Cedar Point adds more property near entrance

SANDUSKY — Cedar Point could already have a plan for the properties it has acquired along the Cleveland Road corridor, leading up to the causeway, but park representatives aren't saying what it might be. The park recently acquired more properties in the area. Its most recent acquisition is a portion of Farwell Street on the south side of Cleveland Road, which happened after Sandusky city commissioners granted a request to vacate that part of the street. It's near several other properties the park bought about a year ago.The city also allowed the park to acquire an alleyway between 1706 and 1800 Cleveland Road (U.S. 6).There are already some hotels in the area, but park officials have not submitted any plans to the city to build more lodging facilities. The park did submit a plan for a human resources processing center for the area, but that is tentative. It's rare for the city to give a business a public roadway, said Angie Byington, the city's planning director. But, in this instance, the request met the criteria. "Generally, it is important for the city commission to analyze and preserve streets and alleys for future planning endeavors or projects when possible," Byington said. "Street and alley vacations should only be considered when the city can definitely determine there will not be a public use in the future and when the vacation will not land lock any parcels nor adversely impact traffic circulation or adjacent properties."Cedar Point and Cleveland RoadIn late 2017, Cedar Point purchased eight properties primarily within the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Cleveland Road near the Thirsty Pony. More specifically, the lots are located:• Along Cleveland Road and East Cowdery Street• Between Cleveland Road and Knupke Street• Within the 2000 block of Second StreetThe acquisitions, most notably, include the former, and vacated, Herman's Furniture building. In 2016, the business relocated its office into the Sandusky Mall. The building that was there has since been removed. Public documents also show Cedar Point spending about $1.27 million on six properties in this area. Prices on the other two properties weren't, for some reason, disclosed.Cedar Point has owned Castaway Bay at Causeway Drive and Cleveland Road for many years.With the addition of its Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center farther east on Cleveland Road — a youth sports complex of baseball fields and other athletic playing grounds at the former Griffing Airport property — and a tentative plan to redevelop the roadway and add a bike path, the park might simply be banking as much land near its causeway entrance as it can for future development.In typical fashion, however, park officials are keeping it close to the vest. When asked about possible development deals, Tony Clark, the park's spokesman, didn't provide any details."If there are any future plans for Cedar Point in our community, we will announce those when it's appropriate for the business," Clark previously said.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Sandusky city commissioners recently vacated portions of Farwell Street off Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) and an alleyway to Cedar Point for an unknown development project.During a recent public meeting, Sandusky city commissioners vacated two pieces of land, outlined in red, to Cedar Point for development opportunities along Cleveland Road (U.S. 6).