GREEN: The push to lure more national and regional restaurants to Green using liquor licenses can begin now that City Council has unanimously approved the city’s first entertainment district.
With the Massillon Road corridor as the epicenter, the district has grown over the past two months from 730 acres to 932 acres and finally to the 970 acres approved Tuesday. It stretches from just south of Wise Road and Pancho’s Southwestern restaurant to the north side of state Route 619 and just south of Lindakay Drive.
The district also includes property along Boettler Road and just west of Tabs Drive and east of Molly Drive, plus a narrow area of Raber Road and southeast along Interstate 77, from which the district easily will be visible.
Ward 1 Councilman Jim Colopy, Council President Dave France, Ward 2, and Planning Director Wayne Wiethe all said there will be no zoning changes in the included acreage. They said the intent of creating the district is to bring more quality businesses and retail to the city with the offer of up to 15 so-called “D-5J” liquor licenses, which under state law are available only within the district.
Al Courtney, a Green resident for 77 years, said Tuesday he sees the plan as a cancer, while brothers Jack Thompson and Russell Thompson voiced adamant opposition to the project and more liquor licenses.
Council was urged to delay action on the proposal at least until the March 26 meeting, while Courtney asked council to let the voters decide the issue. He said it would not be in council’s best interest to be involved in such activity, adding that “it doesn’t take alcohol to make a quality restaurant.”
Courtney called the idea for the entertainment district “all profit-motivated.”
Councilman Gerard Neugebauer said the issue could not be delayed any longer because council is legally bound to act within 75 days of the resolution being submitted, which occurred Jan. 8.
Councilman Chris Humphrey said he initially was concerned about the size of the district. After reading the state code concerning such districts and holding several discussions with the administration, however, he said the 15 licenses by law could be included in only 75 acres, and he voted for the measure because the licenses would be spread over 970 acres.
“I am convinced the residents of Green are responsible people,” Mayor Dick Norton said.
“We have an obligation to grow our community” and need additional retail, commercial and industrial businesses to meet that obligation, Norton said.
George W. Davis can be reached at mediaman@sssnet.com.