Planning and Economic Development Committee - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I will call the Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to order. Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please.

Ms. Anderson? Here. Mr. Birch? Here. Mr. Bishman? Here. Ms. Chadsey? Here. Mr. Daniels? Here. Ms. Strasher?

Here.

Also present are summer interns Courtney Adam and Meredith Walker.

All right, good evening. We're going to start with item number 2617, the Fetter and Lott plot split. Is a representative from the project here? If you want to come up here, state your name and address for the record, please. Tell us a little bit about your project.

So my name is Gerald Fetterin. Currently live 873 Guinevere Circle. Looking to purchase a plot, I think it's 4450 Mayfair Road. Looking to purchase a, you know, split this lot to be able to purchase a partial of it from the current owner, Mr. Barber. So we need to get a... zoning approval I guess because of the the lot distance or depth to width ratio so kind of this is the the current layout we're looking to to try to get we would like to purchase the the three point four or five acres kind of be able to build a house towards the back of it connect to the sanitary sewer on the side of rain tree there um leave the the current owner mr barber you know two acres that he still has enough frontage to be able to do what he would like to in the future if he wants to sell so okay great thank you uh staff report

Okay, yeah, so this would be a request for our variance with the depth ratio. Given the configuration of that existing 5.6-acre parcel, with the flag lot that Mr. Federer wishes to purchase here, you have 85 width, which meets our criteria for a lot that would be served by sanitary. The sanitary is actually just off the rear property line. It's actually on the golf course property that... he would be tapping into. So making that a sanitary lot, we have an 85-foot fronted, 85-foot width at the minimum building line. So you can multiply that by 4.5. The maximum distance back would be about 382. Given the land that's there, we have about 740 feet of depth. So that's where the ratio would need that variance. There is an existing oil well facility kind of out front there and some various features there that I'm assuming they're in some kind of an easement.

According to the owner right now, they're shut down. They're just waiting for whoever owns those to come to remove all of the pieces and parts to that. So currently there's probably an easement there, but that would be... Going away once they remove all their equipment, okay?

All right, so not knowing how long that's going to take I mean the survey may show what's existing and then you know could make a statement saying it's going to be abandoned or whatever there, too, so So yeah any construction of the house then would require a sewer permit them from Summit County to connect in with that line there and So with that, we would recommend the approval of the variance given the situation here.

Okay. Any questions from the Commission?

You still have to use well, then? You'll have well, but you'll have...

Correct, yeah. As of now, I think the closest well is on Y, or city is on Y's, so... if it ever made it down Mayfair, but as of now it would be well.

Any other questions from the Commission? Questions from the public or comments? Okay.

Is there a motion? I'll motion to approve the variance for the proposed configuration contingent upon the submission of survey documents for review and approval, and that all existing easements are indicated on the plat.

Is there a second? I'll second. Roll call, please.

Ms. Thresher?

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Thank you for coming. Thank you. All right. Item 2619, Akron's finest mulch ID sign is a representative from the project here. You could come on up, state your name and address for the record and tell us about your project.

Hi, my name is Mario Halasa. The address is 4590 Maslin Road, where the sign is going. Our facility is on Copley Road, 1735. I'm asking for the final approval for the front landscaping plan in front of my mulch satellite yard that is being currently built out front. I had a plan for you guys. I'm sorry. I spilled my Diet Coke on it on the way over. So I figured you could refer to the ones I dropped off already. Sorry.

Yeah, we've got them here. Is there a staff report?

Yeah, so the proposed sign you have in your packet there, it's... 17 square about 17 and a half square foot sign on two-sided Htu panels that would kind of be supported by some metal support post that attached to a cross being above it there the site is actually within our Greensburg Special sign district which has some different characteristics and allowances during within that area so as far as like to see the Maximum height of eight feet is what it would apply here, and then he would meet that and exterior lighting he meets meets that criteria, so a nice landscaping plan with perennials and some evergreens and boulders and that sort of thing and then The you might be aware of some of the trees that are along the frontage of this site here those would be removed they've got become kind of overgrown and things like that. So they would be enhanced by a new series of some evergreens and alternating with some split rail fence that would go in between those areas, as well as a new security gate for the entrance to the facility. So we find that it meets all the criteria for our code and I recommend approval as submitted.

