New Russia Twp. mega site zoning recommendation to go before township trustees

The next decision on the fate of the proposed mega site in New Russia Township appears to rest with the three-member board of trustees. The township zoning commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to recommend denial of the application by Liberty Development and its clients to rezone more than 600 acres of residential- and general business-zoned land to the industrial park designation. Liberty is proposing advanced manufacturing development on the site, a representative said Tuesday. Township trustees must hold a public hearing on the matter within 30 days of receiving the commission's recommendation. They can vote to approve the proposal, approve it with modifications or deny it, according to the rules. "I believe they made the right decision based on the facts, not just because we don't want it," resident Kim Polen, one of the administrators of the "Save New Russia Township AND Surrounding Areas" Facebook page, said Wednesday. Hundreds of people turned out for a public hearing Tuesday night to oppose the rezoning application. As they did at a previous hearing in December, they packed the meeting room at The Lodge of New Russia Township on Butternut Ridge Road. Tuesday's hearing lasted nearly three hours, including 90 minutes of public comment. All of the township residents who spoke, along with neighboring residents from Oberlin, South Amherst and Brownhelm Township were opposed to the rezoning application. Welcome signs at the borders of the township say "zoned for your protection," multiple speakers told the commission on Tuesday. They said they want to make sure that statement remains true. Denice and Greg Anderson have put at least $500,000 into their home, Greg Anderson said. It stands on property "completely surrounded" by the mega site project area, Denice Anderson said. "After they come and surround us, our property value is gonna go down," Greg Anderson said. Lost farmland and negative environmental impacts, increased utility costs, traffic, noise and unknown effects on property values are among the concerns raised by skeptics and critics of the mega site. Who the "end user" or users, the businesses or companies that go on the site, isn't known. Many residents said that doesn't comfort them. Dru Siley, vice president for development at Liberty Development, said the site is not likely to be occupied by an artificial intelligence data center. He said his company was willing to work with the community and go "above and beyond" zoning requirements. A message seeking comment on the commission's decision was left for him on Wednesday. Close to 5,200 people have so far signed an online petition against the mega site.New Russia Township trustees will hold their next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the township administrative office, 46300 Butternut Ridge Road, according to their meeting schedule. Messages seeking comment on the decision were left for trustees Scott Justin, Michelle Tyner and Cynthia Breda on Wednesday. "We just have to trust our trustees," Polen said. Supporters of the plan also say it will bring jobs and tax revenue. Lorain County already has accepted more than $67 million in state grants to run sewers and other utilities to the site to promote development. State Rep. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, has asked county commissioners to pause acceptance of the money to listen to residents' concerns and "engage in meaningful dialogue" before acting. Why make the project happen at all for "residents who don't want it in an area that doesn't need it?" Russia Road resident Erin Mason asked the commission Tuesday night. "The residents in this area are adamantly against it," she said. "It is not the residents of New Russia Township benefiting from this. There is not one resident of this township in favor of this."Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com