GREEN: The city is considering a 700-acre entertainment district that could lure more restaurants, supermarkets and other alcohol-related businesses to Green and further enhance city coffers.
Planning Director Wayne Wiethe laid out his scenario for the city’s first such district during a City Council committee meeting Tuesday.
Council is expected to tackle the issue Feb. 12, said Councilman Gerard Neugebauer, chair of the Planning, Community and Economic Development Committee.
Stating that such a district would create a “more vibrant” area for Green, Wiethe noted that one state requirement would involve a $50 million public/private investment within the designated area, which the city already meets based on the proposed boundaries.
The proposed district, with focus on the Massillon Road development area, would stretch from the Graybill Road area and Boettler Road on the south to Tabs Drive on the west and north to East Turkeyfoot Lake Road (state Route 619) and Lindakay Drive. Included would be the Acme Fresh Market and Summa property on the north side of Graybill.
Wiethe said such a district could provide up to 15 new liquor permits from the state, which would be important in attracting more restaurants, supermarkets and other businesses. He said the state allows one liquor permit for every 5 acres within an entertainment district, up to a maximum of 15.
Currently, there are 13 state liquor permits in the city, with a waiting list of businesses seeking permits, Wiethe said.
Councilman-at-large Joel Reed asked if more acreage could be included at this time. Wiethe replied that the city would rather wait for more development near the first district so the administration then could consider adding a second such district.
Mayor Dick Norton said an entertainment district is the only way for the city to obtain more liquor licenses, which state requirements limit.
Law Director Stephen Pruneski said the proposed district “is designed for the type of businesses we want to attract.”
In other business Tuesday, City Council approved a whopping $16.7 million capital appropriations budget for 2013.
Finance Chairman Chris Humphrey explained that the appropriation total is high, but noted that $10.8 million is a carry-over from projects not done during 2012.
The largest project this year is development of the 142-acre CAK-International Business Park III/Port Green at an estimated cost of nearly $5.1 million.
He said the project could mean 1,000 new jobs plus an improved tax base.
Also approved were five-year renewals of agriculture permits for six farms totaling 448 acres.
For more details, go to http://green.ohio.com.
George W. Davis can be reached at mediaman@sssnet.com.