Haslam Sports Group receives approval for Stage 1 mixed-use concept plan in Berea

BEREA, Ohio – Haslam Sports Group/DiGeronimo Development received approval from the Berea Planning Commission on November 21 for its Stage 1 concept plan for a mixed-use planned unit development (PUD) on property near the Browns training facility.

The Berea City Council received an informal conceptual overview during a special meeting on Oct. 28.

The project – District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus – is a partnership between Berea City Schools, DiGeronimo Companies, University Hospitals and Berea City officials. It includes apartments, a hotel, a multi-sports field, retail space, a fan experience feature, a sports medicine facility and more.

During the recent Planning Commission meeting, council chambers were full and most attendees lived near the project.

Commission Chairman Matt Madzy made it clear at the start of the meeting that the project plan was still at a very early stage and was subject to change.

“The Berea zoning code provides a three-step process for approving a PUD,” Madzy explained. “I can’t stress this enough. Tonight is phase 1.

“Stages 2 (i.e. the preliminary development plan) and 3 will follow at some point in the future.”

He said the goal of the meeting was simply to review “the basic design, land use and other elements of the proposed project” to receive initial feedback from the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission’s comments included considerations of traffic flow through the area, as well as parking, lighting and noise.

One resident expressed concern that there would not be enough parking for hotel guests, apartment renters and District 46 visitors.

He also asked the project team to be mindful of side street parking in the neighborhood that could impact homeowners. Safety concerns have also been raised about pedestrians crossing Front Street.

The preliminary Stage 2 development plan is not expected to be available for review until early 2025.

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