Recently the North Royalton Planning Commission unanimously approved two projects that will help spur the city’s economic development. The two projects include an equipment and truck dealership for Best Equipment Company and a Speedway gas station. The Commission also granted preliminary approval for a retail building near the new gas station.
Last June, the North Royalton City Council unanimously approved legislation that allows Mayor Bob Stefanik to enter into an agreement for Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax incentives for Best Equipment Company. Under the CRA Program, those owning or leasing retail, office or industrial properties can apply. The abatement terms can be longer than those under the Enterprise Zone Program. Under this program, the entire city will be designated as a CRA. The CRA Program began in 1977 and then had major revisions in 1994. Within state law, the city was authorized to determine the location of the CRA and the terms of the exemptions. The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) confirms that the area that the city chooses contains Ohio law requirements. After the ODSA has confirmed the area and exemptions, then qualifying projects may be approved by the city.
Under the agreement, Best Equipment shall purchase six acres and construct a new 21,000 square foot facility on York Delta Drive and move from its currently leased space on Abbey Road. The new facility will house office and warehouse space. According to their application, the Best Equipment investment is estimated at $1.830 million, plus or minus 10%. “Included in this investment are one million seven hundred thousand dollars for construction of the facility ($1,700,000), fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to purchase machinery and equipment and fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for new inventory,” according to the legislation. The project was set to begin immediately and all acquisition, construction and installation completed by January 1, 2017, according to the legislation.
In addition, the company would retain its nine employees and add a minimum of three new full time permanent positions within the next five years, starting in January of 2017, according to North Royalton Community Development Director Tom Jordan. The added jobs would increase the current payroll tax of $574,000 by about $180,000, according to Jordan. Under the agreement, the city will offer a 49% real estate tax reduction of the county approved valuation of the improvement for a period of fifteen years.
Jordan said that Best will have to pull building permits to start the project. They are planning to get the project started and the building enclosed before winter weather sets in. The project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
The other project approved includes a new Speedway and retail space, which is part of a bigger, mixed use development proposed for the Bennett’s Corners area, which will be named the Shops at South Market. Bennett’s Corners is the area where North Royalton meets Strongsville, Brunswick, Hinckley. The development is proposed for the northeast corner of Bennett’s Corners, located at West 130 Street and Boston Road. The 13-acre mixed use development proposes restaurants and two national chains. Ultimately, the plan shows six buildings that total about 80,000 square feet of retail, office and residential space. The development, proposed at the March 4 Planning Commission meeting, is being planned by Baumann Enterprises Incorporated., a Garfield Heights demolition, recycling and environmental services firm. Developer Bill Baumann, a long time North Royalton resident, is working with Wolf Maison Architecture + Design and Rust Belt Development.
The plan includes two, one-story buildings for national tenants, of about 3,500-4,000 square feet, which will flank an entrance off of West 130 Street, between Bennett and Boston Roads. Leading into the development in the center, behind the two buildings will be one three-story building, featuring about 10,000 square feet on each floor. The first would serve as retail space and the top two floors would serve as office space. Two, two-story buildings would also have about 10,000 square feet on each floor, with the first floor housing retail and the second floor serving as office space. There would be a one-story building with about 10,000 square feet of retail space. On the eastern portion of the property, with ingress/egress to Boston Road, would be 2.3 acres for about 12 single family town homes.
The Speedway station, which will include a convenience store, as well as a single story retail space will be in the section that is close to West 130 Street and Boston Road, according to Jordan. That project is expected to break ground in Spring of 2017 and be completed later that summer.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer