by Jeff Saunders
Reporter
Nordonia Hills -- Up to $40,000 in funding is being offered for an economic development study of land where the Wolstein Sports and Entertainment Group wants to build a professional soccer stadium and retail complex.
The Macedonia/Northfield Center Joint Economic Development District Board agreed Oct. 17 to provide up to $20,000 for the study. City Finance Director Steve Brunot, who serves as the JEDD's fiscal officer, said an additional $20,000 is being offered by Summit County and the Summit County Port Authority.
Port Authority officials did not return phone calls, but Summit County Council President Nick Kostandaras said Oct. 22 that the $20,000 is money the county has given the port authority.
Brunot said the study would be coordinated by the Akron Area Chamber of Commerce, which did not return phone calls seeking comment.
"If this goes forward, I think it will benefit residents from both communities," Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta said, referring to Macedonia and Northfield Center, whose border lies on the proposed stadium site. "We need to look to see what is the best way to develop that property."
Kuchta said he prefers that plans for the soccer and retail development remain on hold until the study is completed. Officials said a date for the study's completion has not been set.
Wolstein President Paul Garofolo did not return calls seeking comment, but has previously said he supports Kuchta's plan to seek a study and feels confident such a study would support his firm's proposal.
The JEDD Board is composed of representatives from the two communities that oversee the district, which encompasses the Crossings at Golden Link shopping center and 66 undeveloped acres between Highland and Twinsburg roads east of Route 8, where the stadium has been proposed.
Brunot said that a committee, still "in flux," is being formed among community and county officials to plan the study, with the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce taking the lead. Kuchta said the Chamber was chosen because it has had little involvement with the project and is more likely to be "unbiased."
Brunot said an initial meeting, which included himself, Kuchta, and representatives from Summit County Executive Russ Pry's office, County Council, the Port Authority, the county engineer's office and the Chamber, took place Oct. 3.
"It was just a sit-down at the Chamber office and saying, 'What are we going to do,'" said Brunot.
Northfield Center Trustees Richard Reville and Brent Sommer said the township would soon appoint a representative to the committee.
Brunot said the $40,000 would likely only provide enough funding for a basic study, but Kuchta said that the funding could serve as "seed money" for additional funding, such as from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which has expressed concerns development of the area would harm the park's downstream watershed.
Park Superintendent John Debo said he is happy a study is being conducted.
"I have indicated to Mayor Kuchta that we are willing to contribute financially to the study," Debo said. "But to date, we have had no discussions on it so I can't say how much we would contribute."
The JEDD Board also plans to see if it can recoup some of the study's cost from area property owners.
City Council President Jan Tulley, who serves on the JEDD board, suggested the study include property south of Twinsburg Road in Northfield Center and Boston Heights, where a separate retail development has also been proposed.
"I may not be able to change that development, but I sure want to know how it's going to impact the land north of it," she said.
E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
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