What Avon Lake’s Issue 36 means for the former power plant site

AVON LAKE, Ohio — Avon Lake voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to require a public vote on future tax financing and rezoning at the former power plant property on Lake Road, a proposal city leaders say could jeopardize a planned lakefront park.

Issue 36 is a proposed charter amendment that came from a citizen petition. It would require voter approval of any future ordinance providing tax increment financing, known as TIF, for the site. It would also require voter approval of any future ordinance rezoning the old power plant property to the Lakefront Mixed-Use Overlay District. It would not undo the zoning City Council approved in May.

TIF directs the extra property tax money generated when development raises a property’s value into a fund for public projects. The city wants to use it to help buy about 23 acres for a public park along Lake Erie. The city says TIF does not raise tax rates for existing homeowners.

The city says its park plan depends on TIF and that a required public vote could delay or jeopardize the project. City Council formally opposes the amendment.

Avon Lake Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment is urging a “no” vote. Its website points to city projections of more than $400 million in investment and more than 2,000 construction jobs. The committee was formed by the property’s redeveloper, Avon Lake Environmental Redevelopment Group.

Richard Shields with ALERG said the amendment unfairly targets the site.

“Issue 36 creates a very special focused requirement only on our piece of property to require a second look for the citizens to vote whether what we’ve already deliberated and what the city council and their procedures have already approved, and we think that’s both unfair and not typical,” Shields said.

Gerald Phillips, who helped write the amendment, said a “yes” vote would not stop redevelopment. He said it would give residents more input and bring a better quality development to Avon Lake.

“It’ll be full disclosure, openness and transparency but having it on the ballot. I mean what’s wrong with that. And what’s wrong with giving people the write to vote. I mean, the right to vote is a corner stone of our democracy,” Phillips said.

Some residents said they would rather see a park than housing on the site.

“I think the best way to do it is to make it a community area and develop it into a park or something of that sort rather than residential living,” said Jenna Brelo.