COUNTY PLANNING NEWSLETTER

February 2026

Fairview Park TOD Overlay District Adopted

As a part of a countywide initiative to encourage Transit-Oriented Development, County Planning has partnered with the City of Fairview Park to provide planning expertise and technical support for their new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay District. We developed the TOD Overlay District to provide zoning regulations that align land use, transportation, and development standards along the Lorain Road corridor to support smart growth and long-term community goals. 

The Overlay District along Lorain Road was in direct response to recommendations made in the Lorain Road Business District Revitalization Plan, completed by County Planning in 2024. The Overlay District is a zoning tool that modifies development regulations to encourage walkable, mixed-use development near transit stops. The Overlay will also support future reinvestment that will strengthen businesses, improve mobility, enhance housing choices, and create a more unified corridor for the community.  

On Monday, January 5, 2026, Fairview Park City Council voted to adopt the Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District zoning text amendment. 

Brooklyn Community Attitudes Survey Report

With the goal of gathering community-wide feedback from residents about the city's progress since its 2020 Brooklyn Master Plan, County Planning and the City of Brooklyn developed and distributed a Community Attitudes Survey to inform the 2025 Brooklyn Master Plan Update. Conducted from September 3 to October 17, 2025, the survey was advertised to residents via in-person outreach at the Brooklyn Senior Center and at a seasonal Trunk or Treat event, as well as through the city newsletter and a postcard mailed to all households. 397 responses were received.

County Planning also collaborated with the Brooklyn City School District to develop a November 2025 survey that was distributed by teachers during class time to students in grades 5-12. This was an intentional effort to collect feedback from youth and include their perspectives in the 2025 Master Plan Update. 264 students answered the survey and the results from the student survey as well as the Community Attitudes Survey can be found in the Community Attitudes Survey Report. 

SID Guidebook Updates

The Special Improvement Districts (SID) Guidebook has a new addendum for the University Circle SID, established in 2025. Created through an existing non-profit organization, the University Circle SID was formed to fund police safety services for the University Circle Police Department.

Public Engagement Opportunities

The master planning process continues in Bedford and Valley View this month, where we'll be collecting input through public meetings and community surveys.

Bedford Master Plan

• The Community Vision Survey is open through February 28th.
• A public open house will be held on Tuesday, February 24th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bedford City Hall. 

Learn more

Valley View Master Plan

• The Master Plan Community Survey is open through March 13th.
• We will host an open house on Thursday, February 26th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Valley View Community Center.

Learn more

We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts, preferences, and priorities.

Staff News

NOACA Appointments

• Executive Director Mary Cierebiej, AICP, continues to serve as a member of the NOACA Board and additionally serves on two NOACA Board committees: the Planning and Programming Committee and the Policy Committee.
• James Sonnhalter, Planning Manager, Design & Implementation, continues to serve on the NOACA Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Council. Paul Triolo, AICP, Planner, was appointed as his alternate.

APA Cleveland Board

• Patrick Hewitt, AICP, Planning Manager, Strategy & Development, was elected to the APA Cleveland Board as Vice-President of Professional Development.
• Laura Mendez Ortiz, AICP, Planner, was reappointed to the APA Cleveland Board as an At-Large Member.

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter! If you found the information valuable, please consider forwarding it to a friend or colleague. Please let us know if there are opportunities for us to collaborate with you.

Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

Did someone forward this message to you? Get your own subscription to receive future newsletters.