GEAUGA LAKE: the Next 100 Years
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The next 100 years May 2017 GEAUGA LAKE: The next 100 years Prepared For Additional Guidance From Cedar Fair Ann Womer Benjamin Jud Kline Arthur Schmidt Prepared by Mayor President Planner Viking Planners Group City of Aurora Cividad Services City of Cleveland With Kirby Date Jeffrey Markley Jennifer Syx Executive in Residence Trustee President Cleveland State University Cleveland State University Bainbridge Township In-Site Advisory Group Dr. Wendy Kellog Mr. James Kastelic Heather Elmer Michael Mears Dave Vasarhelyi Director Planner Senior Program Manager Chagrin River Watershed Partners Cuyahoga County Trust for Public Land Babette Gowda Duffield Milkie Leigh Woodall Watershed Coordinator General Counsel Property Manager Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners Cedar Fair Wild Water Kingdom Jeff Kerr Dr. Robert Simons Principal Professor Environmental Design Group Cleveland State University Thank you to All of the additional stakeholders and survey respondants who volunteered their time to share their opinions and without whom this plan would not be nearly as rich. Geauga Lake: The next 100 Years • Aurora & Bainbridge, Ohio • May 2017 • VPG -2- Viking Planners Group Mackenzie Albach Shannan Sydney Martis Beattie Tyler McGee Austin Bloom John Micklewright Alyson Cameron Rachel Oscar Drew Crawford Bianca Rozenblad Darren Cross Peter Scully Ralph D’Alessio Luke Seaberg Isabel DeRoberts Steven Spithas Thomas Horsman Susan Vincent Simon Husted Arleesha Wilson Ethan Lawson May 2017 Geauga Lake: The next 100 Years • Aurora & Bainbridge, Ohio • May 2017 • VPG -3- Executive Summary • 5 I. Celebrate • 9 Introduction • 10 History of Geauga Lake • Case Studies • 12 Demographics • 13 Zoning • 16 Vision and Branding • 18 II. Enjoy • 20 Survey and Stakeholder Analysis • 21 Highest and Best Use • 25 III. Respect • 26 Current Environmental Conditions • 27 Planned Improvements • 31 Sources of Funding for Conservation • 40 Easements • 41 IV. Thrive • 42 Site Plan • 43 Infrastructure and Connectivity • 44 Predevelopment Costs • 46 Site Uses • 47 Retail Market • 53 Public Space and Mixed Use Development • 57 Phasing • 59 Table of Contents Table VPG’s Plan and Current Zoning • 60 Sources of Outside Funding • 61 Caveats and Limitations • 62 Appendices • 68 References • 79 The words “Geauga Lake” evoke many emotions for the people of greater northeast Ohio. The once famed amusement park has been a household staple for over a century. The 652-acre site straddling Portage and Geauga counties has had its ups and downs only to be completely shut down. But as the site has sat vacant, no development plans have come to fruition. The two communities of Bainbridge Township and Aurora have been attempting to come together with one common goal: to redevelop the land of the old park and create a new, beautiful space to bring the communities together and entice outsiders to visit. With this in mind, Viking Planners Group (VPG), a class of 22 masters students from the Cleveland State University Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, was commissioned by the current owner, Cedar Fair, to construct a plan that encompasses several goals that join together the ideals of environmental conservation, intelligent development strategy and connectivity. VPG’s overall vision statement for the site is as follows: Geauga Lake is a regional and local asset with a unique history and important ecology. Viking Planners Group (VPG) envisions a cohesive Viking Planners Group. Source: VPG redevelopment that restores the degraded natural environment and amenities. we put forth aims to support sustainable economic unifies the communities of Bainbridge development that is financially feasible and re-uses and Aurora. Through creative solutions Enjoy: In order to plan for the future we had to already developed sites. Through these key strategies, guided by best practices in urban design understand the past. By understanding how residents we crafted our plan for Geauga Lake: The Next 100 Years. and rooted in fiscal reality, Geauga Lake: and stakeholders have enjoyed the site before and what The Next 100 Years strives to ensure a they would enjoy in the future, VPG can have a better sustainable Geauga Lake that supports healthy communities today and in the understanding of how to move forward with plans in a future. constructive way. This led us to a mission to ensure public access to the lake and provide opportunities for all ages Through this vision, VPG created four overarching goals to enjoy. Executive Summary Executive that followed our planning process in a way that fit with the vision. These goals are: Respect: Respect for the land and environment is a critical component to this site becoming successful once again. Celebrate | Enjoy | Respect | Thrive VPG had a clear goal to respect the natural landscape by restoring wetlands, protecting endangered species, and Celebrate: By celebrating Geauga lake, we can better promoting healthy water systems. understand