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Boston Heights Overlook
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This is a publication of
Boston Heights Overlook.
Not an official public document by, of or for
the Village of Boston Heights OH.
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Mayfield Motors
Mr. Bob Thomason requesting approval of a freestanding sign, and window-hung signs, for
"Mayfield Motors", the new used-car and leasing lot at the corner of Olde Eight Rd.
and Rt. 303. This is the old Bolin Oil service station at 6047 Olde Eight Rd.
From the audience, Mr. John Codrea raised the question of whether the free-standing sign
might block sightlines at the corner. Approval was granted subject to
the Police Chief's review of the sightlines at Olde 8 and Rt.303.
See also notes from the July BZA meeting and
August PC meeting for more information on this
operation.
Resolution:
Approved by Planning Commission (with noted condition).
Back to the Agenda/Map
Liberty Harley-Davidson
Requesting approval of a sign for the
Liberty Harley-Davidson development on Hines Hill Rd.
The developers received approval for a revised building and site plan at the
March 2003 Planning Commission meeting. See also the
October 2002 BZA meeting,
the September 2002 PC meeting,
and the August 2002 BZA meeting as well
as the August 2003 PC meeting.
Click here for a rendering of the building, as originally proposed.
No one showed up to address this application.
Resolution:
No show, no action by Planning Commission.
Back to the Agenda/Map
Omni Realty Company
This is continued from the past two months' presentation; please see notes from the
September 2003 PC meeting and
August 2003 PC meeting for more extensive information.
Mr. Greg Baka of Omni Realty Company presented
an alternative to the previous proposal for "Crossings at Boston Heights", a major
mixed use development along Boston Mills Rd. and along Hines Hill Rd.
The proposal involves four parcels:
- At Route 8 and Hines Hills: the closed hotel (Hudson Inn, nee Yankee Clipper);
already held by Omni & its partners;
- Just east on Hines Hill: the parcel that includes the new Liberty Harley-Davidson building,
also already held by Omni & its partners;
- Further to the east, up to the Turnpike ramp: "Alnola Farms North"
- Along Boston Mills Road, southeast of the Turnpike & Route 8: "Alnola Farms South"
The Alnola Farms South parcel (approx. 77 acres) was recently
denuded of trees. It
is directly across from the Residential district on E. Boston Mills Rd. The parcel was
just recently rezoned from Residential (R-1) to OP Office Professional, except for
about 4+ acres near the BP station, which remained GB General Business (was B-1).
The property on Boston Mills Rd., and the eastern part of the Hines Hill Rd. property, are
owned by Boston Heights Development Company
(charter #249446).
Note:Mr. Baka stated that there was 6 acres already zoned GB, but this must include the BP station.
Omni's earlier proposal (adapted here) would require
significant zoning changes, to allow the following at in the OP Office Professional district
along E. Boston Mills Road:
- A hotel or "lodge resort" to the east, toward Hudson
(possibly replaced by an office park development)
- A retail district also to the west (near Route 8)
- An area of mixed office and retail in between
- High-density housing to the east (near Hudson)
In the alternative scheme presented by Mr. Baka this month, much of the retail area would be moved to
Hines Hill Road, and at Boston Mills Road there would be:
- A hotel and commercial retail district of about 10 acres to the west (near Route 8)
- 440 units of "Garden-style" apartments in the middle 37 acres
- 160 units of high-density single-family housing to the east (near Hudson)
Plans for the Hines Hill and Route 8 area also show at least one conflict with the
current zoning, which is a mix of RB Retail Business and GB General Business:
a service station within 5000 feet of an existing station (Marathon, BP and Starfire are all closer than that).
There is also a question of whether certain types of take-out restaurants would be permissible.
In the alternative scheme presented by Mr. Baka, the area previously shown as Office Park would
become a strip shopping center.
This Month
Mr. Baka stated that, in response to local residents' concerns,
the company was offering an alternative proposal: move about 2/3 of the retail area from the
Boston Mills parcel to Hines Hill, and put apartments and even higher-density single-family
housing on the rest of the Boston Mills parcel. He characterized the proposed 440 apartment
units as "luxury garden apartments" akin to townhouses. Mr. Baka also gave a proposed
zoning ordinance to Village Solicitor Russ Pry; this would, he said, permit a Planned Unit Development
(PUD) scheme that would allow Omni to change the contents of the development according to market
conditions.
