Lol, are you kidding!!! Maybe you should have put more thought into buying that house. You sound like the people in springfield that built their house right on springfield lake. They tried to ban motorized boat, because they are to noisy or the people who build houses on mountains in a landslide area and then cry when slides occure. Duh!!!!!!!!!!

Allyson, I understand your concerns. I don't live in your neighborhood, but I pass through with my dog on our morning walks and I find it to be a wonderfully quiet and well kept area. Pay absolutely no attention to comments by jiim may. He speaks for no one except his own miserable self. However, on the subject of Marhofer and their plans, I offer this: I find no reason why they can't spare most of the old growth trees when they expand. Build their parking AROUND them. Small green space areas within their property would be a visually pleasing and responsible thing. Require the fence to be aesthetically pleasing and in concert with the neighborhood. And let's be honest here....during my travels through your area, I never have been AUDIBLY aware of the dealership. They don't make objectionable noise that will impact your home. This business has been here for almost 100 years. They have a major standing in our community that affects all of us. Within reason, I believe we owe some accommodation to Marhofer that will allow them to continue to thrive here. They are as much a part of Stow as you and I. So instead of treating them as an adversary, let's treat them as they really are......neighbors. Be reasonable and help find common ground.

Dont be a hater or get jealous Ed

Lol. First off the line came from forest gump. How is that dangerpus. please enlighten

Would be interesting to see that same photo in February when the trees are bare with no leaves, or if a storm would hit and knock out even just one of the pines. Marhofer is a good neighbor to all of us in the city, and we are happy he wants to continue to invest in Stow and not move elsewhere. I agree with Ed, treat him as a neighbor not an adversary.

if people make comments and can't take criticism on their comments, then they should not be making comments

Move over dr. Phil here comes dr. Ed or is it mr. Ed

@allyson: it is very disturbing that a planning commission would even consider changing the zoning codes for a PARKING LOT. I hope the thought of tax dollars doesnt override good common sense here.

growth and developement of communites are great at long as zoning boards and planning commisssions dont forget about families.

If he was simply trying to expand under the existing codes, that would be one issue, however under the existing codes, his proposed expansion would not be allowed. What is happening here is that the city planning commission is considering changing the zoning codes to suit this one business. That is setting a very dangerous precedent that if you contribute enough money, the laws don't apply to you and can be changed to whatever you want. Zoning codes are there to protect existing residents and businesses, not to be arbitrarily changed at the whim of major financial contributers.

When money is envolved laws and regulations go by the way side. Just figuring that out. Good if marhofer grows, here comes more jobs. Oh wait thats a bad thing. Duh

Leave me alone, big bully. Lol

it seems Jim May has was to much time on his hands he may need one of those jobs , and in this economy why the heck would they need to expand no one is buying anything.

Don't you have anything else to do Jiim....DUh...

The Marhofer business was at its current location in Stow before those zoning codes were even established. His business was grandfathered in. There is even a street named Marhofer in Stow, if that says how long he has been here. This is a most appropriate time to update those codes and allow him to redevelop. We want growth in Stow. Planning commission, make the call to support him.

My comments are my opinion - I don't intend to defend my point of view because you are trying to promote your agenda. Maybe you, Mr. Burley, can build a garage down the street from where you live and use it to park your car and then walk home - using other "available" space in the city for your purposes. Or, maybe you can build a shed to store your lawnmower on property on a street other than where you live. How practical is that. (Please don't answer, really.)

We have lived in Munroe Falls for over 20 years and drive by Marhofer Chevrolet at least once a day. It is pretty clear the area needs improvement. Tearing down the old City Building and building CVS was a good start, followed by razing the buildings on the NE corner. The flood from a few years ago did a great job of cleaning out the SE corner. Looking at it now the oil change place is vacant, the pizza shop (great pizza) looks shabby Marhofer Chevrolet looks outdated crowded and drab. Yukon Rd. needs work and frankly some houses on Thorndale are not looking good either. I think there are at least a couple vacant homes and a realtor friend told me one house is in foreclosure. It might be interesting to look at the property tax records and see how much tax income is currently coming from the proposed development area. I am thinking the best plan would be to clean up the area and let Marhofer enjoy a new lease on life --- and new opportunities to continue the “give back” the family has done for so many years. Keeping the area the same seems like a real step backwards.

Well said mike barns on both accounts. Great pizza and great idea to expand and grow

For more information regarding Marhofer's request, go to this website.... It has architectural plans you can also view.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/savethorndale/

Isn't General Motors requiring this of Marhofer in order to maintain his franchise? I saw this on the facebook page Support Ron Marhofer Redevelopment in Stow. It's not a choice of rich vs. poor; it's a matter of supporting a longtime community business that the city relies on so that the city doesn't become poor. That's in the best interest of ALL residents regardless of income level.

Applaud applaud

They are requiring him to spruce it up. If he needs more room, there are multiple vacant commercial properties. Comments from Anonymous "Sort Through Facts'....why are you such a coward to not show your name. Your comments are irrelevant as a faceless contributor.

But you answer my comments because they are valid. :-)

Carol, dont be a hater

Bring in the dozers!!!!!!

No one seems to know all the facts unless you are directly involved! Most of the residents such as myself want marhofer to stay and thrive. We don't want our neighborhood to be sacrificed for that to happen. Marhofer chose taking homes in a nice quiet older neighborhood with trees that block all the sound and light over all other options. He did approach the businesses on Kent road with low ball purchase offers and I'm assuming it would be cheaper to take a few homes instead. Everyone involved on the citys side seems to be afraid that marhofer will leave if he doesn't get everything he wants. If Ron is such a great guy and so good to the city then where is his compromise? Not once has he tried to get our input as what we would like as planning commision suggested or a plan b

You people kill me, instead of wasting time on here you should be talking to the city. Wow, everyone itching,ithcing and itching (insert b) on a site that has 0 effect on anything. P.S. Tick tick times awaisting, i hear the dozers!!!!

:)

Congratulations to jiim may for finding a voice on stowpatch.com, next stop Newsweek!!!!

Dont be a hater

Martin, you sure added some informative and intelligent info. Thanks

so...didn't marhofer go out of business a few years back? or was on the verge of it? (one of the dealerships that GM wanted to/did close, from my understanding.) anyone ever given any thought to what would happen if they actually did close, after this expansion? we'd have this HUGE parking lot right in the middle of stow sitting vacant. another eyesore just like the plaza down the road (the big lots/macy's plaza, whatever it's called). maybe they should just go take over that plaza, level it and build their business there if they need so much space.

We want them to grow, but not into one of the first residential neighborhoods of stow. He could expand along Kent road which would give him more exposure anyway, but for some reason he chose to take a different option and go up a back street and change one the original stow neighborhoods

Amazes me also

@ ed, thanks you just proved my point and basically called him a moron. Good job

We have reason to believe that "Sort Through the Facts" is one of the Thorndale residents under contract to sell their home to Marhofer.

I hear the dozers approaching, down come the homes