Kenneth J. Fisher
From 1981 through 1990, Mr. Fisher served as an Assistant Attorney General representing the Ohio Department of Transportation in land appropriation cases, including the extension of Interstate 480, and the widening of Chagrin Boulevard and Ridge Road.
From 1991 through 1998, Fisher was Assistant Law Director for the City of Maple Heights and principal legal advisor to the City Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission. In 1997, Mr. Fisher represented Maple Heights in the sale and redevelopment of twenty-eight (28) acres of vacant land on Warrensville Center Road resulting in substantial economic benefits for the City. From 1999 to 2005, Fisher served as Law Director for the City of Maple Heights.
Mr. Fisher served as co-counsel for the City of Cleveland in eminent domain proceedings in re: case styled City of Brook Park vs. Brook Park Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., et al., Cuyahoga County Probate Court Case No. 1999 ADV 15039, which involved the appropriation of the IX Center for future expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
In 2000, Mr. Fisher defended the City of Maple Heights in the case styled Norfolk Southern Railway Co. vs. City of Maple Heights, Ohio, et al., United States District Court Case No. 1:00-CV-01626, wherein he was successful in negotiating a substantial monetary settlement for the City to approve construction of an intermodal facility contrary to the railroad's contention that the Interstate Commerce clause preempted local zoning laws.
From 1997 to December, 2009, and from July, 2010, to October 31, 2012, Fisher has served as Law Director for the City of University Heights. In such capacity, he represented the City in the acquisition and sale of approximately four and one-half acres of blighted property on the corner of South Taylor and Cedar Road to a private developer resulting in significant municipal benefits. In 1998, Mr. Fisher participated in a land use study and drafted rezoning and tax increment financing legislation for the Kaufmann’s parcel on the corner of Cedar and Warrensville Center Road which resulted in a substantial redevelopment project initially anchored by Kaufmann’s (Macy's), Target and Tops.
Mr. Fisher was successful in defending the City of University Heights in the case styled BP America, Inc. vs. Council of the City of University Heights, Eighth District Court of Appeals Case No. 76438, in which the decision of the University Heights Council was
upheld in affirming the Planning Commission's denial of BP America, Inc.'s Application to consolidate parcels and construct a 2,480 square foot mini-mart and fast food restaurant in an area zoned U-3 Automobile Parking and U-7 Local Retail adjacent to John Carroll University.
Mr. Fisher has served as Law Director for the City of Brunswick since 2003. Brunswick is the largest municipality in Medina County. Fisher supervises a staff of four and has assisted the City with all legal issues including the development of Brunswick Town Center, a mixed use project, and all annexation issues with Brunswick Hills Township.
From 2006 to 2008, Fisher served as Solicitor for the Village of Cuyahoga Heights.
Additionally, Fisher has participated in a number of successful rezoning cases representing property owners, including the Front Row Theater site in Highland Heights and Boulder Creek Golf Course in Streetsboro, Ohio. Fisher has provided legal services
in numerous real estate transactions, including the drafting of purchase agreements and leases, and review and analysis of environmental audits.
In 2012, Fisher successfully represented Property Owners in Geauga County ProbateCourt wherein a jury awarded the Property Owners $174,000.00 for a 60-foot wide,4.52 acre long strip of land the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. needed to build a 138-kilovolt electric transmission line through eastern Geauga County. The original offer to the Property Owners by CEI was $16,000.00.
Mr. Fisher represents numerous commercial and residential property owners within the State of Ohio and has been highly successful in challenging real estate taxes through the County Board of Revision and the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals saving clients hundreds of thousands of dollars.