School Officials Present Revamped Plan for New PreK-6 Facility
The Twinsburg Planning Commission meeting on April 21, 2025, featured an extensive presentation on the Tiger Legacy Project, along with several zoning requests and a heated discussion about water issues affecting Lake Plata residents.
Tiger Legacy Project Details
Superintendent Katherine Powers and Business Manager Matt Strickland presented the school district’s revised plan for a consolidated PreK-6 facility, which would house approximately 2,000 students currently spread across three aging buildings: Wilcox Primary, Bissell Elementary, and George G. Dodge Intermediate.
The project has evolved significantly since its inception in the 2015-16 school year. Originally planned to replace only Dodge Intermediate behind Twinsburg High School, the project expanded after a comprehensive facilities assessment conducted by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC).
“When we started this project back in 2015-16, we actually had the new school, a replacement of just Dodge, that was to be built behind Twinsburg High School,” Powers explained. “When we introduced that to then-Mayor Yates, he was not a fan of that plan because of the traffic congestion that would potentially happen behind the Twinsburg fitness center.”
The current proposal involves a land swap with the City of Twinsburg. The district would receive property between Ravenna Road and Chamberlain—land that was once owned by the Board of Education years ago—while the city would acquire the George G. Dodge campus.
“Through this latest rendition, after the election failed—Issue 33—we resurrected the idea of the land swap,” Powers said, noting that the previous ballot measure failed by just 431 votes last November.
Innovative Design Approach
The facility would feature four distinct “houses” organized by grade level:
- A one-story PreK-Kindergarten section
- Three two-story wings for grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6
- Shared facilities in the central area including gymnasiums, cafeterias, and performance spaces
Strickland highlighted that enrollment projections remain stable for the next decade. “The good news is that in the Twinsburg City School District, we’re very static across the next decade and have been in the prior decade. We don’t project a massive loss of students or a massive gain because, as you all well know, our district is mostly built out.”
After feedback from neighboring condominium residents, the design was flipped to position parking lots away from residential areas, with playground space serving as a buffer.
Access and Traffic Solutions
A crucial component of the plan involves a partnership with property owners Chakmore and Anup Hans, who will provide 2.6 acres of land for an access road from Chamberlain Road.
“We actually had renderings of this new school being built at that corner [of 91 and Glenwood], and then fast forward, 2020 happened, everything was shuttered because of the pandemic,” Powers explained. “We got back to the drawing board and through this latest rendition, after the election failed.”
The traffic pattern separates buses from parent vehicles, with buses circling the back of the building and parent traffic using a dedicated drop-off area. The proposal includes approximately 200 additional parking spaces compared to current facilities.
Athletic Facility Improvements
The project includes significant athletic facility enhancements:
- Relocation of varsity baseball field to behind Twinsburg High School
- Moving the 9th grade/JV baseball field to in front of RB Chamberlain Middle School
- Complete renovation of Hoon softball field to meet Title IX requirements
- Relocation of the girls’ practice soccer field
- $4.5 million refresh of Tiger Stadium including new turf, track, locker rooms, weight room, and concession stands
Plans for Vacated Properties
Addressing community concerns about abandoned properties, officials presented repurposing plans:
- Bissell would become a nature park with learning pavilions, trails, and outdoor education spaces
- Wilcox would be transformed into fitness courts for school and community use
- Both properties would remain under school board ownership, with grant funding expected to cover development costs
The Board of Education office would relocate to the lower L pod of Twinsburg High School. “When we’re taking all of us to the lower pod of the high school, we’re finally going to be all in one space,” Powers noted. “It’ll add efficiencies to our organization.”
Planning Commission Concerns
Commission members raised several concerns about the proposal:
- Chairman Scheckler emphasized stormwater management challenges
- Commissioner Walker questioned the efficiencies of busing to a large consolidated school
- Several members noted traffic management issues at Chamberlain Road intersections
- The need for signalized intersections and turning lanes was highlighted
- Environmental impacts on wetlands and riparian zones require further study
Lake Plata Residents Voice Flooding Concerns
In the regular meeting portion, several Lake Plata residents spoke passionately against a proposed lot split at 9385 Shepard Road, expressing serious concerns about existing water problems they believe would be worsened by development.
Patty Stoddard Dare showed photos of significant flooding taken on April 2, stating, “This is an ongoing, really super serious concern for us as property owners. The thought of having the vegetation removed from that space and the thought of having an impervious driveway that would be directly behind our properties where we’re already having tremendous water intrusion is a serious concern.”
Multiple residents described installing extensive drainage systems that still cannot handle current water flow. Another resident, Charles McLuffy, noted that water from Macedonia flows through the area via underground pipes, exacerbating the problem.
After hearing these concerns, the Planning Commission voted 4-0 to postpone the decision until their next meeting, with Commissioner Walker requesting time to consult with legal counsel.
Other Business Approvals
The commission approved several other items:
- A lot split/consolidation at 3231 Simecek Drive that corrects a previous division that placed a barn on a vacant lot
- A partial planning and zoning code amendment clarifying that dwellings built before 2025 are not considered non-conforming solely due to garage setback requirements
- A recommendation to City Council to rezone 9392 Ravenna Road (former Blue Top Motel site) from C2 to I1 for self-storage development
- Final site plan approval for a climate-controlled self-storage facility at Darrow Road featuring an upscale design that “looks like a boutique hotel”
The meeting concluded with Commissioner Walker noting that earth-moving had begun at the trailer storage facility on Route 91 near the Cleveland Clinic property.
