Commission forwards rezoning of 12.5 acres near Route 83 to light industrial for council consideration

On May 12 the North Ridgeville Planning Commission voted to forward Ordinance 2026-45 to city council, which would rezone approximately 12.5 acres the city acquired and consolidate it with adjacent industrial property near Route 83 to support a potential industrial park.

Planning and Development Director Lieber said the city now owns roughly 46 acres of industrially zoned property in the area and recently purchased a 12.5-acre parcel fronting Chestnut Ridge Road that would be rezoned to I2 light industrial and consolidated with existing industrial land. Lieber said the city is pursuing a sanitary sewer extension down Sugar Ridge Road that would terminate across Route 83 and is a necessary step before the site can be marketed or developed. He emphasized the city has no identified end users at this time.

Residents at the meeting asked about existing runoff and potential buffering and traffic impacts if the site develops. Larry Lzeski noted concerns about increased wetness in nearby yards and asked whether buffering or visual protection would be provided. Lieber said any future industrial development will come back through a formal planning process, must follow adopted buffering and screening requirements and that the city — as the landowner and eventual developer — can exercise design control to address neighbor concerns. He also said the timeline depends on sewer construction and that development would likely take time to progress through planning, permitting and construction.

A motion to approve forwarding Ordinance 2026-45 to council passed unanimously on roll call: Commissioners Ali, Toth, Schuman, Winkl and Smolick voted yes. The rezoning measure will now be considered by city council.