Bratenahl tables rezoning of Bratenahl Center, schedules special meeting for June 30

Mayor Keith Benjamin and the council on Wednesday voted to table five rezoning ordinances related to the Barbara Byrd‑Bennett Bratenahl Center and to consider them at a special meeting set for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30.

Solicitor David J. Matty recommended tabling the ordinances, saying, “I would table them,” and Councilmember Joyce Burke‑Jones moved to do so; David Dews seconded. Clerk Cooks recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote from the four members present — Burke‑Jones, Dews, Gina Huffman and David Kozinski — to move the readings to the June 30 meeting.

The action postpones consideration of Ordinances 4296, 4297, 4298, 4299 and 4300, all connected to rezoning the Bratenahl Center property, until the special meeting so Council can address outstanding finance items and allow fuller public input. Mayor Benjamin said the items on the current agenda will be moved to June 30 and that the Finance Committee meeting that could not occur tonight will also be held at that time.

Council and staff used the meeting to preview next steps: Engineer Don Bierut said staff are preparing materials in case the village chooses to market the Bratenahl Center, and Solicitor Matty said he will ask Council at the June 30 meeting to authorize Bierut to prepare bid specifications if the Council wants to pursue a sale. “I will be asking Council for a motion to permit Mr. Bierut to go forward with the sale, with the bid specs,” Matty said, noting he deferred action tonight because Council lacked a quorum on those items.

Several residents raised questions during the public hearing continuation. Mark Orel asked whether new zoning could be used to prevent another gated community; Mayor Benjamin said preventing a gated development is possible but would likely require the village to fund public infrastructure and could be expensive. The mayor said the village plans outreach this summer and fall to homeowners associations and Bratenahl Place residents so community views inform the process.

What’s next: Council will reconvene on June 30 at 5:30 p.m. to hear the rezoning ordinance readings, deliberate on finance items and accept additional public comment. Solicitor Matty is expected to request authorization for sale bid specifications at that meeting.