By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati Planning Commission made history in Oakley Thursday night by holding its first public hearing in a neighborhood in at least 35 years.

But it didn't make a decision on the development that brought more than 80 Oakley residents out to debate: an expansion of the Center of Cincinnati to include a new Petsmart, Circuit City and a store to be named.

The instigator - and lightning rod - for Cincinnati's latest development debate is Rob Smyjunas, president of Vandercar Holdings Inc. His "big box" shopping center off Ridge Avenue is one of the biggest retail development in years.

Oakley residents called it a "cookie-cutter" development that promotes "musical stores." Circuit City is moving a store just a half-mile away in Columbia Township into Oakley for what it hopes will be a national prototype for its new, larger stores.

Planning Commissioner Caleb Faux led the fight against the plan, saying Smyjunas had gone back on his promise to build a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development.

The Sierra Club's Glen Brand said developments like Smyjunas' often lead to traffic and flooding problems and kill off independently owned "Main Street" stores.

Randy Welker, a business expansion specialist with the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce,said the city needs to become more accepting of change if its economy is going to grow.

"The reality is, as the economy changes, none of us can predict what will happen," he said. "In Cincinnati, we don't attract economic development and developers. We scare them off."

After a three-hour public hearing, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to take no action, in hopes a compromise can be reached. City Council's Neighborhoods Committee will hold another public hearing Tuesday at 11 a.m. at City Hall.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com