Okay. Any questions from the commission?

What's your time frame, sir?

So the builders, they said they were going to be done in July. Probably looks like August. Our slow season starts in August. So I feel like I'm going to start this in August because this will take about 60 days because it's a big landscaping project. We're doing it ourselves with our landscaping company. So August, September is the time frame for it to be done. Hopefully we'll catch the end of the season. And if not, we're going to open in the spring.

Just one person's opinion, it's a really nice looking plan.

Yeah, thank you. Yeah, if I wasn't a landscaper, I would say no to whoever brought this to me.

But yeah, we want it to look good. Major improvement for that piece of property. Yeah, thank you.

Agreed. Questions or comments from the public? Is there a motion?

I will motion in favor for installation of the knockbox and seeking of the fence location to verify the setbacks.

Second.

I'll second that. Roll call, please. Mr. Bishman.

Yes.

Ms. Chadsey. Yes. Ms. Anderson. Yes. Mr. Birch. Yes. Ms. Thrasher. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. all right moving on to the agenda item 2621 the chapel community room expansion is there a representative from the project here you could come on up both of you state your name and address for the record sarah johansson with prime ae 540 white pine drive akron ohio suite e 44320 okay joe schaefer executive director of the chapel in green at 1800 reaper road okay excellent you could tell us about your project

Sure. We're looking to build a 400-person community room. It'll have a patio on the outside, bathrooms inside, also exterior bathrooms accessible to the property for the public to use. And it's about 8,500 square feet. We're just looking for a light, airy, open space for church ministry use as well as the community to benefit from.

All right. Staff report?

Sure. We're all aware of the chapel, and going back to 2000 when this first was, Mike, I know you were there for that.

Where my hair went.

Yeah, the original intent was, and shown on drawings back then, was several future additions going around the building there. So I believe this is the first actual building addition there. Correct. So as Joe has explained, go ahead.

No, no, I just wanted to make sure I was close enough to the mic.

As Joe was explaining, this would help enhance the experience for community events and in-house type of things that they outreach and things like that. So the building would match existing brick and stone and kind of fit right in there and right there in the middle of the campus. should be any issue as far as uh... effects anything like that this is a condition permitted use and we did notify continues property owners and we did uh... but the legal notice and so not sure if it doesn't seem like anybody's here but uh... that was part of the process uh... but we've looking at this uh... We did recommend the original conditional approval of the project one of the one of the items was final engineering approval which we did actually receive since this letter went out so The final engineering is good. I guess one thing we could discuss would be the removal of the one parking spot there that We kind of highlighted there in the plans So the one there in the end is, originally it was a handicap spot and it became a standard spot that was only eight feet wide, which doesn't meet our code, but the thought was maybe just eliminate that one given its positioning there with the drive, the little half drop-off drive that comes in. That'll be part of the project as well.

That's acceptable in our opinion.

Yeah, absolutely. Okay. The other item was a crane would probably, sounds like a crane would be used, so the FAA would need to be aware of that and give appropriate approvals for that.

Yes, Hammond, who will be handling the construction as a construction manager, understands they'll be using the crane for the steel and will be aware of the requirements.

Okay. So we did recommend conditional approval contingent upon I guess what's left would be the moving the one parking spot and then the verification of the crane being used.

Great. Any questions or comments from the commission?

Just a comment. What your ministry has done for your building has done for your ministry and our community is Outstanding so thank you very much.

Thank you. We're glad to be part of the community man We love it if you drive our property now, and we've made some improvements pickleball courts and other paving the trail It's been if you show up on a weeknight. It's it's like it's a park literally. It's like a park. It's awesome.

We're glad to be here Any questions or comments from the audience Seeing none we have a motion

I'll make a motion, Madam Chair, for approval of the conditional use certificate for the proposed addition. I guess contingent on them removing that one parking spot that they said they will remove and getting their architect getting verification from the FAA on use of the crane.

All right. Do we have a second? I'll second. Roll call, please.

Mr. Burch?

Yes.

Ms. Thrasher? Yes. Ms. Chadsey? Yes. Ms. Anderson? Yes. Mr. Bishman? Yes.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you.

All right, moving along to item 2622, Dairy Queen. Is there a representative from the project here?

I was hoping there'd be dilly bars.

Can you state your name and address for the record?

