Two citywide issues will be on the November 3, 2020 ballot for Mentor voter approval. Both issues relate to management and improvement of the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina infrastructure.
MENTOR ISSUE 1
Shall Ordinance No. 20-0-066 approving the construction of an ADA accessible boardwalk, observation deck, and observation tower at the Mentor Lagoons with the assistance of grant funding be approved?
The City of Mentor was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $115,050 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) for the specific purpose of constructing ADA accessible features near the Nature Preserve Trailhead overlooking the Mentor Marsh. Should voters approve this issue, the City will accept the grand funding and construction of Phase 1 will commence over the winter. Should voters reject the issue, funding will be returned to ODNR for use elsewhere in the State and the boardwalk project will not go forward.
MENTOR ISSUE 2
Shall Article III, Section 3.09(A) of the Charter of Mentor be amended as follows:
- Legislation authorizing any of the following activities related to the Mentor Marina shall require voter approval:
a. The sale or lease of the Marina;
b. Any residential or industrial development; and
c. Any commercial development inconsistent with a marina.
The Mentor Marina consists of approximately 180 acres and includes all of permanent parcel numbers: 16-D-096-0-00-001-0, 16-D-096-0-00-004-0, 16-D-099-0-00-008-0,16-D-099-0-00-011-0, 16-D-099-0-00-012-0, and 16-D-096-00-002-0.
- Legislation authorizing any of the following activities related to the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve shall require voter approval:
a. The sale or lease of the Nature Preserve;
b. Any development; and
c. Any activities inconsistent with the conservation of land, Nature Preserve activities, and the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and other areas with unique features.
The Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve consists of approximately 280 acres and includes all of the land owned by the City of Mentor north of the Mentor Marina and extending to the Lake Erie shoreline, thence east to and including permanent parcel number 16-D-104-0-00-001-0.
This revision to the Charter would specify which land parcels define the Mentor Marina separately from the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve. Should voters approve this issue, it would allow for improvements to occur at the Mentor Marina that are consistent with normal Marina business activities and operations, and only those improvements to the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve that are consistent with land and ecological preservation. Should voters reject the issue, all improvements to the Mentor Marina would remain subject to voter approval regardless of their relation to normal operations, the infrequency of election cycles, or the availability of state or federal grant funding opportunities to fund such improvements. Issue 2 also makes clear that any potential future sale, lease, or unrelated development of either of these properties would continue to require voter approval.
Additional Resources
- Lake County Board of Elections Ballot Issues – November 3, 2020
- Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina Parcel Map
- Mentor Ordinance No. 20-0-066
- Mentor Charter – Article III, Section 3.09(A)
If you have any questions regarding the ballot issues or the Charter Amendment, please contact the City of Mentor Law Director at szeman@cityofmentor.com.