Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Commission meeting roll. Mr. Shipley here. Mr. Raw here. Mr. Hogler Mrs. Stewart

Mr. Beck 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. Stewart and Raise your right hand. I

do hereby swear do hereby swear that I will support and defend I will support and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States of America of the United States of America the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws the state of Ohio the state of Ohio the charter ordinances and resolutions the charter ordinances and resolutions of the city of Twinsburg Ohio of the city and will faithfully, honestly, and impartially faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge the duties as a member of the planning commission to discharge duties as a member of the planning commission. To the best of my ability to the best of my ability. As I shall answer to God.

as I shall shall answer to God. Congratulations. Thank you. If you could have there are two so Is there a second?

Okay. Okay, welcome back to Mr. Hogler and welcome to our new committee members. Glad to have you guys. Next, we'll move on to elected chairman and vice chairman for 26. I have any nominations for chairman for 26?

I'd like to nominate Steve Shebeck. Thank you. Vice Chair. All right. Anybody else? Any other nominations? Hearing none, we'll close nominations and by default. Congratulations, Steve. Good job. Mark's probably going to be watching. I know. Uh, next we need a vice chair for the commission for 2026. Do I have any nominations? It's really not that bad.

I'll nominate Craig Shipley, vice chair. You knew that was coming. Knew it was coming. You earned it. I won't any other nominations hearing them. We will close nominations and triple you will be the vice chair. All right. Thank you. Won't leave you hang. Hope not. Thank you.

All right. Um move into our public hearing. We have a conditional use permit for an indoor recreation 8252 Darl Road unit number one per parcel 64-04676. Do have applicants for the public. Would you like to come forward? just give us a little introduction and then we'll open it up to anybody who wants to. Hello, my name is Matthew Hannon. I was hoping to open up a wrestling training gym here in uh Twinsburg. It's actually Sweet I, not unit one, just so you know. Um, that's

all right. Great. Is there anybody like to speak against Please approach the podium, state your name and your address for the record, please. Good evening, committee. I'm Lori Facina at 2950 Canon Road and um I have no problem with what this gentleman is proposing to do, but I have a question or a problem with the public hearing notice. Do you have copies of that up front? Any of you? I don't think that we do.

Okay. Uh the date of notice for this is March 31st, 2026. On top they say Twinsburg Board of Zoning and Building Appeals public hearing notice. Date of hearing April 20th, 2026 at 6:30. We follow state law when it comes to public meetings. It's 30 days. It's not 21 days. So, and and the fact that this doesn't even have the right title on it. We we've we've adopted a 14-day notice period in the code.

Yeah, but that but we we we follow state law on this. We don't follow the zoning code on this. We follow state law. So, I'm I'm putting this committee on notice that it's state law 30 days. And we have a lot of these. So, I want this new board to hear this. We're going to take your concerns. We're going to refer those to the law director from the law director. Please. Thank you. Thanks for bringing that to our attention. Can you forward it? Yeah. Anybody else wish to speak on this? Seeing not we will close the public hearing and then we'll get right back to you in the work session.

All right. Then we're moving into our work session. We have plinary site plan Canyon Falls Boulevard 64-08257. Matthew Weber, Engineering Services.

Hello. Tell us what you're here for tonight and uh we're going to have all the discussion.

Hi, I'm Brandon Nord from Weber Engineering Services. I'm here to discuss the Canyon Falls Boulevard project. Um a little bit of a background. Basically, the site already has an existing storm water retention pond to handle uh our development's water quantity release rates. Um in our development, we intend to develop additional basins to handle the water quality standards. Um we are seeking a preliminary site plan approval with the intent of bringing this project to uh bring more um business to the city of Twinsburg. So basically we're just trying to make sure that our site is billable. Basically, it's uh one one building will be right off the culde-sac and then another drive off the culde-sac with two additional buildings.

