Meeting summary:

  • Cincinnati has new housing developments with amenities. 
  • Paycor/Paychex will bring new employment and visitors to downtown Cincinnati.

Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • Will Race Street be turned into a two-way street? What are the expected benefits of this possible change?
  • How do other tenants of the Saks Redevelopment Project feel about this signage proposal?

This meeting took place at City Hall, 801 Plum Street, Cincinnati, in Council Chambers, Room 300.

Attendees:

  • Jacob Samad, chair
  • Daniella Beltran, vice chair
  • Anne Sesler
  • John Eby
  • Darrick Dansby
  • Billy Weber (city manager designee/assistant city manager)
  • City Council Member/Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney

Artwork on Traffic Control Boxes in Clifton
Item 2 on the agenda sought approval for art to be added to traffic control boxes in the right-of-way Clifton. This project, inspired by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s “Outside the Box” project, will include local artists’ renditions of historic photographs. Motion to approve Item 2 was passed.

Onyx + East Oakley Development
Items 7 and 8 were both regarding a request for a major amendment to the concept plan and development program statement for a housing development project in Oakley due to a change in ownership. Onyx + East, the new owners, wish to add recreational amenities to the property, including pickleball courts and a dog park. Motion to approve items 7 and 8 was passed.

Notwithstanding Ordinance from Paycor/3CDC
Item 6 was a notwithstanding ordinance request from Paycor and 3CDC that would allow inclusion of signage that does not comply with zoning codes. While several signs were included in this request, staff and the board’s concerns were mostly regarding the outdoor digital sign.

John Back, development manager for the 3CDC/Saks Redevelopment project, stated that no safety issue is foreseen as essentially the digital sign would be shielded by the building and drivers would not be distracted.

Steve Verdin, senior director of facilities and real estate for Paycor, said both Paychex and Paycor will use the space. Not only will it increase employment in downtown Cincinnati, he said, but it will be one of two national training hubs for Paychex, which employs 16,000 people. The digital sign proposed in their plan would help welcome new employees and clients to the building.

Assistant City Manager Billy Weber suggested that the digital sign be moved indoors as recommended to the board. Verdin replied that as the digital sign is meant to welcome visitors, this would defeat the purpose.

Vice Chair Daniella Beltran expressed an issue with the digital signs being larger than code and “imposing.”  Vice Chair Beltran added that the signs that are in compliance are “plenty to achieve the goals stated.”

Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney stated that the board’s restrictions felt “too heavy handed” and posed the question, “If there is no danger, then why is there an issue?”

Weber added that there has been “quite active discussion” around Race Street being turned into a two-street, which could change traffic safety precautions. Staff recommendations were for the notwithstanding ordinance to be denied, but, if approved, the digital sign must be moved inside of the building.

Motion to approve notwithstanding ordinance was passed with inclusion of staff recommendations.

These notes can be found on documenters.org.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcincinnati.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Find more Documenters’ notes on Cincinnati City Council here.