A Target store is scheduled to open later this year on the controversial Parcel E property near Brookpark Road. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Area residents think developers have missed the mark with their proposal to move a building back 60 feet in the multi-million-dollar Target project being built on the controversial Parcel E property near Brookpark Road.

Officials at Carnegie Management, the firm developing the project, said they are seeking the change to accommodate requests of tenants who are slated to move into the building. However, residents in the nearby neighborhood think the building and development are getting too close for comfort to their homes. City Council's Building Zoning and Development Committee is set to consider the matter Monday.

"It's not fair to the residents," said Angelo Skoulis, president of the Park West Homeowners Association. "Moving that building 60 feet is getting it entirely too close to the residential property line and the people on Linda Drive. Those people are upset about it and I don't blame them."

However, Bob Berryhill of Carnegie Management said the proposed change shouldn't cause problems for the neighborhood.

"We've worked closely with the residents throughout the development of this project to try and prevent problems," Berryhill said. "There will be an eight-foot mound with screening and a buffer zone which should keep the area more private and away from the residential neighborhood. The residents shouldn't even be able to see the building or offices at that level."

Skoulis said the residents are also upset because of a change in plans at this point in the project which has already been under construction for several months.

"We've been talking about this property for 17 years," he said. "So there's a long history with the Parcel E property and we went along with this developer and the proposal because we were getting tired of fighting it and it seemed like a good plan. But they've tried to make changes after the fact and we don't think its right that they're trying to make another change at this point in time."

Berryhill said the change is being sought because the tenants felt the other location didn't provide adequate room for the needs of business. He said the proposed move would allow for additional parking closer to Brookpark Road.

"They wanted better access for the people coming into the businesses," Berryhill said. "Some of the tenants and businesses felt they would have some customers like senior citizens coming in who would need better parking facilities and closer access. This would allow for that. We respect the residents and have worked to try and accommodate them. But we also need to make sure that we provide a good environment for the tenants and businesses coming into the project."

Berryhill said the developers still plan to have the anchor Target store open later this year with additional offices and retail structures scheduled to open next year.

"Target has made it pretty clear that they wanted their store to open this year," Berryhill said.

Skoulis said the residents are afraid the good project they initially endorsed is slipping away.

"They had a lot of good ideas, but it seems to be becoming just another strip center," Skoulis said. "The residents are concerned because they want to preserve the residential neighborhood. If they keep getting nearer the neighborhood, it's going to affect the value of the homes and the area."

Ward 4 Councilman Dean McKay, whose ward includes the Parcel E and neighborhood area, said the city needs to protect the rights of its residents.

"People in that area are very wary because they've seen a lot of proposals and ideas come and go through the years when it comes to Parcel E," McKay said. "They wanted to see something which would not harm the neighborhood but still be good for the city. I think they have a right to be concerned because what we're seeing come back from the developers in this proposal is not what everybody agreed to at first. You can't keep trying to change things after the fact in an agreement."

McKay said it's late for any major changes.

"We've been talking about this particular project for two years," McKay said. "They need to have their plan and stay with it."

Mayor Thomas O'Grady said the city needs to be able to strike a balance between the needs of the residential neighborhood and that of the businesses.

"We need to be aware of the residents' concerns and ensure that they have a good neighborhood," O'Grady said. "But we also need to be able to provide for the concerns of the businesses so that they can run a successful enterprise. They need to be able to operate and provide the best services and products possible."