Hi, I'm Josh Drummond with David Plager and Architects, and we are seeking approval for New Dairy Queen Grill and Chill located at 4015 Massillon Road. This is phase one of the project. I believe about a year ago, the master plan was presented and approved. As far as just a The building is a 2900 square foot building with seating capacity of 46 interior and 22 at the outdoor patio here. This is considered phase one of the master concept plan. We have a dumpster enclosure located at the southeast corner of the site. And we have a green space at the north portion of the site that's dedicated for recreation and intended to kind of tie in the phase one and the future phase two and phase three projects. They're still being determined. Let me show you a landscape plan.

Do you have the master plan that you could throw up?

Not the colored one, but yeah, we've got, let's see. Here we go, so this is phase one here. Phase two, the building that's shown is for reference. We were trying to see what would fit on the site. I think there is a group that's interested in this project, but we're still waiting to see kind of what their layout will look like.

Excuse me, could I ask you to put this copy up there for the people watching at home and on the network?

So yeah, initially this was, we were thinking commercial, retail, or office area at this phase two portion. Phase three, at least the idea was a future restaurant. That's still up in the air, but that was kind of what we're showing here with parking. There would be a future connection to Burgess Drive But that won't be part of the phase phase one And just to show you the elevations I As you can see, it's brick masonry and EFIS. We've met all the masonry requirements on all four sides. The signage that's shown is only for reference. That'll be handled through a separate submission. And I think that's all. Are there any questions?

We'll go to a staff report.

All right. For this item, we have the proposed Dairy Queen Grill and Chill at 4015 Massillon Road. This is within the approved plan development as you saw on the map. And this is the phase one, the phase two and three. They will separately will be reviewed in the future. The plan includes the restaurant building, drive-thru, parking, patio area, landscaping, lighting, stormwater utilities, and the related site improvements. From staff's perspective, the main thing we looked at were the overall site layout, circulation, pedestrian movement, landscaping, and lighting. The plan shows 35 parking spaces, including two accessible spaces. The applicant also submitted a truck turning exhibit using a WB50 vehicle. The front of the site is somewhat tight because of the parking and the drive-through traffic and the pedestrian area that are all close together. The exhibit shows that the movement can work, but it is still something that will need to function carefully in daily operation. The pedestrian layout has been revised and is now more organized. The walkway connected to the building, the city path, patio, logo area, the recreation space, they're all connected together now. The pedestrian path does cross the drive-through lane, but the crossing is marked, so the pedestrian route is defined. The applicant also revised the landscaping plan and staff finds that the prior landscaping comments have been substantially addressed. The photometric plan was also submitted and meets the city codes. At this point, the remaining items are mostly technical. Engineering will need to finalize its review. At this point we need a traffic impact study and we also know that the fire has noted that the Knox box will be required. A zoning permit will be required for the signage, and that's separate. And a certificate of use and compliance will be required before the business can operate. Based on the current submission, staff recommends approval of the site plan subject to the conditions listed in the report.

Okay, thank you. Questions?

Yeah, I got a few. So you mentioned on the plan here, the master plan. Yes. You said a couple of times in your presentation, the restaurant up front is kind of still up for grabs in terms of what that could be. And you mentioned that the back, it could be one unit. Just wondering, has that changed for sure? I mean, why the changes?

Well, yeah, as far as the back, I don't, at least my understanding, that's still...

still being reviewed correct if you could come up here and use the microphone that would be great and say your name and address for the record thank you yes i'm uh... aaron haller with parfait properties seven fifteen porter's trail in chiago falls ohio thank you go ahead so the uh... we do have a purchase agreement for the what would have been phase two of the of the project currently to the Oak Clinic so that's where we stood with the with the change on initially looking at a more retail focused area to a more mixed mixed-use so as far as phase three we're obviously open to anything that was not only a restaurant but any retail space is our primary goal for that area. But again, potentially there's enough area there to be split into either a single building and maybe a small couple units retail strip or any other use that seemed appropriate.

I know that question didn't pertain to your building in general, but as far as the whole project concerns, you know, we want to make sure everything is, you know, ties together nicely.

So the commission understands phase two will require that row coming up and connecting to Burgess Drive as well as a secondary outlet for traffic.

So I guess my question is what we're being asked to consider tonight is just phase one just phase one.

