Back Index Home Contact Us!

Boston Heights Overlook

This is a publication of Boston Heights Overlook. Not an official public document by, of or for the Village of Boston Heights OH.

Click on items or parcels for more info.

On the agenda of the 07 April 2004 7PM meeting of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals for the Village of Boston Heights, Ohio Mayfield/Thomason Agency for Allstate Insurance Sign approval at 15 W. Streetsboro Road. Reviewed by Planning Commission, no action; see below. Northeast Auto Group LLC Sign approval at 6321 Chittenden Road Approved by Planning Commission; see below. Debra Hummert Lot split approval, residential property at 7108 Olde Eight Rd. Reviewed by Planning Commission, referred to Engineer; see below. Consideration of Zoning and Sign Ordinance Changes Discussion & proposed changes in: sign regulations, fencing, outdoor storage regulations, occupancy permits, reduction in spacing between service stations & self-storage units. Reviewed by Planning Commission; see below.

Mayfield/Thomason: Agency for Allstate Insurance

This is the house and garage on W. Streetsboro Rd. (Rt. 303) near Olde Eight, next to Mayfield Motors.
At its March 2004 meeting, the Planning Commission gave conditional approval to Christine Mayfield (via Bob Thomason) for this property's use as an Allstate Insurance agency, subject to two conditions:
(1) Per Zoning Code 1157.05, the Village Engineer must approve the site plan;
(2) there is to be no common use of paved areas between this office and Mayfield Motors (the adjacent auto dealership).

Mr. Bob Thomason presented to the Planning Commission drawings of, and a placement diagram for, a 100 sq.ft. sign (each side) elevated to a height of 40 feet. It was pointed out to Mr. Thomason that, according to Zoning Code 1171.13, the BZA could approve a raised sign, but only up to 100 sq.ft. counting both sides. Mr. Thomason and Ms. Mayfield asked whether there were any problems with the sign other than its size. Zoning Inspector David Himes stated that he did not see any other problems at first glance, but Dr. Cheung pointed out that the BZA was not required to permit any particular raised sign of any particular size or height.
It appears that the applicants will return to a later meeting with a modified sign request.

Northeast Auto Group LLC

At its August 2003 meeting, the Planning Commission approved use of this property (the former Biker's Chrome building) for use as an auto dealership by Northeast Auto Group LLC (charter #1341570), headed by Richard and Jeffrey Rosen.

The use was subject to the BZA's conditional use certificate: vehicles stored outside not to exceed 30, all less than 10,000# GVW, parked on existing paved surface only; exterior lighting not to exceed height of the building; applicant to comply with all applicable planning and zoning provisions.

Mr. Rosen presented drawings of, and a placement diagram for, a 48 sq.ft. sign (each side), freestanding and not higher than the building parapet. This would replace the existing sign of equal size.

Debra Hummert

Debra Hummert is the owner of 7108 Olde Eight Road, a Residential property totaling about 35 acres and comprising four parcels: #1300216 & #1300215, both in the Hudson school district, with the current house, and #1200026 & #1200027, both in the Woodridge school district, back along the Bike & Hike Trail.

Mr. Robert Winebrenner, a Professional Surveyor (Ohio # 4644) addressed the Planning Commission as Ms. Hummert's representative. He presented plans for re-platting the existing four lots so that the existing house and its driveway would be on a single parcel of about 3 acres. The balance of the land, about 32 acres, would be a separate parcel (or parcels split between the two school districts, more likely). Ms. Hummert planned to build a new house further back on the property, near the existing pond.

It was pointed out to Mr. Winebrenner that Village Engineer Steve Schreiber had noted some technical problems with the drawings, which required correction before they could be submitted to the county. Mr. Winebrunner was worried that this process would hold up construction of the new house. He was assured that when the technical problems were resolved he need not appear before the Planning Commission again, as the PC's Chair and Engineer could then sign off on the approval -- apparently per "Approval without Plat", Zoning Code 1121.06.

1. sign language to cover each district - size, height, placement
2. fences - type, height, opening/no openings, post placement
3. outdoor storage for each district
4. Occupancy Permits - who provides - see CO 1375.01(C)(3)/(4) and 1147.01(B)
5. Required 5000 foot spacing between service stations, per Zoning Code 1159.04(1)(A), and unspecified spacing between self-storage facilities.

Last month, Dr. Cheung acknowledged a consensus that the village's sign regulations were too confusing. More immediately, Liberty Harley-Davidson had asked to have a larger elevated sign (along the Turnpike) than is currently permitted. Some of the current code references include:

• Signage Fees 1101.05(a)
• Home Occupation signage 1141.23
• Residential signage 1153.01(d)(3)-(4)
• Office Professional District signage 1155.08
• Service station signage 1159.04(1)(E)(6) (usually ignored!)
• Raised advertising signs 1171.13
• Illuminated sign permit: Building Code 1385.02(b)(4)
• Residential and Business sign limits: Building Code 1385.09(a)
• Sign maintenance requirements: Building Code 1385.09(b)
• Planning Commission sign review: Building Code 1385.09(c)
• Service station pricing sign regulations: Section 709
• Temporary Sign Ordinance: Section 715

The subject of fencing and outdoor storage had been discussed, without resolution, at the September 2003 and October 2003 meetings of the Planning Commission. The main fencing regulation is currently Zoning Code 1171.07(a). The main outdoor storage regulation is currently Zoning Code 11571.01(f)(1).

The question of service station spacing was raised by Omni Realty's proposal for a Sheetz gas station at the southeast corner of Hines Hill Road and Route 8 -- at the site of the derelict hotel. That site is much closer than 5000 feet to several existing stations: Boston Heights Marathon (481 ft); BP @Boston Mills (2563 ft); Starfire (3082 ft). Dr. Cheung suggested a new limit of 500 feet, measured from parcel lines.

Last month, Dr. Cheung suggested that a similar revision might be made to Self-Service Storage spacing, per Zoning Code 1175.02. While that section requires 1000ft spacing to certain other uses, it specifies no spacing between such facilities. Dr. Cheung suggested a minimum 1000ft spacing.

This month, there was a review of sign regulations proposals developed by a working group over the past month. The other issues were discussed as well.