Council approves lot consolidation for John Carroll University Gateway North project

The University Heights City Council voted June 16 to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation to consolidate multiple parcels into two lots for John Carroll University’s Gateway North project. The consolidation applies to several Milford and Warrensville Center Road parcels and will allow the university to proceed with the site plan previously approved by the city.
John Carroll representative Mr. Swettles told council the university had recently closed on an additional adjoining parcel that was not part of the originally approved site plan; the parcel is still zoned residential and the university said it intends to keep the house in place, maintain it and return to planning commission with a plan for that parcel when funding and legal contingencies are resolved. Council members expressed concern that the house could remain in the middle of planned parking and that future demolition and reuse would require return to the planning process.
Council approved the lot consolidation by voice vote; city staff and the university said the university will return to planning and council with plans for the recently acquired parcel and any associated demo or redevelopment.