Given that this is a franchise business is there any ability to make changes to the exterior of the building.

Dairy Queen, I mean, they have a certain prototype. We've made changes as far as materials. Typically, it's an all ephus exterior. So by adding the brick masonry, we've made changes as far as the overall material.

Footprint that is that is one of their prototypical Okay, my Concern is with the south elevation What looks like maybe approximately a 12-foot red spoon on the side which would be very close to the front of the building and what I would believe would be very visible from the street and may just be personal preference but i start to worry if other businesses want to put 12 foot objects related to their products or services that it's going to start looking like the las vegas strip down massillon road so i just didn't know if that was something that could be maybe relocated more toward the rear of the building so it's visible for people going through the drive could you uncover that again thanks

Sorry, this, yes. Show what she's talking about.

The south elevation of the side of the building.

Yeah, let's go to the south.

Let's go to the elevation.

Yeah. So yeah, this spoon here.

So yeah, from the scale on the paper, it looks like maybe it's around 12 feet.

It's close to that.

Yeah, so that's pretty large, pretty visible from the street. It's a bright red color. I know that that may be standard for their other buildings, but for our city and our street, it's a concern of mine. So my personal request would be to remove it or relocate it more toward the rear of the building.

Okay. I know on past projects, we've changed the location.

Sometimes it's in the front, but it's... Yeah, there's no set requirement from a...

Yeah, there's no set requirement from a franchisor standpoint on the location of the spoon.

Is there any need for the spoon? I'm sorry? Is there any need for the spoon?

It actually is very much a talking point. Almost... I would say maybe once a week every time I leave a store, especially at nighttime if I'm leaving around when families are there at dinnertime and everything, there's almost always a small child who is standing on the spoon or standing in front of the spoon. I'm seeing pictures of families and everything, so it is definitely a marketing and talking point and a fan favorite, if you will.

I do see it kind of as a form of advertisement or signage. And for me, I think it's pretty large and, like I said, noticeable from the street. So if it could be relocated where people can still take photos with it if they want, but maybe not as noticeable from the street view, I think that would improve it.

Maybe closer to the walkway going to the seating area. Something like that.

I know that the Cuyahoga Falls location, which my son's, I've taken his picture in front of the Cuyahoga Falls location, Spoon. And I know that's more towards the door on the side, not towards the front, if I'm recollecting. It's more, yeah, in the middle of that south elevation. Like by, you know, not towards the front, but more towards that middle section by the door. Yeah, in that general area. It doesn't bother me personally, but I understand her point. You've got the red spoon on the doorknobs, you've got the red spoon everywhere, it's your thing. But I know in other locations it's in a different spot.

Yeah, the Chicago Falls store was actually the first Dairy Queen in Ohio that had that design, so that's an older design. I know it doesn't have the, like the doors are flat to the building versus having the jet out, so it's more visible from anybody walking in, no matter what side of the parking lot you kind of go to. So I think that's why it's in that general area. there, but yes, it is something that can definitely, you know, it does not have a permanent, you know, footprint. Yeah, Warren Buffett's not going to come and give us a call if it's moved a little bit.

If it were moved a little closer, if it stayed on this side, I'm just thinking from access to the patio, I don't know if that's a a needed connection if do kids go and play by it or I mean if we were to move it closer to the you know kind of away from the corner but on this part of the walkway do you would that be acceptable or would you like to see it on the other side of the kind of this entrance bump out personally I would like to see it on that opposite side like I said so it's less visible from the street right okay but that's my personal preference

If you moved it to the north, it's closer to where you're asking kids and parents to go eat their ice cream across the way. Is that not a sitting area across the drive?

Yeah, but the drive-through windows are there, so there's going to be a lot of vehicles, right?

Well, there's vehicles on both sides.

Yeah. There's no sidewalk along the building on that north side.

Yeah, it precludes from the building probably about a foot and a half. I'm just thinking that if they're going that way. I mean, this would place it at the front of the building. But I mean, there's kind of this recessed area here.

Even the spot in between the windows, it's still by the walkway. It's not as far in front of the building. before the door? Because when you drive up, you're still going to see it. From Maslin Road, it's a big red spoon. Whether it's past the bump out or in front of the bump out, you're still going to see it. So to address her concern, if you bump it just a little bit back, You're thinking yeah, yeah in this location It's still in the walkway of when people are gonna see it when they walk in or walk towards that patio But it's not front and center, right?