Correct. Correct. Suspected prospective use for uh currently right now there is no expected use. It's still in the preliminary phases just so that we can get it out to bid so we can bring some more business. We don't know what exactly is going to go in there yet. So build back then. Yes. Mr. No, no, I guess this is just preliminary, so we'll see all the storm water and photo all the meat, potatoes. Okay, Mr. R, anything? Uh, nothing at this time. No, I

I guess I we'll ask like you're developing three three buildings and the the lot area is much more massive than that, but most of it is going to remain wet land. It sounds like as far Yes, as it is, we're going to develop what we need to just to bring the bring the businesses in. Uh but the rest of it is going to remain with the wetlands. We're going to try to mitigate as little as possible, leave as much of the wetlands as there as possible. There's some there is some drop off to that property as it goes back to Yes. Okay. This lobby anything anything additional

yeah I I think that's the key issue with this site more than anything is just constraints having to do with the water environmental features and wetlands. Yeah. Just environmental issues. Sure. So, ha have you guys started pursuing any type of environmental permitting? Not at this moment. Okay, that's what I thought. Yep. Okay. Uh, thank you and we'll get back to you in the regular meeting. Thank you. Next item on the work session is lots split 2181 East Aurora Road permanent parcel 64-08340. Allie get that right.

Good evening. Um, this I'm Brenda Bner. I'm the attorney on behalf of Vantage Point Twinsburg. So, uh, good evening. I do have with me Paula Stewie, who is the property manager. Not yet, I'll I'll come in just a second. I also have with me Hannah commercial realtors, Amanda Foridori, and Mac Bigger who have been marketing the property. So, this is a property 2181 East Aurora Road. It is zoned zoning classification is IM Innovation and Manufacturing Zone. Um, the minimum lot size for that zoning classification is 1 and a half acres. So the proposed lot split would result in a lot split parcel that's a little bit over one and a half acres and the remaining parcel would be a little bit over three acres. Uh the part property was purchased in I think 1999 um and there are three buildings on it. I believe you have been provided with drawings of those buildings or pictures of the buildings and other than putting a new dividing line uh across the property. Nothing will change as a result of the proposed split. We have in place a seared maintenance and access easement agreement as well as a cross access easement agreement. Um and those will be filed pending approval of the lot split. And also we um if with contingent approval or conditional approval from this commission we would be in front of uh the borders BZBA next Monday seeking some variance setbacks because they they're going hand in hand. So, we're requesting the lots split basically because uh in the post-pandemic work from home model, it's that has made it nearly impossible to market properties of this nature. Uh Mac bigger is here and Amanda Fordori, as I said, our commercial realtors, they have been marketing the property since I believe 2021. Uh we have significant economic concerns as there's been no income from the property since 2022. uh and yet there is a constant need for money to pay for maintenance, utilities, real estate taxes. So, uh it would be very helpful to us if we could sort of

divide and conquer tonight. So, Amanda and Mac, if you would come up and speak briefly to the uh economic conditions and the marketing of the property and then we'll have Paul. Hi, I'm Amanda Foridori with Hannah Commercial. Um I have 20 years experience uh focusing on landlord and tenant representation primarily in the office sector. I'm Mac bigger with Hannah Commercial, president of Hannah Commercial.

So when we did a quick market analysis on Twinsburg, we took a look at the properties that have sold in the office sector within the last two years. You can almost count them on one hand and all of them are roughly under 10,000 square feet. Um, I also took a look at what is currently on the market in Twinsburg in the office sector. Vantage Point being the largest at 50,000 square feet with a three building portfolio sale. So, um, comparing that to the other properties that are for sale right now, they are, you know, under 10,000 square feet. We have a couple at 20,000, 30,000 square feet. So we feel we would be successful at selling the properties off if they were at a smaller more manageable square footage. Post pandemic you know we have not recovered in the office market. People re-evaluated how they work and where they work. And when you know back in the day people looked at offices big offices where they brought everyone in and everyone worked together. That's just not how everyone works anymore. And so in order for this to be an attractive property to buyers, we really need to make it a little bit more manageable.

This property was developed by Herb Chiseling and Herb has since passed away and so his estate is looking to sell off the property and we think we'd have much more success bringing in, you know, dollars to the estate and also tax revenue to the city if we're able to divide up the property. So that's the goal for this evening. Thank you. Any questions? I I'd like to add something if I could, Steve. Yeah, sure. Sure. Hi team. Hi. Hi. How long have we been working on this? How long have

we brochure? It was a lot easier preandemic to market the property than post pandemic. We've we've been really working on this for quite some time. Um, I think maybe when Matt and I first spoke or maybe maybe it was Paula, they the team came to me and said, "Hey, could we divide this into three lots?" And I said, "Yeah, that's not going to happen. That would be more advantageous." The compromise, Lynn, that came through was let's keepage on both parts.

