Politics & Government
Community Vision Work Groups Scheduled
It's not too late to get involved. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in these workshops.
The Lakewood Community Vision work groups will begin meeting next week to shape and revise the nearly 20-year-old Community Vision.
Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development, wrote in an email to participants, "We will make good use of your time and have vigorous 75 minute sessions planned. Our goal is to load you with a lot of information about the theme in an immersion course style worksession. The groups will then be working that night to develop a vision statement for the topic heading."
Anyone not yet signed up can easily be added to the list serve by visiting the Community Vision page. Questions can also be sent to planning@lakewoodoh.net.
Find out what's happening in Lakewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Here are the scheduled meetings next week.
Find out what's happening in Lakewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Monday June 25, 6-7:15 p.m.
University of Akron Lakewood – Community Room
Facilitator – Dru Siley, Bryce Sylvester
Commercial Development - Retention & Attraction, Redevelopment and Infrastructure
Christopher Bindel (Citizens Advisory Committee member)
Kristen Bindel
Patrick Metzger (Planning Commission member)
Ken Brand
Christina Moore
Kyle Krewson (Board of Zoning Appeals member)
Marvin Ronaldson
Margaret Brinich
Dan Wyman
Monique Smith (City Council member)
Gaynel Mellino
Monday June 25, 7:15-8:30 p.m.
University of Akron Lakewood – Community Room
Facilitator – Dru Siley, Bryce Sylvester
Community Wellness - Environment, Health and Activity
Brian Powers (City Council President)
Megan Krewson
Curt Brosky
Jennifer Overstreet (Citizens Advisory Committee Chair)
Suzanne Metelko
Joe Beno (Public Works Director)
Sean Mott
Alex Mott
Lou McMahon
Chris Perry
Colin McEwen
Mark Stockman (Planning Commission Chair)
Wednesday June 27, 6-7:15 p.m.
University of Akron Lakewood – Community Room
Facilitator – Dru Siley
Safety - Safety Forces, Feeling Safe, Crime
Richard Sicha (Heritage Advisory Board Chair)
Christina Gill McCallum
Mary Matthien
Gabe Jurasez
Richard Meixner
Carl Orban (Arch. Board of Review member)
Jennifer Pae (Finance Director)
Shawn Juris (City Council member)
Jake Marx (Citizens Advisory Committee member)
Cindy Marx
Marianne T. Monahan
Tom Monahan
Wednesday June 27, 6-7:15 p.m.
Main Library – Multipurpose Room
Facilitator – Bryce Sylvester
Education & Culture - Access, Facilities and Technology
Tamara Karel (Planning Commission member)
Ken Haber
Gennie Bielawski
Nick Muttvic
Stephen Erkelenz
Ruth Anne Gillett (Planning Commission member)
Paul R Beegan
Jack Curtis
Kevin Butler (Law Director)
Patty Ryan
JT Neuffer
Ryan Nowlin (City Council member)
Wednesday June 27, 7:15-8:30 p.m.
University of Akron Lakewood – Community Room
Facilitator – Dru Siley
Housing - Stewardship, Options, Quality
Kevin Brown
Ian Andrews
Tom Bullock (City Council member)
Bryan Evans
Scott Duennes
Hannah Belsito (Planning Commission member)
Robert Greytak (Planning Commission Member)
John Hrlec
M L Madigan (City Council member)
Rick Uldricks
Sean McDermott
Wednesday June 27, 7:15–8:30 p.m.
Main Library– Multipurpose Room
Facilitator – Bryce Sylvester
Mobility - Options, Ease of Movement, Services
Val Mechenbier
Marcia Moll (Heritage Advisory Board member)
Cindy Einhouse
Ann Stahlheber
Michael Molinski (Arch. Board of Review Chair)
Ahmie Yeung
Garvin Yeung
Steve Fought
Sue Gregg
Troy Bratz
David Anderson (City Council member)
Peter Grossetti
Siley noted that ideas would be posted on the city’s website.
About 75 people attended the city’s first workshop to update the 1993 plan at the campus in May.
“The work that was done in the '90s was the first attempt to articulate what’s important to Lakewood,” Siley said.
“We’re going to build on that. We’re going to refine it, because the world has changed dramatically in 20 years.”
Back in 1993, the planning commission, along with residents, civic and business leaders identified four areas of concern to develop over a number of years, including the city’s image, housing, economic development and physical environment.
“There’s good content in there, but it’s expired,” Siley said, noting that in 1993 the Internet wasn't even introduced to the masses yet.