So I was I was more so talking about this area here more kind of in the middle of that elevation past the door So that it is set back from the visual, but it still looks like there's sidewalk there and it's right by the door, so people would still be seeing. Oh wait, is that a window? The bump out is not a door, it's just a window, okay. So that's what I was imagining, so that would kind of buffer it a little bit and it was pushed back from the road a bit, if that's an option.

I think either would be an option. How about two six-foots?

A question for the planning department. This already went through design review board, right? There's no indication. Correct.

No, there was no comment.

The bigger concern that I had was regarding, as noted in the staff report, the entry.

knowing that I've seen traffic at the current location being backed up. When you open up the new one, there will be more traffic. Knowing that you have the potential of two lines here and the breakaway, which we're talking about in a little bit, that entryway there with sidewalk and even, like I said, noted in the staff report that it's tight. I would be interested to see if that could be expanded somewhat, if you would be open to that or what the city thinks of just a smidge. I know that that's not a technical term, but if you've got phase two and phase three, Just in between, what your thoughts are on that.

Are you thinking in terms of the drive-through traffic and the stacking? Yes.

And in and out there. If staff is saying that that's tight, is there a solution for it to not be so tight?

It's tight with the truck.

Right here.

So it's the delivery vehicle that we asked them to run. Right. I think it was a 53-footer. Yeah, WB50. Yeah, WB50.

That's a huge delivery vehicle.

And that's really bigger, I think, than the typical truck. I mean, we use it for the study, but it's... That's what delivers it, the current one.

So most likely that's what's going to keep delivering to you. And this site, I'm going to say this, this site does not provide that to be happening at 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Just telling you, you're not gonna be able to get those deliveries and allow vehicle movement at the same time. That's what we're trying to point out about

the truck movement yeah that current our deliveries are key drops early in the morning so there's not even a manager anybody in the building the driver comes in well before we're where anybody's there that's generally the way it's always been there our distributor is actually in canal fulton so the way they load the trucks is basically they stop locally first and so pretty much all our product is is at the back of the truck so we're always in the first stops um so um minus uh you know at once a year breakdown of a truck or anything like that that's in 99.9 of all our deliveries are are there either before our manager's there or um very early before we're before we're open so um i don't recall as far as the size of the truck i know we there was some discussion on what was modeled was actually larger than what all our Avalon trucks. I don't know if it is exactly the same or if it's larger or not.

I think Carl had mentioned that it was a slightly smaller trailer, but I would say that we've worked on probably this is maybe our fourth or fifth Dairy Queen with Aaron and group. And with the exception of the entry into the site, kind of the sides and the back are very similar. I know the store in Ellett has very similar dimensions and there have been no issues to my knowledge with deliveries.

But what's the hesitation in just making it bigger? Is there a reason you don't want to make it bigger?

Well, I mean, I'm sorry, as far as length or width?

No, I'm just talking about the entryway into the parking lot. Right there. Right there, yes.

Making that wider.

Making that somewhat wider to just make it easier, yes.

Yeah, I mean, yeah, I don't see an issue with...

I would say, from my opinion, like widening it... i guess east in towards the building is going to conflict with their drive-through operations and i'm assuming there's only so much wiggle room to move the actual building and then widening it west towards masslin is going to limit the ability for cars to stack up without impacting masslin as they're turning into the site if someone's turning really slow and someone followed them right in there's probably only room for two, maybe three cars if they're small there. So I guess I personally advise against widening it just from the standpoint that that entrance is already so close to Maslin and knowing that there's future expansion to go behind it. There will be cars that have to stop or slow down to wait for somebody to turn into Dairy Queen there. And then I think going to the west would impact people who went through the drive-thru being able to get out where they are supposed to leave.

Your opinion matters. I mean,

something you know about. That's why I asked. Yeah, that's why I wanted to know the reasoning behind the width of what it was.

Yeah, and it sounds like from the delivery vehicle standpoint, you know, those happen early in the morning and not open yet.

Right.

Okay. If it takes them a second to get around the site, then it takes a second. I guess from a traffic perspective... Maybe this is more so for the planning department. Engineering's still deciding whether an impact study is required?