Yeah, let's let's try and do two so you guys can get done what you need to do. And then we added um um medical office space to the IM zone to try and get some interest from that sector. And so I I we are sort of out of options on this. It's a beautiful property and um hate to see it remain vacant for so long. And so the administration is is supportive of this. Um, and this is the least sort of request in terms of dividing this into biteable pieces, I guess, is how I would describe it. Um, but it does need to go to the board of appeals.

Yeah, Lyn, I think the ownership has done a great job of maintaining the property and making it look nice. They've also worked with the the city in terms of police training and offered it to them for many times out there. All right. Again, ideally, we get a lot of requests for 2,000 square feet or 5,000 or even 10,000 square feet, but the estate isn't in a position where they want to lease it long term. So, dividing off one building will be a big help in terms of selling it off at a reasonable price and to be able to move on to close out the estate, etc. So, any other questions?

And thank you for all your help. Well, I guess Lyn, you can I guess this is just the frontage why they couldn't break it up into three buildings. The frontage as it's submitted for this application is um compliant with our regulations and the lot areas compliant and actually the front setbacks and of the of the two front buildings and the the rear parcels. We we were trying to keep as many components of this as compliant as we could while still achieving some level of being able to get these buildings occupied. Yeah.

Yeah. From the background.

I mean, I'm not to be completely transparent. We don't love it when we've got to have not the cross access easements. That's a no-brainer. We have a lot of those. But once you start sharing facilities and you have to have maintenance agreements and the storm water management facilities are also shared although we have other ones of those at least it's on the site but there is a lift station in association with this and so um it from the city's perspective it's more a question of um sharing maintenance um and not calling us and whining about each other that the other one's not doing something. And so, um, Brenda has this is locked down pretty good. Engineering has reviewed it and has blessed it.

Okay. Um, anything. Yeah, it it is what it is. Yeah. Okay. Good explanation. Thank you. Uh, I really don't have any comments, but I would like to see those filled at some point. I mean, they are beautiful buildings and it be nice to get some revenue in that going. I think it's worth worth definitely moving forward. Yeah. Anything else you like to add?

Um I Well, um Paula is here and she was going to talk a little bit about the economics of the situation and the drain on the money that's finances in general. Yes. Since since Mr. Chisley passed away in November of uh 2023. Um the property of course has remained vacant since the tenant vacated in July of 22. And of course, as you may recall, that was one large tenant. It was Envision Pharmaceutical. So, and the buildings were basically built for them

to bring their people in here. So, we accommodated them. And then, of course, when the pandemic occurred and they went south, you know, homeward bound for their uh remote work access, then not returning since, and then their economic issues with Wraid, the purchase of Wraid and and everything going in that direction. we've been just kind of caught in the crossfire with it. So, it's been a huge economical drain and uh the funds are dwindling seriously. So, um I've been managing the property since its inception and I've been with Commerce Park Management for 30 years now. So, this is the only property we've ever had that we were not able to reenter or or some or be able to sell or separate in some way that we could uh benefit both the city and ourselves at the same time and make it secretive situation for all involved. So, and Lynn has been very instrumental in kind of guiding us in how

we've been on a long long trail. My hair was brown started all this. Yeah. Really, it's been a long hall. So, we would love to see this come to fruition. And I would like to add a special thanks to Lynn whose expertise is overshadowed only by her patience. You're very welcome. Appreciate it. So um so basically as I said we're here on a mission to divide and conquer. Uh we would ask this commission to vote in favor of the last split continuing on approval uh from BZBA on the variances. Thank you Mrs. Lobby. Nothing further. All right. Uh we'll get back to you in the regular meeting then. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Item number three in our work session last consolidation 90 road permanent parcel 640 62 and several others associated with that is the owner here tonight. Well, Mr. Chair, I do not see the applicant here for this. So, I think we we postpone that to the next meeting. Certainly do that. Yeah.

