Roth: 'Even If Improvements Were Made to Rothrock, I'd Still Close It'

Fairlawn's that when it comes down to it, closing Rothrock Road was done to protect the residential integrity of the area from the traffic that will come from a new Walmart complex.

Roth was called to the stand by in Judge Alison McCarty's court. Thursday was the fifth day of the

Pollack's case, which was lumped in with Copley Township's, states Roth planned to block Rothrock Road in an attempt to stop and from relocating from Rosemont Commons to a 40-acre parcel on Rothrock Road in Copley Township.

"The fact is that there are homes that front Rothrock Road," Roth said. "Their driveways let out onto Rothrock Road. Four of those homes are in Fairlawn and seven are in Copley."

Part of the Walmart development agreement with Copley Township outlines several road improvements that would be made in the immediate area, to which Roth said "Even if improvements were made, I'd still close Rothrock Road ... We had no problem with big box retail on West Market: that's what it's designed for. We had big box retail maintained in that area. Our concern on Rothrock is the negative impact it will have on residents in that area, including Copley. It will disturb the peace."

Roth was hesitant to talk about any of the improvements made to Rothrock Road in 1993 and 1994 because they happened before he became mayor, which was in 1996.

Berns asked, "Before this trial or lawsuit, were you aware that Fairlawn had applied for and obtained funds from Ohio Department of Development to improve Rothrock Road?"

"That happened 19 years ago and I am not sure how those funds were spent," Roth said. "I was not involved in the process. I think the improvements were a good idea and they did a good job."

The state Department of Development awarded money to Fairlawn and Copley Township in 1993 to improve Rothrock because it was classified then as a road that acted as a major "ingress and egress... most notably to Rosemont Commons," Berns read from a press release, and asked the mayor if he agreed.

"No, I don't. Rothrock Road is not anywhere close to Rosemont Commons," Roth said. "I would say the northern part of Rothrock Road is a major access, but the southern part is residential."

Berns showed Roth another piece of evidence that showed the city and Copley Township signed a grant agreement in 1994 that also helped improve Rothrock. The grant agreement said "improving Rothrock would help alleviate traffic on West Market Street." Berns asked Roth if he agreed.

"In my administration, we made West Market a seven-lane road with east and west access," Roth said. "We worked with Bath, Copley, ODOT and Akron and we went from where is and expanded it to seven lanes. The purpose was to make sure the corridor functions properly. That (exhibit) predates that and it's a totally different situation now."

Berns asked, "Are you saying Rothrock Road is less important now that it was back then?"

"Rothrock Road is under utilized now because it's a residential road," Roth said. "With the improvements we made on West Market, it's less critical."

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