Elyria finalizes annexation of Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church

ELYRIA — The city will officially annex nearly 10 acres of land from Eaton and Carlisle townships to clear the way for commercial development on Chestnut Ridge Road after the proposal was approved by City Council. Council voted 8-2 in favor of annexing the property of the former Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church and two adjacent parcels also owned by the church. Councilwoman Mary Siwierka, D-3rd Ward, and Councilman Andrew Lipian, I-1st Ward, voted against the annexation. Siwierka, who represents the ward to which the land will be added, has been vocal about her opposition to the proposal, arguing that additional commercial development will only exacerbate traffic problems at the intersection Chestnut Ridge Road and state Route 57. The land being annexed sits on the northwest corner of the intersection. A traffic study on the development is forthcoming, but Siwierka said she doubted that it would provide any real insight or solution to the issue. "I realized that my vote wouldn't be enough to stop the annexation, but I am opposed to the commercial development regardless of any traffic plans or study," Siwierka said. "Short of gaining access on (Route) 57 or changing the access on Dewhurst Road, that is not going to alleviate the issues there. I feel strongly that commercial development is better suited on the other side of Route 57." According to attorney John Clark, the church will now sell the land to a developer, Luv Retail, of Florida, which plans to build several commercial businesses on the site. Clark, who is also the Oberlin Law Director, represents both parties in the proposed sale. "They will be very happy that this was passed on first reading and now they can move forward," Clark said after the vote. The annexation of the property at 38550 Chestnut Ridge Road includes two parcels in Carlisle Township, a parcel in Eaton Township and a small portion of the public right of way. Elyria has enacted legislation to take over utility and other services to the property, and to take responsibility for maintenance of any roads in the public right of way which are split by the annexation. The annexation was previously approved by the Lorain County Board of Commissioners in June. At that meeting, representatives from Carlisle Township were present to oppose the annexation, arguing that the proposal had failed to meet deadlines and that the legislation that Elyria had passed regarding maintenance had been improper. However, under Ohio law the only legal parties to the specific type of annexation which was proposed which have a say in the annexation are the property owner and the city in which the property is to be annexed. The annexation was passed on first reading by Council but because Lipian and Siwierka voted no it did not pass on emergency, meaning it will be enacted thirty days after passage. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com