All right. Next to item number four, conditional use permit indoor recreation 8252 D road I partial 6404 676. Is there anything else you want to add?

Are you guys all familiar with that property? I mean maybe just talk a little bit about um how many folks you might have training at a given time or It's really it's when we do situations like this, it's really coexisting with the businesses that are that are there. So, absolutely. And we I understanding probably that most of your activities going to take place after business hours. Yeah. Absolutely. Later in the night for sure. Um I would say no more than 10 people at a time honestly. I mean even that's the wrestling portion. There is going to be regular fitness gym equipment as well, but even that I don't see there being more

than 10 or you know close to that people at a time for sure. There's a substantial amount of parking at this site. Yeah. Intently there's parking in the back too that's not even lined on the site map that is there as well. So there's overflow parking as well. No, we've uh we've had several of these and they've seem to have worked out well as far as coexisting. Yeah. The unit on the right side is empty, too. It's vacant. And the one on the left is a screen printer, I believe, and they are only there for a few hours it seems in the middle of the day. So,

no, no, just training. Just just training. Just that's it. for you. Yeah. The only thing I saw that there's like maybe some improvements need to be made for building and fire code. Oh, well, I just know that right now currently it has one single use restroom saw with the toilet and a sink. I would love to have two of those and have the second one have a shower if that was possible. I mean, obviously I know the building department there's So,

so the way this works is um we get through this conditional use permit process and then he he the applicant has filled out a business registration form. We have that on hold at this point. We get through this phase. We approve the zoning portion of the business registration and then the fire department and building departments inspect the building as you know, Steve. And um and so then that that's sort of tied to your occupancy level as well.

I understand too. It's what 50 square foot per person usually. So it's like 40 people allowed in that building. if it's not an assembly place, which it's not, it's going to have equipment throughout and everything. So, that's like 40 43 people based on the square footage of my mind. And I think even as a gym, I I used to own a gym years ago, and you figure you have like 10% of your membership in your building at any time. So, I mean, I'd have to have over 400 active members to have that filled up. I mean, that's a lot of people. So, yeah, I think you'll be fine. And interior modifications will go through the building department. And that's that's a doable thing, right? to have one more bathroom. Cinder, that's not something that's out of the just however much money you got to spend.

So, Mr. I don't have anything. Thanks. Nothing further for me. Thank you. All right. We'll get back to you in the regular meeting. All right. Thank you. Last item in the work session is zoning techn.

Okay. So, I gave you a couple handouts here at the beginning of the meeting to just um I think I had emailed those to you. It's the one with the chart and the circles. So, those circles represent um if you look at the legend on there, you'll see that a filledin circle is allowed with a permit. And the the half- filled circle is conditionally allowed. There's one that's a circle with an A in it. that's an accessory use. And then when we have a use that's prohibited, we put a P. But um we liked the visual characteristics of those circles, but it's not working on the online documents. We see one thing when you're on Chrome. We see another thing on Firefox. We're just seeing different um icons associated with those legend items depending on whether you're on a phone, you're on a laptop, you're on your computer and I don't know if it's us or the codifier, but you it's it's not legible in its current form when you're on Chrome. I'm seeing a period and a comma. It's not easy to distinguish them from one another. And so we're what we're move what we'd like to do is move forward and put an AP for the approved with a permit. Put a CP for conditionally approved and so on and so forth as sort of noted um on this handout. Still a P for prohibited and an AU for accessory use. And so the the um city council had their first reading last week, I believe. And so they've asked for a recommendation from planning commission that this works. I think we're we're airing on the side of

caution to um advance this as a text amendment and not just sort of a clerical error. So there's not really any change to content, just a change to the legend icon. Who knew that browsers Yeah. I mean, we still like the circles better, but we're giving up. We're giving it up since we can't get that to happen.

That makes sense. Seems simple. Yeah. Much to do about nothing really, but we can't just change it. Yes. Okay. I It makes sense to me. Give that a positive recommendation. I mean, we went we had a little powo in house and we said, "Well, what if we put a check for permitted? What if we" and we said, "Okay, but are we going to end up in the same place? Let's just go with letters and then we won't have a problem." Yep. All right. Very good. That wraps up our work session. We'll roll into our regular meeting. First item on the regular meeting is approval of the February 17th, 2026.

