Apr. 30—Painesville Township trustees will continue their Villages at Casement public hearing in a new venue when they meet May 2 at a township fire station.

The trustees held their fourth public hearing for the proposed development during their April 18 meeting, where they announced that negotiations with the developers will continue. Residents also provided feedback during the meeting's public comment portion.

"We are taking our time to go through each line to ensure that we get everything for the township that we think should be before we approve this development," said Trustee Gabe Cicconetti.

"If it comes to fruition the way that we see they're going to do it, it's going to be, I think, a great thing once it's done the way it is," he added. "But, we're not in a hurry to have it done. So, by no means are we going to rush anything through."

Realtor and longtime township resident Karen Breedlove expressed optimism for the project's impact on the township, asking officials "to continue this forum in the open and friendly manner in which it's been engaged so far."

"I'm excited for what can happen with the township here, give us a sense of a community, a potential town center," she added. "I think it will impact our property values — if done correctly — in a tremendously positive way and bring a lot of amenities to our area that people are sorely lacking and are voicing concerns about."

The trustees noted that traffic studies will be completed before construction begins, and that the developers will be responsible for making the required improvements.

The trustees' next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on May 2. Instead of meeting at Township Hall, they will gather on the eastern side of the township at Fire Station 3, 550 Hardy Road.

As has previously been reported, local developers ProBuilt Homes and Loreto Development Group are requesting to rezone 378 acres between Casement Avenue and Bowhall Road to add mixed-density residential units, open space and a town center with community and commercial uses.

The trustees have also discussed rezoning an additional 17 acres of adjacent green space, said Trustee Chuck Hillier, bringing the development to a total of 395 acres and at least 20 percent open space.

Terms discussed in March allow for a maximum of 1,775 residential units, noted Township Planning and Zoning Director Harley DeLeon. Cicconetti and Hillier later added that approximately 418 of those units are apartments.

Cicconetti said trustees are currently considering the preliminary development plan that will set the maximum number of units that can be built. Each phase of the project will require final approval from the trustees before construction begins.

The plan was unanimously recommended by the township Zoning Commission at its Feb. 13 meeting. The trustees held previous public hearings on March 9, March 21, April 4 and April 18.

DeLeon added that a mailing list is available for residents who want to know when the developers request approval for each phase of the project. Individuals who want to be added to this list can email hdeleon@painesvilletwp.com.