GREEN: City Council will talk more about a proposed entertainment district within the Massillon Road corridor at its Feb. 26 meeting.
Councilman-at-large Gerard Neugebauer, the council’s Planning Committee chairman, indicated a vote on whether to approve the proposal could be taken.
Designed by the city’s Planning Department in an effort to promote more economic development in Green, the district would be bounded on the south by Boettler and Graybill roads, including the Heritage Crossings development, on the west by Tabs Drive and on the north by state Route 619 and the city’s north limits.
Ward 1 Councilman Jim Colopy said Planning Director Wayne Wiethe assured him the proposed district doesn’t change any zoning already in place.
The estimated 700-acre area would allow another 15 state liquor licenses to be available to businesses coming to that area, Wiethe said.
That license incentive could be enough to lure national retailers, including restaurants, supermarkets and other businesses dependent in part of liquor sales, to come to Green.
Wise Road resident Al Courtney, who said he and his wife moved to Green decades ago, voiced opposition. He said he never thought he would see the day that government would be involved in promoting and adding more alcohol to the city.
“I would certainly like to see you not approve this issue to allow or to bring more alcohol into this city,” Courtney said.
“In the past, as I have said, if that is really what [residents] want, they can go elsewhere and get it. But for all the trouble [and] turmoil that it can cause,” he said, “I would not like to see you increase that activity within our city.”
The full council meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Central Administration Building, 1755 Town Park Blvd. Committee meetings begin at 5 p.m.
George W. Davis can be reached at mediaman@sssnet.com.
