Fairview Park residents filed a lawsuit against the city鈥檚 mayor, hoping to halt the prospect of a new service garage on Mastick Road.
Using American Rescue Plan Act money approved by Cuyahoga County Council, Mayor Bill Schneider proposed to city council earlier this year to purchase 22100 Mastick Road with the intention to build a maintenance facility and salt dome. That process moved quickly with very little notice to residents. After hearing complaints from neighbors to the property, Schneider shelved the proposal to allow for more research.
The lawsuit includes 26 Fairview Park residents as plaintiffs. Schneider, City Council President Bridget King, the rest of city council and all members of Cuyahoga County Council and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne are listed as defendants.
Mayor Bill Schneider said options for a new garage are limited.
鈥淚 represent 17,000 residents, and as much as these individuals think that they know everything about the project, I can guarantee that they 鈥� I don't believe they are the majority,鈥� Schneider said.
Residents voiced concerns over noise, pollution and declining property values.
Attorney Jim Sassano, who represents the residents, said they will ask county council to intervene if the project is approved.
鈥淭he mayor and city council need to stop this right now. The mayor deprived the residents of their due process rights by going to the Cuyahoga County Council secretly, because he knows the residents would push back hard,鈥� Sassano said in a statement. 鈥淚t is our hope that the mayor pulls the plug on this project immediately.鈥�
The lawsuit claims the property is a wetland that needs preserved. Schneider said the city is researching whether it is a wetland, along with other studies on the property, including environmental and traffic factors.
At a council meeting in March, Schneider proposed three options for the service garage:
- The original plan to put the facility on Mastick Road.
- Build a facility where the city鈥檚 current senior center sits, and build a new senior center.
- Find space in a neighboring city for service purposes, which would require paying an income tax to that city.
Schneider said he鈥檇 be open to other ideas, adding that it鈥檚 unrealistic.
鈥淚f it magically comes up, sure, but the chance of that happening I don't believe is in the realm of possibility,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淲e need at least 2 1/2 acres to do what we need to do with the service area, and honestly, there just aren't many places that could even accommodate that.鈥�
The seller of the property agreed in March to honor the sale price until May 18, which allowed for more time to research the proposed project.
Schneider said he expects a vote from council to purchase the property in a few weeks.
