Waterway withdrew its application

On January 6, 2009 a letter was sent to Mayor Beryl Rothschild from Waterway Gas and Wash Company:

The letter states:

"Dear Mayor Rothschild: It is with regret that I must inform you that Waterway Gas ad Wash Company wishes to withdraw its application for zoning for the property located at 2216 Warrensville Center Road, University Heights, OH. The demands of those in opposition to our development have simply overwhelmed Waterway, and we have terminated our contract with the landowners. As I stated at our very first meeting, and still firmly believe, this location would have been a positive development both for the residents of University Heights and Waterway. I am sorry we could not bring the plan to fruition.
We wish all the best to you and those in your community, and hope to cross paths again with all who have worked so hard to support Waterway.

Sincerely,
Michael P. Goldman
Vice President, General Counsel
Waterway Gas and Wash Company"

So, it is over.
Many things could be said, but the most important ones are the thanks that go to all who helped to support this cause.
To the three generous, dedicated lawyers, to the residents that actively invested time and energies in researching, evaluating, analyzing all the possible consequences of the implementation of an operation like Waterway on a road as busy as Warrensville Center Road.
Kudos to the merchants that sustained our cause, and helped us by letting us distribute fliers into their shops, and posted them in their windows. Thank you also for talking to your customers about it, thus raising awareness.
Finally, we want to thank our Council members that listened and realized the problems Waterway would have imposed on the residents of Lansdale and Bushnell Rds.: i.e. continued high noise levels throughout the carwash hours of activity,
and, consequently, decreased quality of life for the residents of these streets. They also evaluated the effects of the increased traffic load on Warrensville Ctr. Rd.
To all of you that have been commenting on this blog, it may be true that we do not have a sound sense of business, but it is also true that the people out there that should, don't as well.
There has been a proposal to expand the property to make a medical building, that nobody would have opposed, and it was denied. It could have been worked out, but it was denied.
There had been an offer to purchase the property to do the "cultural shopping center" you were making fun of, and it wasn't taken seriuosly, now we don't have Davis Bakery, Abba's, Empire Kosher Chicken, the Judaic Bookstore, and many more that have been driven out of this community. We could have had local businesses that people loved and supported, and instead we keep looking for businesses that do not care if they have to pack up and go, leaving empty spaces like Tops... Who do you think is being more myopic? Is the lack of greater vision, is the philosophy of better few dirty dollars now and who cares what happens later better than planning? If that is what it means to be naive and to not have business vision, we are glad we lack it, because keeping going in that direction is the best way to ensure that the City will keep sinking. Do you see what is happening at Cedar and Taylor? Wasn't that a nice development too? University Square? How many do we need? Isn't it about time that we support the good businesses that people around here are willing to support, care about, and get to know?
We fought the expansion of JCU, the strongest business we have, the one we should have fought to help grow, for 27 years, how myopic is that?
Sorry guys, we keep missing your point.

Future developments for 2216 warrensville Ctr. Rd.

First and foremost, let me say that had we not fought Waterway from the beginning, residents of Lansdale and Bushnell would have had a noisy (read website with excerpts from Councilman Consolo on noise levels of the activity) neighbor in their backyards. So, should Waterway be allowed in that site, at least their lives would be less disrupted. Is that such a bad thing? For you that don't live there does not make a difference, but to those residents it does.
Secondly, always considering the possibility that Waterway shall be allowed to build their car wash, should these residents get a cul de sac, would that be so bad? What's wrong with improving the living conditions of your fellow residents?
Thirdly, if Waterway will not be allowed there is simply because legally it is not fit to be there. There is a law (however old, nobody contested it before) that says that there are restrictions for a business to be developed in that strip, and Waterway's type of business fits in those restrictions, why should we close an eye? The fact that the operation is noisy is a proof in itself that the business is not a buffer, and that the operation interferes with the quality of life of their residents.
As for the business that will come there, operations such as Mc Donald's etc., are on the same level as Waterway, so they do not fit in the definition of businesses that can be used as buffers. They lower the quality of life of the residents of those streets.
There are other options out there that can be beneficial to everyone and if greed does not take over, they should be considered carefully: a cultural grocery store, that collects the history of a proud nation and serves a big portion of this community, is something that should be highly regarded. It could even be good advertising for the owners of the strip, should they be in need of any. So there are alternatives out there that can be considered and that can help the City with its tax revenues, the residents with their peace, and all of you with a solution that is not a threat for anybody.
If only, for once, the right choice was made, everything could be very simple.