No.

Okay.

We're not asking for an impact study on this, but once additional development is carried out, we're going to ask for it once it's totally determined. We've been working with Oak Clinic to keep them in the community. They'd like to go here, but there's some things. Their due diligence, I think, is... basically where they're at. If we know it will be that type of facility, then we can model that from that. What we had before was retail, office, whatever, and as you know, those carry different numbers. So we felt it was best to just wait until we had that second phase, and now we know what's, we know the two major Traffic, I'm going to assume two major traffic. Okay. Impacts that will be here. I'm not sure the third one, maybe it will be even worse, but right now I think these will be the worst too.

Okay, okay. Yeah, I think that makes sense to evaluate with the larger parcel in the back.

Okay. And with that, we just, we're reserving the right to potentially put a right in, right out, if that's what the traffic study would say. But we're not asking for that at this point in time because Masson Road does allow left turn movements.

Okay. Oh, okay. So kind of a stipulation if, say, for, you know, the... When parcel two or site two, whatever, wants to come online and it's determined that some configuration change needs to happen at this driveway and at Burgess, that this could be a right in, right out.

Correct, and I've talked to Carl today. Okay.

Okay. Any additional comments or questions from the commission? I don't think we've solidified a spoon location. I don't mean to, I'm not, I just...

It's kind of Dairy Queen's version of the Golden Arches.

True, it's very true. It's kind of...

I've got someone in my office that might consider that part of the art plan. If people take pictures in front of them, I don't know. I never thought of it that way.

In my opinion... And this is just my personal opinion, and I leave it up to the rest of the commission as well. Design Review Board looked at it, was fine with it, and I take their recommendation when we look at these spaces. And that's where I stand on where the spoon location is. Any other questions or comments from the commission regarding? I just have a very, very small question. Yes.

Has the phase two and the phase three lots already been purchased? That's a great question.

Good question. Two is under contract. So two, the one in the back is under contract and they're doing due diligence, making sure it's buildable for what they wanna build with their soil people, everybody like that. And at the end of the day, if it is, then they will probably finalize the purchase agreement and develop their plans.

Okay, thank you.

We're just teaching our interns.

But I guess, has phase three, because I remember the last time we saw this, that lot had not yet been part of.

No, phase three has not been sold, correct? Phase three's been purchased. Yes, yeah, our company owns all. Okay, let me, all the land is owned by.

Because all of this has been acquired.

Yeah, all the land is owned by, I'm gonna use the word Dairy Queen because parfait something. Yeah. But, and that was kind of at Planning Commission's kind of encouragement to get the last strip of land. So all three of the buildings will be torn down probably July, August of this year. You might see some training going on over there, whether it's the sheriff or the fire department. They've offered them. They're not going to be burnt down. It's other kind of training, okay? So they're doing asbestos removal and all that good stuff that happens for demolitions, and I think July, maybe early August, it'll be a clear sight.

That's correct, yeah, in that general time frame.

Okay. Any questions from the public or comments? No? All right. Do I have a motion?

Well, it's a complicated motion, but I'll make one, Madam Chair. Okay. I'll make a motion that we approve the proposed Dairy Queen Grill and Chill Site Plan. With these following conditions, the applicant shall comply with all engineering comments to the satisfaction of the city review engineer, including whether or not a traffic impact study will be required in the final approved method for using utility crossing within Massillon Road, which is required to be underground. The applicant will also comply with fire comments, including installation of a knockbox, and the applicant shall comply with all zoning comments, including required permits for all the proposed signage and issuance of a certificate use of compliance prior to operation.

All right, do I have a second?

I will second.

Roll call, please.

Mr. Birch? Yes. Mr. Bishman? Yes. Ms. Chadsey? Yes. Ms. Anderson? Yes. Ms. Thrasher? Yes. All right, thank you.

Thank you. Even though we approve this, please look at that spoon issue. I think it's a well thought out issue. And if you can move it to where it's not so obvious. And I'm not sure what's going to happen on the side of you, on the south side of you, so that it might block some of that. But until we know that, please give it a look.

Thank you very much. Item 2625, Land Development Code Text Amendment.

You want to take that one?

Okay.

