separately and also together,” explained Dr. Crouse. “We must ensure that the needs for our student experience match the plans we make for our future facility improvements and that we can fund the projects that we want. Every committee is important; every member is valued – and any Loveland resident who would like to be involved is invited to contact me to join us on this exciting journey.”

(crouseam@lovelandschools.org or (513) 683-5600)

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Mar 21, 2018
Loveland School levy predicted for May 2019 ballot

The future of Loveland City Schools

Loveland Board of Education talks five-year forecast planning and Destination Loveland needs; looks to May 2019 as potential goal for action on both

A statement from the District:

The Loveland City School District’s five-year forecast projections show a need for the district to be back on the ballot in the future for an operating levy; during the September Board of Education Business Meeting, this was the information shared with Board Members. After careful consideration in committee meetings, the Board determined during public discussion at the October 17 Business Meeting to set a potential target of May 2019 to have a proposal ready for voters to consider.

Loveland Treasurer/CFO Brett Griffith

“When the Loveland City School District passed a 5.6 mill operating levy in May of 2014 we made a promise that the money from that levy would continue to fund the district until 2018, and that promise was maintained due to compelling overall fiscal stewardship of all district employees and fiscally conservative management of expenditures,” said Loveland Treasurer/CFO Brett Griffith. “Our need for an operating levy is very real, and I applaud this Board for taking the steps necessary now to properly plan for a financially stable future. Of course we will provide updates on details for this levy to our community as they are developed.”

Additionally, during the 2016-17 and present school year, Loveland teachers, staff, administrators and the Board of Education put laser focus on three key areas: academic growth, classroom innovation and Tiger care in an effort to optimize the student experience for the 4,700 Tiger students the Loveland City School District serves. What developed from that focus was the Destination Loveland Task Force – a group of Loveland parents, community members and business leaders who joined educators, staff and administrators in developing future goals. This group spent the better part of the 2016-17 school year developing what the Loveland student experience should look like.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse

Now the Loveland Board of Education is ready to invest in putting a more formal structure and definite timeline to that important work. At the October 17 Board of Education Business Meeting, Board Members – after hearing reports from the facilities and finances committees – charged Loveland Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse and Loveland Business Manager John Ames with the task to begin to develop a plan for the future facility needs in line with district goals, coupled with a financial plan. The potential timeline is to have a proposal ready for voters to consider a bond issue by May 2019.

“It is the development of a master plan for our district,” said Dr. Crouse. “Our facilities needs are district-wide and growing each new school year; it is both an issue that must be addressed now and an opportunity for the district to think and plan for the future. We will be working with a seasoned team accustomed to the size and scope of the planning that we need to do. This was the right move for the Board of Education, and I’m excited to take the process that was started last year to the next level.”

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Nov 16, 2017