Highland Heights Councilman Steps Down as Planning Chair

Ward 3 Councilman Robert Mastrangelo has stepped down as chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Mastrangelo, who had been chairman for 15 years, announced his decision at a commission meeting on Monday. The new chairman is Vince Adamus. Mastrangelo said he will stay on the commission, but it will be easier to fulfill his role as council's representative.

"I get caught between a rock and a hard place trying to do the job on Planning and Zoning," Mastrangelo said. "Some of these same issues come up on council and people ask me, 'Are you supporting them?' It'll be easier to give a report and not have people asking if you are in their corner. That was probably the primary reason."

He added that he never thought he would be chairman for so long, although he couldn't have thought of a better time to be planning and zoning chairman than when the Aberdeen area was developed.

"I think it's turned out better than people thought it would," he said.

That development is not yet finished, however.

"That's sort of the one concern I have," Mastrangelo said. "In the Legends area, a new builder has taken over. We need to protect what's there and regarding what houses they are going to have. It doesn't look good when it doesn't fit with what's already there."