Waterway Sumbits a new proposal here is why the City should say "NO"

Waterway is not letting go, and so shouldn't we. It isn't so much that we are opposed in principle to Waterway. It is a fine business, with good intentions. The thing is that the location is wrong.
It is true, right now we don't have other choices, the strip is run down, and does not bring much income. But is it a good enough reason to accept a bone thrown to us because we don't have alternatives "this instant"? Shouldn't it be better to find alternatives, to work with a strategy to improve the strip for the better, rather than realizing later that a big mistake (like the parking garage) has been made? The proposed gas station/car wash/convenience store will bring two full time positions that will increase the income COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW!!! How about having something later that will bring more income compared to what Waterway will bring for decades? Bloggers have been asking for proposals, well we are not from the business world, but here are some:

1) How about seeking investors to build single floor senior assisted living units? We have plenty of seniors that love our community and would have the commodity of walking to the many stores that we have around... there would be managers, secretaries, nurses (more than 2) to bring income to the City...

2)How about finding investors to build a childrens' gym, we don't have one around, and that would have managers, secretaries, gym instructors (more than two)

3) An adult co-ed gym (Curves is for women only, there would not be competion there), Urban Active is at another level not everybody can afford it, trainers, managers, secretaries, you name it...

4) a Physical therapy/occupational therapy center, PT, OT, managers, secretaries....

5)A social services office with LISW for outpatient therapy, some LISW would love not to have to drive long distance to reach their offices, again look for the investors, (4 LISW, e.g, 1 manager, 2 secretaries etc, more than 2 managers)

We don't necesssarily need to put a pawn shop there to cut the losses, with a little of vision and entrepreneurship spirit, a lot could be done

Why take the bone?
The congestion on Warrensville and Lansdale, No matter of what the City and Waterway think, would be above their carrying capacity, why wait until it is too late, we repeat, why for once not do the right thing, before having to patch up something beyond repair?

The Waterway Proposal Encounters a Big Obstacle: Zoning, because of a major oversight from our Zoning members

 

One smart resident of University Heights, not a civil engineer, not a Council member, not a Zoning Committee member, brought up to the attention of UHNOGas that Waterway's proposal had a MAJOR ZONING ISSUE: the proposed gas station/car wash/convenience store had to use a strip of land zoned "Parking" for its commercial activities.

Three very capable lawyers, put their personal time into this matter and looked into it. They gathered info, and visual proof, that was brought to the attention of Mr. Consolo

Apparently, this point escaped the attention of Zoning members and the civil engineer....

It turns out, that Waterway cannot build their proposed project, even if they wanted to. It would require to rezone the city plans (several other areas fall into the same category). The BP gas station's owner(s) on Fairmount, applied for a permit that would allow them to build a car wash as well, and were told that zoning issues wouldn't allow it.

This proposal was denied consideration because of these issues. 

Wouldn't  be unfair if the zoning changes were to be allowed to Waterway, once that had been refused to BP? We ask...

It is a major oversight, that created useless stirred sentiments among residents of University Heights.

It weren't for the strong opposition of UHNOGas members, this oversight might have been overlooked.

Kudos to Mr. Frank Consolo that, informed of the Zoning problem, started an investigation concerning the issue, and obtained that the proposal was put to a halt.

 

THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER MEETINGS INVOLVING WATERWAY'S PROPOSAL UNTIL THE ZONING ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED.

As news develop we will keep you posted.

STRONG>

If this gas station is so important....

