It’s the Newsletter for September 27, 2025!

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In this issue: Issue 25, the Albion Elementary property, a note from the campaign, and more

Please Vote “No” on Issue 25

There has been plenty written about it already, and I hope you have seen the ad in the Recorder that was published on 09/24. This amendment to the City Charter was still in committee when I first learned about it, and it is one of the reasons that I made my choice to run for Ward 1 City Council.

This is an easy one: Issue 25 is not good for Ward 1, it’s not good for the City of North Royalton, and I am encouraging everyone to vote “No” on this issue. The City Charter stays with the city and residents long after the council members and Mayor have termed out, and changes to it should not be made lightly.

I am, quite frankly, appalled that members of council allowed this to go forward after a similar effort was rejected by residents in 2023. Residents then, as now, do not agree with it, and do not support it. I attended all three council meetings where this current amendment was discussed, and not a single person came forward in support of it. Given the opportunity to speak to a council chamber crowded with residents, the chair of the Charter Committee, Joel Spatz, declined to speak. At that same meeting, and in subsequent council meetings, multiple residents spoke on the record; some two dozen letters were delivered to council, and also read into the record. None were in favor of this amendment. I expect it will be defeated, though by how much will depend on how many residents turn out to vote. It’s very frustrating how much time and effort by so many people, leaders and residents alike, has been wasted on this legislation.

The Albion Elementary property

This one is not as easy, and this story will likely go on after the election, possibly into the new year.

As I wrote previously, once a real estate developer has taken possession of a piece of property, there is very little residents can do to affect the outcome. As I write this, the Planning Committee item PC25-19 has not been back on the committee agenda. Some welcome allies to residents are the City Engineer and City Planner who hold all plans for development up to the light of current city building and development codes. Both have made statements on the record regarding storm water management and building density, and it remains to be seen how the developer responds to the requested changes to the submitted plans for the construction of 29 houses on the 5.5 acre lot on Albion Road, just up the hill from York Road. The preliminary plans are available to the public, and you can see them here.

There are some longer cycles at work here, the first being the how the city determined the codes that allows for the density of development planned for the Albion Property. Housing such as the development on Sprague Road between Ridge and State (“Woodland Bend”) is very densely built, with very little green space. This only increases the risk of rapid water runoff from rain or melting snow, which adds to the historical risk of flooding in Ward 1.

Additionally, it is vital to get residents informed when development projects are in the very early planning phase, and encouraging people to show up at these meetings. The Planning Commission and City Council won’t change behavior if there’s no else in the room when these decisions are made.

And this is another one of the reasons I’m running – I am weary of finding out the City Council has approved something long after the fact, and only when I read about in the Royalton Recorder! John Nickell has done a huge disservice to the residents of Ward 1 by not keeping residents informed of legislation, zoning changes and development that affects where we live. It’s how we end up with a Taco Bell in an awkward spot in the Timber Ridge Plaza, a project that did little but chase away the classic car group that would meet there on Wednesdays in the summer months. Judging by the very modest amount of business being generated, it’s hard to see how anyone benefited from allowing that project to go through.

A note from the campaign

I’ve been having a great time walking the ward, knocking on doors, and distributing my campaign literature. The heat of the summer was a bit challenging, there were some very hot days that kept folks indoors, and made it a little tricky to connect. That gave way to weeks of absolutely beautiful days, and canvassing was not only easier, but often a lot of fun. Living in the same place for 25 years I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of our local residents and neighbors, and it’s been a pleasant surprise to discover so many wonderful folks, their families, their pets, and see the different houses, gardens and properties. If we’ve had a chance to speak directly, please know how grateful I am for your time and attention. If I missed you, I hope we can catch up some time soon, and I look forward to speaking with you.

At any time, if you have a topic you want to discuss, or something you feel you would like to share, please just send a note to me at matt@mattcoleman.us

More to come

There are other items I plan to cover in future mailings, and I hope you will read, consider and respond if you are interested. For example, City Council approved a contract for $519,598 for a consulting engineering company to evaluate the wastewater treatment facilities (25-22). Not very exciting stuff, but what the consultant reports and proposes can potentially affect our local taxes and water-sewer bills, and whether all that nice new pavement gets ripped up from Abbey Road to put in a pipe from one treatment plant another.

There is also the Ohio State legislature consideration of changes to local taxation and the funding of public schools. This has the potential to affect Ward 1 by the sale of the 33-acre property on Abbey Road that is owned by the North Royalton Board of Education, should the school system suddenly be in need of funding due to changes in property tax law.

And should the property tax law be changed, City Council may be required to demonstrate strong leadership to evaluate the changes, educate residents on the impact, and respond to changes in how schools and local governments are funded. I hope to be in a position to affect these decisions, and I want to insure all who are involved have timely and accurate information.

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Cheers,

MC