The Ohio Department of Transportation issued its response to Ohio Senate President Bill Harris' questions about the planned 3C Corridor in a 21-page document (PDF). It presents reasoning in favor of the planned passenger rail line, and the Ohio Environmental... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

Part three of the libertarian Reason Foundation's series on Cleveland urges privatization of municipal resources. Part four is about the City's business climate, while part five covers big-ticket developments and land use policy, and part six is about attracting residents.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

The Cleveland Rowing Foundation, with assistance from the Trust for Public Land, is nearing an agreement to purchase the former Commodore's Club Marina on the Columbus Road Peninsula for its proposed Rivergate Park. The group has raised $1.9 million of... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

RTA's first Weekly Shopper Service will serve Lakewood and Cleveland's Clifton-Detroit neighborhood. The route, a successor to the canceled community circulator, will operate on Fridays and will begin on March 26. RTA is paying for half of the route's costs,... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

At an open house on Tuesday, planners presented two alternate routes for stage three of the Towpath Trail extension in Cleveland. Construction of the leg between Steelyard Commons and Literary Road in Tremont could begin in 2012. Meanwhile, the cover story of this week's Scene is about allegations of impropriety in the process of awarding Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program grants. In a controversial decision last year, the Natural Resources Assistance Council recommended funding the acquisition of two properties in the Flats for the Towpath Trail.

Update: Scene followed up with additional details about the appraisal process.

In the second episode of the Metro Matters podcast, Diana Lind of Next American City interviewed Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution. Much of their conversation was about steps that Ohio and the Great Lakes region can take to succeed... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

Reason.tv posted the first two segments of its Reason Saves Cleveland series today. Produced by Drew Carey, the online series presents libertarian approaches to solving urban ills. The first part is an introduction, and the second part focuses on urban... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

Marc Lefkowitz considered the challenges that Greater Cleveland could face when applying for grants from the federal Sustainable Communities Initiative.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

A group of commercial property owners and developers may challenge the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's authority to implement its new impervious surface fee. When the NEORSD board voted to adopt the stormwater management program, they also asked the Cuyahoga... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

Work on the first phase of the Perk Park renovations began last year, and should be completed this fall. The Plain Dealer published details about the redesign and the plans for a second phase.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

At a recent public meeting, consultants for RTA described the five alternatives being studied in the Blue Line Corridor Extension Study.

Update: a Chagrin Solon Sun editorial says that the line should be extended to the Chagrin Highlands.

In January, the Cleveland Clinic demolished the former Hathaway Brown School building on Chester Avenue without a public hearing. Because the Clinic's campus lies in a gap between design review districts, less public oversight is required. Historic preservationists would like... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

The NOACA Governing Board approved a resolution that urges the U.S. EPA to set achievable ozone standards. In January, the federal agency announced its intention to tighten the ozone limit. It is expected to finalize its decision in August.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

As the U.S. Census Bureau prepares to start mailing 2010 Census forms, the Plain Dealer highlighted the importance of obtaining an accurate count in Northeast Ohio. A recent Sound of Ideas program was also devoted to a discussion of the... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

The Cleveland Coalition posted video of the speakers at the March 5 casino forum at the City Club. The presentations by Len Komoroski, Christopher Diehl, David Schwarz, and Tom Chema are now available.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

Because Summit County leaders have filed legal challenges to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's new stormwater management program, the Sewer District may withdraw its sponsorship of conservation projects in northern Summit County. Update: the Hudson Hub Times has more... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

The Middleburg Heights Planning Commission approved plans to install a 285-foot tall wind turbine at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The Planning Commission had tabled the proposal in January.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

In a companion piece to its story on vacant land in Cleveland, Next American City looked at the City's "chicken and bees" law. The City is considering expanding the rules to include more varieties of livestock. In Communities & Banking,... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

The Cleveland Metroparks purchased a 62-acre property along the east branch of the Rocky River in North Royalton. The site, which contains quality wetlands and a primary headwater stream, will be added to the Mill Stream Run Reservation.... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/

The Jacobs Group filed initial site plans for Eaton's planned campus in the Beachwood portion of the Chagrin Highlands. In addition to the 10-story headquarters building, the plans call for a five-story parking garage and a 59,000-square-foot fitness center. Update:... Kevin Leeson http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/