Great. motions. Do I have a second? A second. Second. Roll call. Or do we need roll call? Well, we can do it. Just pra we'll practice. Okay. I can't I couldn't remember. If I wasn't here, should I or Yeah, it it's it's fine. Yeah, it's fine. Well, let's see. Will we have three? We're three. Okay, let's just do that. Good point, Greg. Let's do it. Yeah, typically um for members if u if I miss a meeting I abstain from the minutes the approval of Mr. Shiplain. Yes. Approved. Mr. Hogar. Yes. Mr. Sheek. Yes.

All right. Being done we now have public participation. This is the portion of meeting where the public can speak to the commission. Anybody wishing to speak please come forward. state your name and address and what you would like to discuss with the commission. Uh we don't usually get too deeply involved in conversation, but we'll take your comments under advice. Anybody wishing to speak, right? Seeing none, we'll move on. Item number three is the lot split 2181 Easter Road, permanent parcel 64-08340. We have to come back forward. Anything addition you'd like to add? Um, pretty much covered in the work session.

I think we pretty much covered everything. So, uh, contingent on approval from the BZBA, we would ask that you approve the lot split. Thank you. Any questions from the commission? Lori? Ed? No. Great. No. Great. I actually do have just to clarify. So, if we're talking about the three buildings that are at Vantage Point, which one is going to be on like where's the back building going to go? Left side or right side? The west building the south the building in the southwest corner. Got it. Got it. It makes it makes this okay. Perfect. Thank you.

All right. Seeing no other information, I'd like to make the following motion. upon reliance upon representations made by the applicant and their representatives along with the submitted legal descriptions and lot survey lots split survey for permanent parcel 64-08340 2181 Easter Road I move that planning commission approve a lot split as submitted conditioned on various approvals by the board of zoning and building appeals have a second roll call Mr. Cbec, yes. Mr. Raw, yes. Mr. Shipley, yes. Mr. Hogler, yes. Mrs. Stewart,

yes. Okay, you have a 50 recommendation to council. Um, that'll move on to their next meeting. Thank you for working with the city on that. All right. Item number four is lot split consolidation 9010 road permanent parcel 64 00692. Um the applicant was not here this evening. So uh tables I think I think um what we want to do is postpone it. I think we want to use the word postpone. Postpone it since you didn't uh yeah for the work session. So we'll have it at a future meeting I'm sure. Yeah. All right. Um

I think we do want to make a motion on that to postpone. Okay. Um I move that the planning commission postpone um a lot split consider consideration for 9010 road permanent partial 6400692. You have a second. Second Mr. Shipley. Roll call. Mr. Sheck. Yes. Mr. Shipley. Yes. Mr. Raw. Yes. Mr. Hogler, yes. Mrs. Stewart, yes.

That brings us on to conditional use permit, new level gym, 8252 Daryl Road, permanent parcel 64-0466. You have to come forward. Is there any I don't think there's anything additional that you need. Is there anything additional for the commission? You have any questions? All right. I'm going to make the following motion. on reliance on representations made by the applicant and their representatives along with the submitted conditional use request and application for new level at 8252 Darl Road unit I move that planning commission recommend city council issue issuance of a conditional zoning certificate in an IM innovation and manufacturing zone do I have a second

second by Mr. Hogler roll call please Mr. Sheck. Yes. Mr. Hogler. Yes. Mrs. Stewart. Yes. Mr. Raw. Yes. Mr. Shibling. Yes. Recommendation to council. Move forward with your plan. Yeah. So, this one is recommended to council and then we'll try and get it on a council agenda for next week. Okay. Is it next week, Karen, or the week after? It's next week. At the next meeting. And so, so then they once that's that's when it's all officially approved. Yep. All right. Yep. And will that be posted or will you guys update? I'll just let you know. All right. Thank you. Then Lynn will guide you through the rest of the process. You'll hear from me.

