Granger Township trustees to finally decided Menards proposal with virtual meeting

GRANGER TWP. — It's been months since the COVID-19 pandemic pulled the plug on nearly all public meetings as people separated in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. For Granger Township, that has meant one project has been perpetually stalled: a planned development district with a Menards store at the center of it all. The project has not been without controversy as many residents in Granger Township as well as nearby Bath Township in Summit County have opposed the development district application. On July 30, township trustees voted, with one abstention, to hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, to finally consider the application for the project at the northwest corner of state Route 18 and Medina Line Road, just east of Pinnacle Sports. The meeting was originally scheduled for March 12; however, Gov. Mike DeWine's stay-at-home order and ban on large gatherings resulted in the meeting being canceled. "This application has been pending since the ban on large meetings was implemented and it does not appear likely that the state will lift the ban anytime soon," Trustee Richard Pace said. "Accordingly, the board has voted to conduct this special meeting to consider the application using the authority granted under HB 197, Ohio's emergency legislation authorizing remote meetings." To comply with the continued ban on large meetings, only the trustees, fiscal officer, necessary staff, applicants, planned development district consultants and a transcriptionist will be allowed on-site as the meeting will be conducted virtually using the Go-to-Meeting application. Details of how to access the meeting will be provided at a later date. This will be unlike many of the public meetings held earlier this year crowded with residents who wanted to speak their mind on the project, going as far as creating a citizens group against the development. Pace said the public may submit written comments before the meeting later this month. Send comments to Granger Township Board of Trustees, 3717 Ridge Road, Medina OH 44256 or via email to grangertwp@grangertwp.org. Comments must be received, not postmarked, by 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.