the site, the people, and the legacy that Geauga Lake has made. Through this celebration, we can Thrive: Our development is not meant to just exist, but pay homage to the site’s history and regional importance thrive, and to do that, we need to ensure our plans are by re-creating a regional destination that includes local manageable from an economic perspective. The plan Geauga Lake: The next 100 Years • Aurora & Bainbridge, Ohio • May 2017 • VPG -5- Celebrate Enjoy History Surveys Highest and Best Use Throughout the late 19th century, visitors flocked to the Geauga Surveys were conducted throughout the area. Between residential An analysis of the site was also conducted utilizing zones of lake site, then known as Pond Station, to enjoy the great outdoors mailers and on-site administered surveys to library patrons, VPG development. Six zones were used to determine what uses would and take advantage of the natural beauty of the area. In the early gathered 179 responses to various questions in order to determine be best for the site. After conducting a full study, conclusions 1900’s, the park began implementing rides and other attractions what the people residing in the Geauga Lake region wanted to included single-family housing scoring high, retail scoring well which began the transformation of the site into an amusement see happen with the site. This included questions about what near Route 43, and public space scoring highly, particularly close park. After many decades of changing hands, additions, and patrons would and would not like to see developed on the site to the lake. Distance from the highway is a concern for all zones renovations, the amusement park was ultimately sold, shut down and what uses their area is currently lacking. This, along with a few and the area seems to be saturated with existing traditional retail. and demolished. demographic questions, allowed VPG to determine that residents are quite fond of the prospect of outdoor entertainment options For the people living in the surrounding communities, Geauga such as a performance space or concert venue. Biking and hiking Lake was a central part of the economy of the region, drawing options are also highly sought. in visitors from far and wide. Since Geauga Lake was shut down in 2007, most of the property has sat vacant and in disrepair. Residents and patrons are also against a variety of development Wildwater Kingdom was the last part of the site to shut its doors in types. Overall, new housing is not desired, nor is big-box retail. 2016. Since its demise, the area lacks a large, regional destination However, mixed-use is a desirable development type which tells us to attract people from outside the community. that housing could potentially be desirable if the housing is mixed with small-shop retail in a town center type development. Demographics The local demographics of the region show that the vast majority Stakeholder Interviews of the residents are very well off, with a median household income The stakeholders that were interviewed gave mixed responses to well above the local, state and national levels. The schools in the questions depending on their industry of focus. We focused our area are some of the best in northeast Ohio and over half the adult questions and attention on three different stakeholder groups: residents have at least a bachelor’s degree. Employment rates are development, community and environment. The stakeholders did above average and very few people commute to work in ways generally agree that housing should probably be a part of this other than driving solo. However, the area lacks racial diversity. development and single family should not necessarily be the only From this information, VPG could glean plenty of insight into the type but to provide more diverse housing options. Many also type of background these residents were coming from. agreed on keeping the greenspace and wetlands protected. Retail responses were mixed but overall aluded to the overabundance of retail currently in the area. Geauga Lake: The next 100 Years • Aurora & Bainbridge, Ohio • May 2017 • VPG -6- Respect Thrive Environmental Conditions Development Plans Government’s Role The natural environment is a critical element of Geauga Lake. VPG has crafted a development plan that adds value to the site In order to make all of this possible, the zoning for the two After a full review of the property’s environmental conditions, VPG and provides economic opportunity for both developers as well municipalities is an important factor. Though the site plan mostly discovered a wide array of important resources worth protecting as the community. The uses throughout the site include mixed- conforms to the mixed-use zoning code of both communities, the from development. The most obvious natural resource on this site is use, cottage homes, single-family homes, institutional, performing development on the Bainbridge side may have to apply for specific the 52-acre lake that gives the site its name. While a great resource arts and public greenspace.