Category Archives: News

Chagrin Valley Today, July 15, 2018.  Bainbridge Township officials joined municipalities across Northeast Ohio trying to attract the proposed Swagelok global headquarters.  The former Geauga Lake amusement park is being proposed as a site that would benefit both Bainbridge and Swagelok and would complement Swagelok’s manufacturing in Solon.  The company is looking to invest $30M to $50M for the project.  Read the full article here.

Chagrin Valley Times, February 15, 2018 – Bainbridge trustees agreed to hire a law firm to assist in establishing a joint economic development district in the land owned by Cedar Fair which is zoned as a mixed-use district.  The goal is to spur economic development in an area that is prime for growth.

Read the full CVT article here

Chagrin Valley Today, Dec. 13, 2017 – The future remains uncertain for the former Geauga Lake land in Bainbridge despite some development on the Aurora side with construction for the Liberty Ford dealership underway.  Bainbridge Trustees have said they want to have a conversation with legal counsel to understand what they want to do from a legal and planning perspective.

Read the full CVT article here.

Chagrin Valley Today, September 24, 2017 – Township trustees learned that the best way to mend the area where tress were felled for logging country to a court restriction is to let nature takes its course.

This May logging was carried out on a buffer between private homes and the former Cedar Fair property contrary to a court order.  Bainbridge township questioned Cedar Fair who approved the logging and what could be done to remediate it.

Read the full article here.

Chagrin Valley Today 8/17/2017 – Despite constant efforts over the past two years, development is at a standstill at the sprawling property that was once home to the Geauga Lake Amusement Park.  As a result, trustees voted not to renew contract with the planning firm that has been assisting Bainbridge in rezoning the Cedar Fair property.

Read the full CVT article here.

ChagrinValley Today 8/10/2017 – Liberty Ford plans to open its new $10 million car dealership at Aurora and Squires roads  in January 2018.  It is the first major project on the old Cedar Fair Property.

Read the full CVT article here.

Chagrin Valley Times, July 7, 2017 – Bainbridge Trustees met with a Cedar Fair representative, as well as members of Hanna Commercial, who said they have several potential buyers in the Cedar Fair property.  The meeting concluded with all parties agreeing that there is a lot of work to be done for development of the vacant property.  The discussion also focused on the recent logging activities at the site.

Read the full article here.

Last week a resident, Joyce Hannum, reported that her husband and her had noticed logging on the Cedar Fair property and reported it to the authorities – read the news post.

Chagrin Valley Times (June 7, 2017) is reporting that the Bainbridge trustees are investigating the logging on the Cedar Fair property, which by court order is to remain a natural buffer between homes and the Cedar Fair property.  The loggers should not have been on that property according to Bainbridge Trustee Jeff Markley.  After inspecting the site, Bainbridge Zoning Inspector Karen Enders estimates hundreds of trees were taken out.  Read the full article here.

Rivers Edge resident, Joyce Hannum, who lives on Brewster Road alerted us to illegal logging that was taking place last week on the Cedar Fair property that borders our community.  Please also see contact information below to report  any other potentially illegal logging activity.

Joyce and her husband noticed that logging was taking place but it sounded a little off from where they should have been.  There are two properties which buffer our community from the “commercial” part of Geauga Lake properties. One is owned by Cedar Fair and they are not allowed by court order to develop but must leave in “pristine” condition. The other belongs to Bainbridge Township and is in a conservancy status.  The logging was directly behind the residents of Lori Lane and about 6 properties on Brewster Rd.

Her husband contacted the Zoning Inspector for Bainbridge, Karen Endres. She investigated and found that the loggers were in fact logging on the wrong lots in violation of the court order.

Karen Endres contacted the Bainbridge Trustees, Lorri Sass Benza, Kristina O’Brien and Jeff Markley. Ms. Benza and Mr. Markley contacted the police department

Inspector Endres and the police chief and one other officer went to the property and shut down the logging activities pursuant to the existing court order.  Rivers Edge property owners are to be aware and if we hear them continue to cut down trees or any large equipment causing damage to these properties we are requested to call the Bainbridge police department (use non-emergency number 440-543-8252) or contact the village offices and let the zoning inspector know.

Lorri Sass Benza suggests that the concerned members of our community contact Mr. Duff Milkie, VP of Cedarfair at one of the following numbers:  419-680-4283, 419-609-5770 or 419-627-2377 and let him know this is unacceptable and that Cedar Fair should have control of any contractors (loggers) that they hire. In the past they have been good neighbors but their loggers are destroying property that directly affects us and our community.

Incidentally, other neighbors had noticed heavily-laden logging trucks on Brewster Road on the same day.

Thank you Joyce for reporting the logging activity to the authorities and for passing along the contact information.

A report on a long-term vision for the former Geauga Lake property based on four months of research and survey has been released.  The results of the survey will be presented to the Bainbridge Trustees.  The report notes the unique history and ecology of Geauga Lake and emphasizes public access to the lake, environment conservation and a mix of land uses that contribute to the environmental and economic health of the region.

Read the full article… CVT 05-22-2017