Recently, Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald announced an initiative to create a program that would help stimulate Lakewood’s economy as well as create a healthy interaction between residents and merchants within the city. As a result, the Buy Lakewood! Loyalty Program will begin on June 1st. It is a free program offered to Lakewood businesses and Lakewood residents. It is dedicated to educating residents on the importance of buying locally and the economic impact it has on our city.

This program is one of the only programs in northeast Ohio that provides an opportunity for each Lakewood merchant to choose any type of discount they would like to offer card holding members. Merchants within the city limits will have the ability to go online and enroll their business at www.onelakewood.com. Once the business is enrolled, the city will add their business to an online directory showing their participation in the program. Business owners will receive a window cling displaying their support for the Buy Lakewood! Loyalty Program.

All Lakewood residents are encouraged to register at www.onelakewood.com to receive their card. Once their name, address, phone number, and an email address (if applicable) is entered, a card will be delivered to the resident’s house along with a letter of appreciation and further explanation of how buying locally helps improve our community in many ways. The Buy Lakewood! Program will provide residents immediate savings that will stay within the community.

Buying locally helps to improve our community in many ways:

· It keeps dollars in Lakewood’s Economy. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the city’s tax base.

· Likewise, this program embraces what makes Lakewood unique. Lakewood is a suburb where we shop, eat and entertain – it is what makes our neighborhood our home.

· Residents will also be able to have more choices. A marketplace of hundreds of small businesses helps to ensure more innovation, competition and lower prices over the long term. Local businesses choosing products based on what their local customers need and desire guarantee a more diverse range of product and service choices.

· Lastly, local businesses are the lifeblood of our community. When we keep our dollars in the city, every purchase contributes toward our schools, our culture and the well-being of our friends, relatives and neighbors.


The Buy Lakewood! Program has been implemented to support both the residents and merchants within the city. This program will provide citizens discounts at no additional charges while providing local merchants a boost in economic activity.


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AGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING OF June 3, 2010
LAKEWOOD CITY HALL

PRE-MEETING
6:30 P.M.
LOWER CONFERENCE ROOM

1. Review docket items

REGULAR MEETING
7:00 P.M.
AUDITORIUM

2. Roll Call
3. Approve Minutes of the May 6, 2010 meeting
4. Opening Remarks

OLD BUSINESS
5. Docket 05-03-10 14221 Madison Avenue
Fridrich Warehouse Co.
Stephen J. Emser, Sure Site Consulting Group, LLC, applicant for the property located at 14221 Madison Avenue, Fridrich Warehouse Co., requests a Conditional Accessory Use approval to install a telecommunication antenna array on a four-story building. A Use Variance is required to install the equipment on a building shorter than seven stories pursuant sections 1159.04(c) and 1173.04(d), in a C3, Commercial, General Business district. Item was Deferred from the May meeting. (Page 3)

6. Docket 05-05-10 17514 Detroit Avenue
St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Church
Lakewood Heritage Advisory Board, advisory to the Planning Commission, presents an
application and recommendation to designate St. James the Greater Roman Catholic
Church (PP# 311-23-022) as an historic property district (HPD), pursuant to Chapter 1134.
(Page 15)

NEW BUSINESS
7. Docket 06-06-10 14306 Detroit Avenue
The Westerly
John Sindyh, Esq., Sindyh & Associates, applicant for the property located at 14306 Detroit Avenue, The Westerly., requests Conditional Accessory Use approval to install a fourth wireless array pursuant to Section 1159.04 (c)(2) - Antennas and accessory use, Section 1161.02 – Generals Standards, and Section 1173.02 – Conditional Use Permits, in a C2,Commercial, Retail district. (Page 45)

8. Docket 06-07-10 14810 Madison Avenue
The Red Rose Café
Brian and Rosaleen Kirschnick, owners and applicants for the property located at 14810 Madison Avenue, request Conditional Use approval for an outdoor dining facility pursuant to Section 1129.02 – Principal and Conditional Permitted Uses, Section 1129.13 – Supplement Regulations for Outdoor/Seasonal Dining Facility, Section 1161.03 (t) – Outdoor/Seasonal Dining Facility, and Section 1173.02 – Conditional Use Permits, in a C2, Commercial, Retail district. (Page 55)

8. Adjourn

May 17, 2010


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LakewoodAlive Launches Investor Program

LakewoodAlive, Lakewood’s community development organization, is launching a new Investor Program to provide residents, property owners and businesses with an opportunity to make a strong impact on their community’s continued economic growth.

“Investing in LakewoodAlive provides community stakeholders with a direct way to contribute to programs and events that will help us thrive,” said Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald. “From community-wide events to educational forums on economic development issues to maintaining our housing stock, and keeping our downtown business district clean, safe and vibrant, LakewoodAlive provides residents, property owners and businesses with ways to ensure Lakewood’s future.”

Programs and activities are aligned within three major initiatives: the Downtown Lakewood Main Street™ Program, Housing Outreach Services and Community Engagement Forums.

The Downtown Lakewood Main Street Program, through the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, coordinates events like Light Up Lakewood, Streetwalk and outdoor concerts, and coordinates beautification efforts such as the Downtown Lakewood Blossoms program.

Protecting Lakewood’s housing stock through education and outreach services is the focus of LakewoodAlive’s housing program. LakewoodAlive connects residents with programs and services to assist them with the exterior maintenance of their homes and collaborates with governmental and non-profit organizations to offer a wider array of services without duplication.

Providing residents with vital information about issues affecting the community’s economic vitality is a critical component of LakewoodAlive’s mission. Investing in LakewoodAlive provides resources to continue programs, ensuring that community stakeholders have access to essential information that affects the quality of life in Lakewood.

“By encouraging collaboration between residents, businesses, government, nonprofit and civic groups, LakewoodAlive plays a vital role in protecting Lakewood’s future,” said Patty Ryan, President & CEO of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

Assuring Lakewood’s Future. Together. To invest in LakewoodAlive, please visit lakewoodalive.com or call 216.521.0655.

LakewoodAlive is an economic development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources in order to facilitate economic stability and growth in the City of Lakewood.

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