The Oberlin graduates-turned-real-estate- developers known as Sustainable Community Associates and area activist Mark Chesler have had a tense history. Recently, however, relations between Chesler and SCA co-founder and President Joshua Rosen, OC ’01, have deteriorated to the point of legal action, with Rosen seeking and receiving an order of protection in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas against Chesler.

Official action against Chesler began when Rosen filed a petition for a Civil Stalking Protection Order on June 8, according to online court records. The proceedings, which concluded on September 6, resulted in the issuance of a CSPO set to last until August 2012, with Chesler listed as the sole respondent.

In an interview with the Review, Chesler commented, “This is the Tawana-Brawley-marijuana-pot calling the kettle black, literally Operation Wag the Dog,” and “This is Al Sharpton, Scooter Libby and Alberto Gonzales squared.”

Chesler has been a long-time critic of the SCA’s East College Street Project to create a mixed use residential-commercial development in downtown Oberlin. Chesler is the proprietor of a website called Oberlin Unmitigated Chemical Hazards, which is critical of the SCA, especially with regard to the East College Street Project’s environmental record.

In the past, Chesler also campaigned vigorously against the Wal-Mart constructed south of Oberlin as a member of Oberlin Citizens for Responsible Development and was a prominent supporter of Issue 55 — the rejected “living wage” amendment — to the Oberlin City charter.