As you may be aware, McDonald’s has been actively looking for a site to relocate the existing Sloane Avenue store to Detroit Avenue. The administration was recently notified by representatives from McDonald’s that the Detroit Theater site was their primary interest.

I committed to a group of residents from Woodward Avenue who attended a recent City Council meeting regarding this issue, that if we were informed the project was likely to move forward, my staff would facilitate a community meeting. The goal of the forum on June 15^th is to provide clear, factual information regarding the City’s role and responsibilities and to allow residents to hear from the developer.

The Detroit Theater has been actively on the market for many months and a restaurant is a permitted use in a commercial district. The City cannot control a real estate transaction between a private seller and buyer, nor can it prevent a property use that is permitted by zoning regulations.

However, the tools we have available to us can effectively manage development and address issues like building design, traffic, lighting, noise, odor and trash. Any development in the City of Lakewood will go through many layers of public input like community meetings and board and commission hearings.

So, please join me on June 15^th, 7:00 p.m., at the Main Library. For more information, please contact the Department of Planning and Development at 216.529.6630 or planning@lakewoodoh.net.