In response to a question from Mr. Scott Carter, Mr. Baka reiterated Omni's view that Office Park
development on Boston Mills Rd. would not be sufficiently profitable due to the asking price of the
land, and to Duke's proposed developments in adjacent Hudson. An audience member pointed out
news reports that Duke was trying to renegotiate its development agreement with Hudson, to
avoid development along Boston Mills Road in favor of the Route 303 district. Mr. Baka stated that
he had no specific knowledge of this.
Mr. Baka also again mentioned that commercial development would gain leverage in a re-design of the
proposed Route 8 interchange. An audience member pointed out that the current design put an
exit ramp directly over the proposed strip shopping center on Boston Mills Road, which would then
be likely to be "pushed" east. In reference to Mr. Baka's statement that retail could
not be placed off of Boston Mills Road, back along the Turnpike, it was pointed out that
Macedonia Commons had exactly this sort of layout.
Councilor Dr. Mike Cheung stated that the previously proposed high-density single-family homes (about 4 per acre)
was "already a stretch" for Boston Heights zoning, and that the newly-suggested
apartments would likely be a "non-starter". Impact on village services would be huge,
he suggested, with little tax income. Mr. Baka disputed this to some extent, insofar as the access
roads might not be dedicated roads. Dr. Cheung suggested that other land owners would be
pressuring for the same high-density housing; Mr. Baka thought that a PUD would protect against that.
Dr. Cheung remained skeptical. In response to another question, Mr. Baka stated that the
previously proposed water park/hotel/resort was provisional, and didn't seem to be very welcome
in the Village.
Ms. Sharon Pecoraro, of E.Boston Mills Road, noted that she had just purchased her property
across from the proposed development, in full knowledge that it was zoned Office Professional.
She felt that the proposed development would unreasonably increase population density and
traffic volumes in the area. It would adversely effect her life and property.
Another audience member, residing elsewhere in the village, voiced an opposing view:
that since the land had already been rezoned for some type of commercial use (Office Professional),
it might as well be rezoned again for retail so that the village could capture tax income.
Councilor Ms. Terry Slane (also a mayoral candidate), asked whether Mr. Baka really felt that
the State of Ohio (ODOT) would be amenable to changes in their Route 8 plan. Mr. Baka did think so.
Ms. Slane also asked whether Omni would be fiscally responsible for necessary improvements to the roads
and infrastructure feeding these developments. Mr. Baka did not make a definitive reply,
stating that such matters were subject to negotiation with "the community". Ms. Slane
concluded by stating that she felt this new proposal for apartments/cluster homes/retail was "going backward"
from the previous proposal for retail/hotel/cluster homes development on Boston Mills Road.
Councilor Mr. Bill Goncy (also a mayoral candidate) noted that developments along Twinsburg Road
had not forced ODOT's hand to build better access there; he stated that he would prefer
office and hotel development on Boston Mills Road.
Mrs. Jane Robinson, of Olde 8 Road, asked whether the previously-proposed water park would be
enclosed or outside. Mr. Baka said it would likely be in a 20,000 square-foot enclosure.
Further comments from Dr. Cheung, and from Zoning Inspector Mr. David Himes, examined the
matter of property pricing and sales terms vs. profitable development. Mr. Himes suggested
that perhaps the property was simply overpriced. Mr. Goncy suggested that perhaps the Village
could weigh in on further negotiations with the owners.
Resolution:
Reviewed by Planning Commission.
Back to the Agenda/Map
General Zoning: Fences and Storage
This is continued from last month; please see notes from the
September 2003 PC/BZA meeting.
The Village Zoning Inspector, Mr. David Himes, had requested guidance, or more
specific legislation, on several topics. These have caused some controversy
during his zoning enforcement:
Solicitor Russ Pry distributed proposed ordinances to the members of the Planning Commission,
which were not made immediately available to the public. He also noted that it would be necessary
for the newly-enacted Zoning Code to be changed to restore some form of REC Recreational
zoning, as required for Matthews-Thomas Park.
There was also a protracted discussion with a representative of Ohio Edison (First Energy)
about that company's leased lighting program. These lights, mounted high on utility poles,
tended to be in violation of the Planning Commission's requirement for lighting height. The
gentleman from Ohio Edison stated that these lights could not be lowered, for reasons of
electrical safety. There was some speculative discussion as to whether the utility could
in this case ignore zoning requirements. This was left unresolved.
Resolution:
Reviewed by Planning Commission.
Back to the Agenda/Map
Some documents are Public Domain Information
from the Village of Boston Heights OH or other public entities.
Other materials Copyright 2001-2003 W.J.Hinkle
and BostonHeights.Org
Boston Heights Overlook and BostonHeights.Org are not affiliated with the Village of Boston Heights OH.
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