Lee Road Action Plan

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We are nearing completion of the Lee Road Action Plan, a community-driven plan that will create a vision to comprehensively transform the area south of Van Aken Boulevard into a thriving corridor and commercial district that is attractive, walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly. The final plan will include a site plan, an intermodal transportation plan, an urban design and streetscape plan, and an economic development strategy. In late 2022 and early 2023, we will be finalizing this multi-pronged plan, which will be reviewed by the City Planning Commission and adopted by City Council. Click here to see the most recent planning documents.

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Project Overview

This visionary reinvestment plan will improve connections along Lee Road from the northern residential neighborhoods through the southern civic and commercial areas. The Lee Road Action Plan will build on the recommendations of the Economic Development Strategy/Strategic Investment Plan Update and Lee Road Traffic Study & Corridor Plan, study the area south of Van Aken Boulevard and several blocks into the City of Cleveland, and will create the vision to comprehensively transform the area south of Chagrin Boulevard into a thriving corridor and commercial district that is attractive, walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly.   It is a community-driven plan that, through robust community engagement, will provide detailed recommendations to address the longstanding need for transportation enhancements and corridor redevelopment, such as traffic calming, access management, neighborhood connections, pedestrian/bike amenities, urban design strategies, and economic development and facilities strategy.

Lee Road Buckets Diagram

Existing Conditions and Background

Lee Road is a NOACA-designated priority bike route with connections to the Green and Blue Line rapid transit and the #40 and #14 RTA bus routes. Lee Road is a busy four-lane road that is absent of bicycle infrastructure and provides minimal connection with adjacent residential neighborhoods, bike routes, and parks. There is excess motor vehicle capacity, too much asphalt, no landscaping, inadequate pedestrian areas, and access challenges.

To the north, Lee Road connects to Cleveland Heights where there are three drive lanes and bike shoulders. To the south, the road connects to Cleveland at Scottsdale where it includes small, underutilized commercial buildings and lots, each with its own front-facing parking lot. The half-mile between Chagrin and Scottsdale has high commercial vacancies, tax delinquencies, and 45 driveway curb cuts. Underinvestment and disjointedness in the commercial district contrast with the strong sense of community in the nearby single- and two-family residential neighborhoods. 

In 2010, the City created the Economic Development Strategy/Strategic Investment Plan Update to enhance business activity and build a strong and sustainable economic future through policies that correct market imbalances and provide strong returns on investment.

In 2012, the City undertook the Lee Road Traffic Study & Corridor Plan to improve transportation access and circulation for all modes along Lee Road and improve the character of the commercial district south of Chagrin Road through streetscape enhancements.  This plan recommended lane reconfiguration along the entire Lee Road corridor from four lanes to two through lanes with a center turn lane, bike infrastructure along the entire corridor (north-bike shoulders, middle-sharrows, south-dedicated bike lanes), traffic signal improvements, targeted intersection reconfiguration, and pedestrian improvements. The plan also recommended further study to create a vision for the Lee Road corridor south of Chagrin Boulevard, including access management, shared parking, redevelopment strategies, marketing strategy, and improved neighborhood connections.

Project Phases

Learn more about the three phases of the Lee Road Action Plan by clicking on the tabs below.

 

  1. Phase 3
  2. Phase 2
  3. Phase 1

Phase 3—Define

The information we collected from residents, business owners, and area property owners during Phase 1 and 2 of the Action Plan served as the foundation for Phase 3, the creation of a final plan. 

Send your comments and questions to Kara Hamley O’Donnell, Principal Planner, kara.odonnell@shakeronline.com or 216-491-1436. 

In anticipation of a final plan, the City is seeking out grant funding for implementation in 2027-2028. Click here for more information on funding.

Schedule

TIMEFRAMEDETAILS
June 2021City issued a Request for Proposals seeking qualified planning and urban design consultant teams to undertake the Lee Road Action Plan
July-August 2021Proposal review, interviews, consultant selection, City approval and legislation
September 2021Contracting with WSP USA to undertake Lee Road Action Plan. Cuyahoga County undertakes Lee Road Crash Analysis
October-December 2021WSP USA and City collect background data and begin economic analysis
January 2022Public engagement process begins
February 24, 2022 6:30-8 pmPublic meeting #1. View the presentation (PDF) | View the Q&A (PDF)
June 15, 2022Public Meeting #2. View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the presentation (YouTube) 
June 22, 2022Public Meeting #2 (Virtual). View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the presentation (YouTube) 
October 4, 2022City Council Work Session: Update on Lee Road Action Plan. View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the recording
November 8, 2022
Stakeholder meeting. View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the recording (YouTube)
November 10, 2022Open house. View the boards (PDF)


What Comes After the Plan is Completed?

The Lee Road Action Plan will be used to support businesses, business owners, and property owners as well as bolster grant applications for physical improvements such as road reconfiguration, pedestrian and bike improvements, and signalization. Once funding is received, plan recommendations to change the physical street and streetscape will be engineered and constructed in the public realm. This first step to reconfigure and improve how Lee Road functions will set the table for future development and investment opportunities, which will be informed by the market analysis and community input provided during the planning process.

Thus far, the City has received more than $3.4 million in grant funding for Lee Road. This includes $1.8 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation, $1 million from County ARPA funds, and $605,000 from NOACA. Implementation of the plan is anticipated to start in 2027.

Documents

News

Staff Contacts

Email Kara Hamley O'Donnell in the Planning Department.