Macedonia mayor asks for study of soccer stadium proposal

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by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Macedonia -- Citing concerns about environmental and economic impacts, Mayor Don Kuchta says that a proposed major league soccer stadium on Route 8 is on hold until a study of the property can be done.

Kuchta made the announcement at a press conference at the City Center Sept. 13.

"The stadium project will not be moving forward until there is a study," said Kuchta.

Paul Garofolo, president of Wolstein Sports and Entertainment Group, the stadium's developer, said he did not see the announcement as a setback.

"The mayor has always been supportive of the project and if this is what he wants, then we'll support it," Garofolo told the News Leader immediately following the press conference.

Wolstein hopes to build a soccer stadium and retail complex on the site.

Garofolo said he does not know how long Wolstein can wait for a study to be completed.

"I haven't heard how long it will take to do the study or who will be doing it," he said.

Kuchta said there is no timetable for the study. He said he will seek federal, state and county funding to help pay for it and he wants to work with County Council, County Executive Russ Pry, the Summit County Port Authority and the Akron Chamber of Commerce to get the study done.

Kuchta said that until the study is done, Macedonia will not move forward with plans for a "contractual annexation" of part of the development, which also includes a retail shopping center, that lies in Northfield Center. A framework for an annexation agreement was signed by city and township officials in July.

Kuchta said he wants to work with officials in Northfield Center, Hudson and Boston about concerns they may have, including possible economic impacts.

"I don't want to harm any projects they're working on," Kuchta told the News Leader Sept. 14. "It's all about working regionally."

Kuchta said environmental concerns came to his attention when he received an Aug. 23 letter in which John Debo, superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, said he felt the project's environmental impact should be fully assessed.

"This project is situated in one of the few remaining undisturbed tracts of land in the Brandywine Creek watershed," wrote Debo.

In his letter, Debo said he would like the development to ultimately include plans providing protections for streams and wetlands during and after construction, "significant blocks" of open space land, use of conservation development design and planning methods, methods to distribute storm water and technologies and materials for "green" energy, construction and waste management.

Debo said he is especially concerned about possible flooding downstream from the project, including in the national park.

Garofolo said a study of wetlands has already been done, and there are about 100 acres that will not be developed as a result. Traffic and economic impact studies have also been done, he said, and he believes a study would determine the project is acceptable.

"We wouldn't have acquired the land if we didn't feel confident it could be developed," said Garofolo.

Garofolo said Wolstein is still seeking approval from Summit County Council to place a countywide "sin tax" on the ballot next March. If approved, the tax on alcohol and tobacco would provide an estimated $5 million a year for 30 years, funding that Garofolo has said is vital to the project.

Editor's note: Saunders is a reporter for the News-Leader.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169