The people that plan on building a gas station/car wash/convenience store on 2216 Warrensville Center Road, University Heights, Ohio, didn't even show up at the special Council Meeting set up to make or break the gas station. The residents of University Heights that, instead, chose to show up, were greeted by a lawyer, that simply said that Waterway wanted a continuance. "To do what?" The gentleman was asked. "I don't know", was the reply, "they need 6 weeks to investigate". "Investigate what?" Was the other question, "I don't know" was the answer, "but they need six weeks". Now a business that cares about what happens in its community, would bother at least to show up. Unless it was a tactic to gain six more weeks to try and change people's (read councilpersons') minds. In the continuance letter they asked councilpersons to travel to their facilities, where they will be shown smiling, high school or college level students, all caucasian but one. These employees will be all (by pure and simple coincidence) be wearing clean and ironed uniforms, they will all be greeting customers in a completely "I didn't absolutely know that you people came here to inspect us", way. Waterway will dine councilpeople and talk to them about what good neighbors thay all are, and how everybody is happy to have them around (commercial areas like the ones they are in (including Bainbridge, OH) don't care). While missing, with outright lack of respect for Council and residents, the meeting where they were supposed to be. The continuance would have been granted just the same. Everybody in Council is trying to be fair. Why then this uncalled act of pure and simple rudeness?
We are open to answers.

Waterway masqueraded as Bluestone calls the Author of the Blog "Nuts"

It's been a while since Waterway infiltrated this blog under the name Bluestone4181. We, of course, recognized them very early. We were appalled by the fact that they didn't have the guts to sign themselves as Waterway, but that would have been what honest, caring, good neighbors would do. We learned that Bluestone, sorry Waterway, does not play "clean", forgive us the pun. They feel that now they have the upperhand because, at the moment, they have the permit. What they do not know, is that it's not over yet. They are already acting cocky and showing that they have a right to gloat. The thing that shows them for who they really are though, is that, under the assumed name of bluestone thay called the Author of this blog "nuts" (read it under the post "Waterway tries to sell a fairytale").
We personally think that it is a low blow, undignified of a company that claims to be about people. We are sorry for you Waterway, but the more you keep this up, the more you show your "littleness" the more sustainers you will call into our cause.
Now go ahead and have a blast with your comments. We are listening.

THANKS UHNOGas members and supporters!!

Update on the Zoning Meeting ALMOST held on February 4, 2008.

 

We arrived to the meeting. We sat down, and we waited, the room got full. We think at least 100 people, but could have been easily more, were there. People arrived slowly. By 6:00pm though, the Zoning Committee members, and the Councilpersons were almost all there. The almost makes the difference. Channel 3 news, and News Channel 5 were there as well, and taping.

Mr. Goldberg (VP of Waterway Gas and Wash Company) started explaining again his project. He said that some changes have been made. One of them was that by re-drawing the plan, they don't need anymore the 10 feet variance. I think that they squeezed the gas station, car wash, and convenience store a little more.

Who do you think may notice?

Anyway, he was making the point that this small business is consented by the ordinance... (I have to look it up, be patient, tomorrow, when I am fresh, I'll put it in) that states that a gas station and car accessories sales are authorized by the zoning and even a car wash (I didn't see that part on the page of the ordinance I got, I'll check again). Anyway, we were all listening when Councilwoman Frankie Goldberg walks in and says that people, at least 25, are outside and would like to come in. At this point, the debate starts: the meeting is already in session, but the people are outside. Do we go to a Synagogue? It's too short notice. The fire marshalls absolutely cannot let anymore people in the building. Do we leave these people outside? For Mr. Zucker, this would be the right solution, everybody else says that they may have something to say and, being a public meeting, we should give them the possibility of hearing what is being said and evntually to reply. The matter is put to a vote. Except for the Mayor and Mr. Zucker, everybody else votes in favor of the rescheduling. The dates will be worked out with Mr.Goldman, the zoning committee Members, and the Councilpersons. The possible locations may be:John Carroll University, or Wiley Middle School's Auditorium.

At the end of the short meeting everybody went outside, and there we informed the people waiting of what went on. The media was out there as soon as they heard that more than 25 people were outside. We'll follow the developments watching the news, and we will keep you posted as soon as we learn more.

You can pat your backs sustainers, we are proud of all of you. We just need to keep it up, and keep showing up, showing that we care.