This item is a proposed text amendment related to drive-thru facilities. The amendment would require a dedicated bypass lane so that vehicles are not trapped once they enter a drive-thru queue. The concern is that without a bypass lane, a vehicle may have no practical way to leave the line. That can lead to vehicles backing up, blocking parking spaces, or interfering with circulation on the site. The amendment would apply to new drive-through facilities and to existing facilities only when there are substantial changes to the drive-through layout, stacking area, or circulation pattern. It would not apply to routine maintenance or resurfacing unless that work changes the drive-through or circulation layout. Staff sees this as a reasonable site design requirement and recommends approval to City Council.

Okay.

For the Commission, this is before Council. The Mayor and Councilman Spate requested it, so it kind of went to them first, and there is also a public hearing scheduled in July for this. No one... attended those, but maybe there will be. But basically this is some clean up text amendment.

Okay. Any questions from the commission?

I have a question. So what happens if there's two drive lanes? Do they only need one bypass lane or do they have to provide a bypass lane for each drive through lane?

In addition to the two bypass lanes? Good question. Because like Seven Brew doesn't, they don't have an additional bypass lane.

They only have the one on the outside.

Yeah.

We've actually been stuck in their drive-through before, not able to get out.

Just to get real, if there's two lanes and you're on the inside lane and you're stuck at some point.

Yeah.

I mean, that's the reality. I mean, but... The other side of it is you've seen where some areas used to have curbing or something to that effect to try to keep you. They kept you in there. We won't permit that type of... design anymore, and now we'll have a code that allows us to say you cannot do that. But you've seen that where literally you can't get out. But a dual lane, and you're on the inside, and it's a crowded lane, you're not going to be able to get out. The reality of this, it's based on some stuff that happened in Stowe.

Yeah, it was in Stowe.

You know, I can't say that it's common, and sometimes things happen no matter what you try to write a code for, but at least we're making it so that it will improve potential chances of leaving or exiting before you get caught there.

Were there conversations about adding in something specifically about when there's two drive-through lanes? I mean, I don't think there should be like a second bypass lane.

No, there wasn't.

That's a lot of additional payment.

We're not trying to get a second bypass lane. What we're trying to do is we're not trying to move this so that the inside lane would have a bypass. Right, that'd be ridiculous. That would be ridiculous, to use your words. But the point of it is that we're trying to make sure that there's no impediments, but if there's cars there, that's going to be a potential impediment. I mean, today's world, they're all going to two, I guess. I mean, you rarely see anybody... go to a single lane, they must be expecting low volumes. So basically, yes, the answer is that you're not gonna always be able to exit, but this gives you a better chance. And we're allowed now to limit the impediments that may be there, as best we can. Not perfect, but as best you can.

It's in black and white now, as opposed to not. All right, any additional comments from the commission or questions?

Yeah, I guess I still have a follow-up question. Do we think we need to be more specific that we're really only talking about one bypass lane in the case that somebody, you know, future commission members or somebody argues that they need two? I don't think. Were there any, I guess that's maybe a group question. Mm-hmm. If we think we.

Try to allow vehicles to exit that group.

I don't know exactly what that wording would look like, but if there's concern that this could be interpreted that you need a bypass lane per drive-through lane, and that's a lot of extra pavement, that's not necessarily needed or desired.

We could put something in there. looking at where, but a single bypass lane. Per location, yeah. Per location, something like that. Whether it's another add-on number or we add it to the verbiage where we reference bypass lanes.

And there might be downsides to doing that. I guess it's more just posing a question.

No, I mean, I think it's a good point. I guess we didn't read it. You know, we're thinking a bypass lane throughout the whole thing.

Right. Regardless of... That's what I would think too, but I guess there is room for interpretation.

Someone could interpret it. So we will, if you're okay, we'll find a way to indicate that a single bypass lane is all that would be required per site. And that might be the actual verbiage in one of these numbers. You know what I mean?

Yeah.

So you have to make the motion.

There is any other questions or comments? Student representatives? No? Public? There's no one here? All right. Then I need a motion.

Motion to not recommend approval.

Recommend approval by adding. Oh, with the addition. With the addition. Okay.

I didn't know if it's what we're going to do.

I'm going to have to go back.

Well, motion to recommend approval with the addition of the specification that it is one bypass lane per site. The intention is one bypass lane per site. Second. Second.

I'll second that.

Roll call, please.

