LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home

  • Protecting Loveland’s Scenic and Community Heritage: The Riverside Development Proposal

    Protecting Loveland’s Scenic and Community Heritage: The Riverside Development Proposal

    Dear Editor,

    As our community comes together to review the proposed Special Planning District (SPD) development along Riverside Drive, it is crucial that we approach this process with transparency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to protecting the scenic and historic character of the Little Miami River.

    What’s Happening: A developer has submitted a proposal to build 12 single-family homes on the riverbank along Riverside Drive, adjacent to the Loveland Historical Museum and Tufts-Schildmeyer Funeral Home. To enable this project, the developer plans to raise the floodplain using fill dirt and is requesting the city to approve re-zoning for this purpose. The Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing as part of their review process.

    Original Agenda | December 3, 2024 https://lovelandoh.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1881&Inline=True

    Agenda Packet (will be posted January 3) | January 7, 2025 at 6:00 pm at City Hall

    https://lovelandoh.gov/200/Public-Meetings

    What’s at Stake: The Little Miami River is a nationally and state-designated scenic river. Current zoning and federal protections aim to preserve its ecological, aesthetic, and cultural value. This proposed development raises important questions:

    1. Environmental Impact: Raising the floodplain could alter natural water flows, potentially increasing flood risks for neighboring properties, impacting wildlife habitats, and degrading water quality.
    2. Community Character: Re-zoning and new construction could disrupt the historic and scenic integrity of the area, altering its charm and appeal.
    3. Process and Precedence: Allowing this development may set a precedent for future projects that prioritize private gains over public and environmental interests.

    Understanding the Process: Pursuant to Section 1151.01 and 1151.02(a)(2) of the City’s Planning and Zoning Code:

    • The first step is a preliminary review meeting to determine whether the proposed project falls within the SPD’s purpose and scope. (This meeting occurred on December 3, and the proposal was approved to advance to a public hearing.)
    • If deemed appropriate, a public hearing must be scheduled within 45 days to review the conceptual plans and gather public input. (This is the meeting happening on January 7.)

    This process ensures community engagement and the consideration of all perspectives, including those of residents, advocacy groups, and experts.

    Counter Argument: The developer argues that this project will create valuable housing and address flooding risks through engineered solutions. They assert that the proposed homes will align with the character of nearby properties and enhance the area’s vibrancy.

    A Collaborative Approach: While development has its place, our community’s responsibility is to ensure that any changes align with the broader goals of preserving Loveland’s natural, cultural, and historical assets. To this end, we recommend:

    1. Expert Involvement: Consulting with conservation experts and legal professionals to fully understand local, state, and federal zoning laws and protections.
    2. Community Engagement: Encouraging residents to attend the public hearing, voice their perspectives, and engage in the decision-making process.
    3. Transparency: Requiring detailed studies on flooding, traffic, and environmental impact before any decisions are made.

    What Can You Do?

    We believe that by working together—residents, city officials, and developers—we can protect the Little Miami River while meeting the needs of Loveland’s growth in a thoughtful and sustainable way.

    Sincerely,
    Loveland Riverside Protection
    LovelandRiversideProtection@gmail.com

  • Pat Furterer founder of the Loveland Stage Company passes

    Pat Furterer founder of the Loveland Stage Company passes

    A Loveland Magazine File Photo of Pat Furterer

    Loveland, Ohio – Rosalynne Patricia “Pat” Furterer, founder of the Loveland Stage Company passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the age of 90.

    Furterer was born in Chester, Pennsylvania and married Fred Furterer on February 13, 1954. Fred Furterer passed away in 2009. The couple lived in Pennsylvania and Michigan before Fred was transferred to Cincinnati in 1977. The couple settled in Pheasant Hills in Loveland.

    Pat was a leader in community theater in Battle Creek, Michigan.

    In 1979, when Pat realized that there was no community theater in Loveland, she ran an ad in the local paper seeking people who might be interested in starting one and gathered a group of eleven people who were interested in live theater, at her home in the Pheasant Hills subdivision. She continued in many roles with the theater company, as a performer, educator, fundraiser, set designer, Director, and mentor for 50-years.

    To honor her legacy as the leader of the volunteer Board of Directors, she was named President Emeritus of the Loveland Stage Company in 2013.

    She was the 2002 Loveland Valentine Lady. She was an officer and active member of the Loveland Woman’s Club; and she professionally worked for the Loveland Chamber of Commerce for several years.

    Loveland’s Second Street in front of the theater added the honorary name of PAT FURTERER WAY on its street sign. She was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2022.

    Pat won the City of Loveland’s Louis G. Rookwood Award and given a “Key to the City” in 1994. The Loveland Chamber of Commerce, now the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, began a college scholarship program in her honor.

    For her contributions to community theater, Pat won the Art Rouse Award in 2006 from the Association of Community Theaters of Greater Cincinnati (ACT). The Ohio Community Theater Association (OCTA) inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2015.

    Visitation will be on Thursday, April 25 from 3 until 5 PM at the Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 129 N. Riverside Avenue in Loveland. A services will be held at 5 PM.

    The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Loveland Stage Company, PO Box 312, Loveland, Ohio 45140, or to the Loveland Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, 119 N. Riverside Avenue, Loveland, OH 45140.