Harris Road subdivision to break ground, lighting reduction to be determined

by Dan Holland

A residential subdivision slated for the south side of Harris Road could get started as early as this spring.

The development will include one main street off Harris that splits into two cul-de-sacs. Each single-family home on the 14-lot subdivision will sit on a 2-acre lot.

Broadview Heights City Council gave developers the green light to proceed at its Feb. 15 meeting, following a recommendation from the planning commission.

“It’s been a long slog for us,” said Michael David, an attorney with development company Triban Investments LLC. “We first approached the city back in December 2019. We got hung up in a couple different safety and service issues and things like that. So, we’re very excited to have it finally pass and to get it going. They need to add some language to the HOA documents, which is minimal, and we’ll be good to go.”

Amendments to the HOA documents include language barring exposed concrete block masonry on any of the homes and stipulating that front-facing facades have a minimum of 25-30 percent brick or stone.

At the time of the approval, David said improvements to the site would also take a few months. But he anticipated breaking ground in the spring.

The subdivision’s final approval was based upon a few conditions, including additional landscape screening along portions of the northern and eastern property lines and a re-examination of a plan to reduce the number of lights on Harris.

During a work session prior to the Feb. 15 meeting, council members and other city officials discussed possible issues related the planning commission’s proposal to reduce the number of streetlights from 16 to just four or five.

Fire Chief Jeff Hajek expressed concerns over the creation of “dark spots” in the new subdivision.

“When we go in, everybody says, ‘We don’t want lights,’ but then within a few months, everyone is asking, ‘Why is it so dark on this street?’ So, we’re trying to address these issues, and this is one we actually addressed. Now, we’re going to put dark spots back in there. I just want to make sure [council] understands that,” he said.

Council member Jennifer Mahnic agreed. “I happen to live in a development on a street that’s not too bright, and it is a concern,” she said. “The other thing is that people who live in the area where this development is going in – although at planning commission they’re saying they don’t want lights – they’re also sending emails saying they’re concerned about safety. So, this seems conflicting.”

Council member Tom Pavlica, who represents Ward 1 where the development will be built, said that most nearby residents wanted fewer lights.

“The majority of residents on Harris Road do not feel comfortable with the number of lights that are going in on the street,” he added. “They would rather see less lights. They would like to only see the four-to-five lights that were recommended by the planning commission.”

Law Director Vince Ruffa addressed amending the language to deal with concerns over possible lighting “dead zones” within the development.

“Safety is the overriding issue here, and that’s what we have to focus on as a city and a council, not someone wanting a light here or a light there,” Ruffa said. “If that determination has been made that there are dead spots, we cannot have them. Police, fire and engineering don’t want those dead zones. So, this is why we’re changing the language to determine the minimum amount of lighting we need to keep the city and all the residents happy. Whatever that number is, we will try to reduce it as much as possible. But it’s not going to be reduced beyond the point where safety becomes an issue.”

Language in regard to the lighting reduction was amended to read: “determine the minimum amount of lighting required for safety purposes.” ∞