Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Mall planners push zone change
Switch is called key for I-75 site
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — The planners of a large mall here are pushing a rezoning they say is essential to the project's future.
Joseph K. Hart Jr., manager of development for Michigan-based Taubman Co., spoke at a Monroe City Council public hearing Tuesday night saying his 50-year-old company owns or manages 24 malls in 12 states and takes great pride in its work.
“The type of product we propose is very high quality and one we think the community will be pleased with,” Mr. Hart said.
As for concerns about traffic problems from the proposed mall, Mr. Hart said, no one is more concerned about that than Taubman.
“If customers can't get there easily and leave easily, they won't want to come,” Mr. Hart said.
The estimated 1.4 million-square-foot mall, an initial investment of more than $200 million, would have about 200 stores, with about 14 anchors, as well as themed restaurants and entertainment centers, Mr. Hart said.
It could bring 3,000 jobs early and up to 10,500 eventually, including jobs that support companies, Mr. Hart said.
Jay Stewart, zoning enforcement officer, said the mall jobs could mean an extra $600,000 to $800,000 in earnings taxes annually for the city of Monroe.
Council had a first reading on the rezoning proposal, which was recommended by the planning commission, and will vote Jan. 25. The change is proposed by Corridor 75 Park, agents which own the land on which the mall is to be built.
Lenny Robinson, president of Robinson Lawton Kent Realtors and one of Corridor 75's agents, said rezoning the land from heavy industrial to general commercial is a key to the mall's development.
Taubman has 360 acres for the mall under option, including the 331 acres up for rezoning and another 29 already zoned commercial. About 100 acres are in Butler County, the balance in Warren. The land includes all the frontage along I-75 — about 11/2 miles — from Ohio 63 south to the I-75 rest area, Mr. Robinson said.
Mr. Hart said it is too early to estimate a time for acquisition of the land or for starting work.
No opponents spoke at Tuesday's meeting, but some people showed up in support of the mall project, including representatives of the Mid Miami Valley Chamber of Commerce, Monroe Business Council and Solid Rock Church.
Ron Carter, the church's financial administrator, said that while the church supports the mall project, officials there question this rezoning proposal.
“This is very similar to the rezoning application the church had filed for our unwed mother's home,” Mr. Carter said. “We feel it's somewhat of an injustice to deny one and approve another.”
Sporadic opposition to the proposed mall and new interchange surfaced after the Oc tober announcement.
In recent weeks, opponents from Dayton, Lebanon and Turtlecreek Township, with help from the national Sierra Club's Cincinnati office, agreed to unite to fight the proposed development. They say there are enough malls and office complexes in the area.
Also Tuesday, council voted unanimously to contract with Waste Management of Ohio Inc. of Fairborn, Ohio, for the city's trash collection. The action ends a 25-year relationship with Rumpke.
Officials said they voted for Waste Management based on the substantial cost savings and recommendations from other communities.
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