Some disgruntled residents recently expressed discontent regarding certain renovations planned for the historic courthouse on Chardon Square.
Some disgruntled residents recently expressed discontent regarding certain renovations planned for the historic courthouse on Chardon Square.
Geauga County Commissioners are in charge of the project, which needs to break ground by Dec. 31, 2023, according to a court order that came after mediation with Chardon officials was resolved in May 2022. The county owns the courthouse and the settlement also calls for the city to contribute 10% of the cost of the project — capped at $2 million — toward the public infrastructure, site work and beautification of the square involved with the expansion.
The primary concern for many in attendance at the Nov. 7 Chardon Planning Commission meeting was the addition of a 9-foot security fence on the northeast side of the building, meant to shield a parking area used by judges and magistrates from public view.
Newbury Township resident William Mccullam was one of many to find the security fence unseemly.
“This is an Iron Curtain kind of a fence. This is not Chardon. It turns a very hostile eye on the whole community,” he said, adding he feels the fence would bring down property value and create a traffic safety hazard.
Chardon resident Bill Hess reiterated Mccullam’s concerns.
“I don’t trust people when they put turn signals on. I don’t trust people not to run through red lights because they do,” Hess said. “Having a wall like that will impede your vision and at the same time, as far as I’m concerned, be an eyesore.”
City Engineer Doug Courtney said he did not believe the fence would impede the view for drivers at the intersection of North Hambden and East Park streets.
“There’s no impediments in the line of sight,” he said, using the courthouse plans to better visualize where the proposed fence would end in relation to traffic.
Planning Commission Chair Andy Blackley concluded that, between traffic signals at the intersection and the uninterrupted line of sight, traffic safety would not be an issue.
Chardon residents Mary Beth and Frank Patrick Cunnane echoed sentiments the fence would be an eyesore and questioned how much of a voice residents had in the design.
“I’m not sure anybody really has a say here tonight but that guy over there,” Mary Beth said in reference to Geauga County Commissioner Jim Dvorak, who was in attendance.
Frank Patrick said it felt like nobody was asking the people what they were thinking and questioned what the addition of the wall said about the state of the community.
“What are we saying with the wall? What are we saying to the kids across the street? ‘Gee whizz, you guys aren’t safe in your own country,’” he said, addressing Geauga County Common Pleas judges David Ondrey and Carolyn Paschke, who were present. “You’re the magistrates who keep us safe. And you need a wall? Well, if you need a wall, what do I need?”
Chardon resident Shaina Klarr questioned the ease of access to local businesses during construction.
“There are businesses along North Hambden Street and we depend on the ability (of) our customers to get to our stores,” she said.
Klarr was informed that two-way traffic would likely be maintained during the project.
Following public comment, ThenDesign Architecture Senior Project Manager Brad Gellert was given the chance to respond to public comments and questions.
Gellert did not agree with residents the wall was unnecessary.
“It’s a security wall, for the reasons the judges have enumerated,” he said. “We’ve had disasters in Chardon with shootings, so it’s not inconceivable that something can happen here.”