Ms. Anderson?

Yes.

Mr. Burch? Yes. Ms. Chadsey?

Yes.

Mr. Bishman? Yes. Ms. Thrasher?

Yes. Okay. Any unfinished business? Seeing none. Approval of minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes?

Motion to approve the minutes from April 15th. Second. Second.

Roll call, please.

Ms. Anderson. Yes. Mr. Bishman. Yes. Ms. Chadsey. Yes. Mr. Birch. Yes. Mr. Asher. Yes.

Director's report.

Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 15th. There may only be one item. I don't know about anybody's vacation, so if you know you're not going to be here, let us know now. So we definitely know what's going on. We have an item that's been trying to get through design review board, and if that makes it through the next design review board, it would probably be a July 15th meeting. So let us know if you have any vacation plans, and we just wanna make sure we have a quorum. So it's festering in design review, huh?

What's that? The item is festering in design review.

Yeah, I think they got the message. So tonight you guys looked at the bypass legislation a little bit more than some of the things we're looking at. So that's currently in council. So we will make the recommended verbiage to them so that they can add that to their language. And I don't see a problem why they wouldn't want that clarification. We're also looking at, the city currently has a moratorium on vape shops, but we can't continue a moratorium just outright, so we will be looking at some legislation to regulate vape shops. Kind of one of those things, how you do that, it's spacing.

I get two calls a week.

Proximity for grape shops. One to do.

Not just here, but everywhere.

Tell them we like our sheriff's department when they break down doors. We support them when they break down doors to see what's in there. But the reality is we do have to provide some kind of legislation to regulate them. Like I said, whether it's spacing, whether it's proximity to churches, schools, daycares, you name it, whatever it may be, we'll take a look at that. So expect to see something before the end of the year to regulate that. GILA is working very hard on data or data centers, however you want to say that. Big, big issue. You don't go anywhere without someone talking about it. Currently, the idea is not to just throw a moratorium up. It's to try to regulate it. We don't believe we have a whole lot of locations for them here in the community, but we still need to be able to be proactive about a regulation for them. And lastly, we're also looking at storage unit legislation to see if it needs modified somewhat. There is a lawsuit in regard to the South Main Street project. That's it.

That's it?

That's it. What about the project down on Winning Way? I saw council voted for that PD district four to three. Yes. So that's passed?

That's passed. They will, I mean, you'll see that in the future. They've got to develop their improvement plans, which will take some time from an engineering standpoint. and they'll have to develop the platting, final plats, whether it's phased in or one big final plat for, probably won't be one final plat, it'll be phased in. So, and we're also looking at a residential TIF, tax increment financing district for that area to help provide some additional, they agreed to a left term on their dime to provide a left term movement in, going eastbound on Greensburg. However, there's other improvements that could be utilized down there, and we're looking at a residential TIF district to capture some funds to make those improvements. So, yes, you'll see it again.

Okay. Dwayne, what is your feeling on any problems with the clinic going in that back lot, the Dairy Queen?

Actually, no, that's where we... kind of directed them from our office. We think it's a good location. There is some concern in the big scheme of things. There's a connector road planned and actually dedicated, it's just not built, between Burgess Drive and Town Park Boulevard that would provide another outlet. And we're gonna look at what that, what we can generate from piffing that area and in that area to provide funds to construct that.

I just, as a retail guy, the desire to be in green is up here and the amount of retail space is down here. I hate to see retail go. And I get the clinic and all that, but man, I hate to see retail go.

tried some alternative sites with the clinic and they just weren't working. And this is one we kept coming back to. It's not number one, but we'd like there. The old clinic is brings literally people in from all across the country, if not the world, on what is it, MS, I think, research and clinical trials and all that. So it's definitely a little hidden gem in the community that I drive by every day. And if you're fortunate, you don't know nothing about MS, that's a good thing. But if you do, you've probably heard of the Oak Clinic. And yes, I agree with you. We do need, nobody likes the word plazas, but we do need some space because there's nothing there.

We're almost out of space on Massillon and Arlington. Two biggest retail attractions.

Main Street just doesn't have the infrastructure right now.

There's no council liaison report tonight?

Nope, he's not here unless one of the interns want to give it. No, just joking.

Okay, motion to adjourn.

Moved.

All right, all in favor? Aye.