Brainard Crossing/GetGo Plans Await Word From Giant Eagle

Developer Lance Osborne told City Council on Tuesday that he's waiting for word from Giant Eagle regarding language the company wants in a proposed development agreement with the city.

Osborne plans to return to a meeting of council's Committee of the Whole on Feb. 7 to talk about the development agreement and proposed ballot language. He circulated petitions last summer to get an issue on the ballot that would allow for gas stations in local business zoning, which is the classification for the former Catalano's grocery store site at Brainard and Wilson Mills roads.

His plan for the proposed Shoppes at Brainard Crossing calls for 25,000 square feet of retail space utilizing part of the former grocery store. A 5,500-square-foot GetGo convenience store and gas station is also planned.

Council President Cathy Murphy stressed Tuesday that city officials want any ballot issue to be dependent on passage in Ward 4. By addressing the overall city code rather than rezoning the property, Osborne could bypass the city's requirement that zoning changes be approved in the ward as well as citywide.

"It's no secret that we're concerned and we want an independent vote in Ward 4," Murphy said.

Osborne responded that he didn't know if that would be approved by Giant Eagle.

"It's now in the hands of Giant Eagle and we await to hear from you," Murphy said.