All right. Item number six is zoning text amendments. Uh basically getting rid of the graphics and going to letters u based on council's recommendation to review the planning commission. Is there anything additional? I think it is a additional to add. Okay. I'll make the following motion. Move that planning commission recommend approval of the proposed zoning code text amendments to section 1108.02 comprehensive use permissions. You have a second. Second. Roll call, please. Mr. Sheck, yes. Mrs. Stewart, yes. Mr. Shipley, yes. Mr. Raw,

yes. Who did I miss? Mr. Hogan? Yes. I ran out of motion making back at you. You guys move forward with that. Uh that brings us down communications and miscellaneous. What's hidden? Um other than a lot split on, right? What do I have? Um I don't know what else I don't know what we have on the agenda for next month. Okay. Well, we should have one. Yeah.

Yeah. And you know the I'm saying we truly need to postpone this because I do I I can't comment on why the applicant has um you know I I sent you two lots but the surveys one was had maybe three lots and then the second one had two lots. Sounds sounds like he's going to have to do just a regular two lot split and then come back later. Right. He wants to sell a piece to West Creek Conservatory or Yeah. Where it was the wetlands in the back that correct wanted to sell. So I said parcels and I think what he's looking for is to do a deal with the Western Reserve Land Service.

It just was unclear to me in terms of this very sharp angle tied Yeah. to the to the rear of this lot why we were doing that. Yeah. I mean I ideally get it all in line, but I probably want the market that creeks access. I I don't know. So I I that's why I said I if it was a different law split, I'd say let's take action on it, but because that seems I don't know the answer to my own question on this one. Well, I when I looked at it, it didn't make sense. I mean, he's not going to be able to sell the property and then come back and do the deal with Western Reserve.

Didn't he say family members, though? Is he selling it or is it just Oh, I I don't know. I don't know. I Yeah, I don't know. I thought it was it Yeah, I thought it was in the paperwork. Yeah. Oh. So, yeah. So then I think I think maybe Brandon's looking for some guidance here on the on the preliminary site plan even though we're not making a motion on it. I think he's looking for some consensus or not on on the preliminary site plan. All right. Questions, comments, suggestions. So, we'll start with Mrs. Stewart. Anything?

Um, no. Thank you. Okay. For letting me join the committee. I'm looking forward to working with all you guys. We love to have you, Mr. Holage. Uh, no, nothing today. I don't have anything for you. I don't have anything. I also wanted to say thank you for allowing me to be on this committee. I guess city council and that. So the mayor and uh looking forward to making a change and see what else we could accomplish in the coming months and years. This is where it's at. Anything?

I wanted to thank you all because it is not a committee that is an easy committee. I mean it's a very technical committee and um you all rose to the challenge and and we do thank you and we feel like we have some qualified individuals. So appreciate it all. Thank you. Nothing else.

Nothing. I just think for for the preliminary site plan, um my takeaway is there not really any red flags other than the environmental permitting and concerns. It's really hard to comment on traffic concerns or um traffic patterns since we don't know what the user end user would be. I think we can assume it could be some warehousing and office type uses there. Um the site backs up to I480. Um not using most of the sites. Um it's a it's an interesting site. Yeah.

So I don't I don't I don't hear the commission um being concerned with what they see so far. it it looks like the storm water management um isn't going to be problematic. Um I think dividing up access really into three routes with the two driveways probably is a a positive not not a negative. Um so would we continue to leave that one access road as a private road or Yeah to a public right away? Yeah. I I don't know it I questioned that access myself since it is a private road. How does that work? Yeah.

Um I mean I and I understand why it was put in was put in as as a secondary egress if needed for Yeah. But I'm just wondering increase the density. I have I haven't I haven't back. I'm not sure the standards on the roadway. Yeah, I haven't driven on it with uh with that in mind. Yeah. I've just driven it on it to cut through passive. Right. Right. He didn't go up that way. Right.

So, yeah. So, the commission doesn't give a formal um make a formal motion on a preliminary, but it looks like the direction the project's heading um is probably as good as you're going to get for that site, I guess, is how we would say it. Um yeah, interesting property. It's been years since I All right. Uh, nothing else. I entertain a motion to adjourn. I'll second or are on a motion to adjurnn. Second. Second. Second. So moved on that one.

So moved. We are adjourned. Thank you.