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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.

Results of the 5 July 2006 7PM meeting of the
Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals for the Village of Boston Heights, Ohio

Click on items or parcels for more info.

Parcels 1400409,1400403 Parcels 1400409,1400403 American Pools - 6337 Chittenden Rd. American Pools - 6337 Chittenden Rd.

Other Links:
Boston Heights Zoning Code
Boston Heights Business & Location List
Board of Zoning Appeals
  1. Pro-Classic Real Estate Inc. / American Dream Productions LLC
    Parcels 1400409, 1400403, vacant land east of Route 8

    Application for variance to allow oversize real estate signs in a Retail Business District.
    Deferred by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Planning Commission
  1. American Pools & Fountains Ltd.
    6337 Chittenden Road

    Application for permit to erect sign per CO 1179, for a business in a Light Manufacturing District.
    Deferred by the Planning Commission.
  2. Old Business
    Consideration of long-term Village planning issues. (Continued)
    Consideration of further changes to Zoning and Building Codes. (Continued)
    Discussed by the Planning Commission.

General Notes
Deputy Solicitor Jason Dodson acted as legal counsel for the Planning Commission and BZA. Zoning Inspector David Himes and Engineer Steve Schreiber were also in attendance.


The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA): present were Chairman William Hinkle, Don Polyak, and Council Rep. Mike Cheung. Laurie Stoddard and Ed Fetko were absent. No minutes were received from the April and May meetings, but June minutes were corrected and approved.

Planning Commission (PC): present were Chairman John Codrea, Mayor Ray McFall, Mike Bush, Bob Campbell, and Council Rep. Mike Cheung. No minutes were received from the April and May meetings, but June minutes were corrected and approved.


 

BZA #1: Pro-Classic Real Estate Inc. / American Dream Productions LLC
Parcels 1400409, 1400403, vacant land east of Route 8
Application for variance to allow oversize real estate signs in a Retail Business District.

Pro-Classic Real Estate Inc. of Walton Hills appears to be the agent for the owner of the vacant land east of Route 8, north of UltraSpec, and west of the Ashbrooke West development and Brandywine Creek. The property owner appears to be American Dream Productions Inc., with a tax mailing address that is the same as that of other companies owned by Mr. Joe Mangione of San Antonio Texas. According to news sources, Mr. Magnione is a well-known commercial and retail developer in those parts.

The total property within Boston Heights consists of three parcels: parcel #1300899, parcel #1400409, parcel #1400403 totalling about 156.5 acres. This property is all in the RB Retail Business District; the County is considering whether to build a new access road through this land from Hines Hill to Twinsburg Road. The first two parcels were lately transferred from "Five J-CTMS Ltd", another company associated with Mr. Mangione. The latter was lately purchased from Brandywine Preserve, the developer of the townhouses along Twinsburg Road north of Ashbrooke West. American Dream also now owns an additional 49 acres in Northfield Center Township, contiguous to the Boston Heights property and extending all the way up to Twinsburg Road.

The present application relates specifically to parcels #1400409 and #1400403, where, back in April 2006, the agent erected large real estate sale signs along Route 8. The Zoning Code states: "A temporary sign advertising the sale, lease, or rental of business property shall be permitted on that property, provided such sign does not exceed six square feet in area per side. ...". As both of these signs are 4x8 feet (one sided), the Zoning Inspector seems to have advised the agent that a variance of CO 1179.04(c)(4)(B) is required to retain these sign in this zoning district. (cf. CO 1179.04(d)). A number of similar variance requests have been heard by the BZA.

The current oversize signs read, variously: "Coming Soon, Lifestyle Center"; "Now Taking Site Reservations";"Retail - Specialty Shops - Restaurants - Dining - Hotels - Offices"; "Mixed Use"; "Outlots - Restaurants - Retail - Hotels - Entertainment".

At the BZA meeting, no one showed up to speak to the application for variance. On a motion by Dr. Cheung, the matter was deferred until next month, and the board's clerk was asked to so inform the applicant.

Resolution:
Deferred by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Back to the Agenda/Map

 

PC #1: American Pools & Fountains Ltd.
6337 Chittenden Road
Application for permit to erect sign per CO 1179, for a business in a Light Manufacturing District.

American Pools & Fountains Ltd. (charter #1373861) is a business at 6337 Chittenden Road. This property is parcel #1300349, 4.71 acres in the Light Manufacturing District, owned by MDF Development Group LLC. Although the County has this property listed for tax purposes as residential with a single-family home, it appears to be a commercial enterprise; in fact, the business' website advertises its "store" for walk-in business at this address, noting a "grand opening" in June 2005. It is not clear whether a site plan was ever approved by the Planning Commission.

This company appears to be related to Color-Crete and Sunnywood Land Development, at the same address but with different state charters, phone and FAX numbers.

The company has applied to replace the existing free-standing Color-Crete sign with a new sign advertising this business' name and logo.

At the PC meeting, no one showed up to speak to the application. On a motion by Dr. Cheung, the matter was deferred until next month, and the PC's clerk was asked to so inform the applicant.

Resolution:
Deferred by the Planning Commission.
Back to the Agenda/Map

PC Old Business

Consideration of long-term Village planning issues per Council Res. 31-2004.
With Resolution 31-2004, Village Council asked the Planning Commission to enter into discussions with adjacent communities and to consider planning and zoning coordination, including the possibility of residential growth limitation. Previously, PC member and Council representative Dr. H. Michael Cheung announced that he is compiling a narrative that would reflect the history and intent of the Village's land use and zoning plan.

Consideration of further changes to Zoning and Building Codes

Further to both of these matters, Dr. Cheung pointed out that it had been five years since the initiation of the previous comprehensive review of the Village's zoning. He recommended that the Planning Commission undertake another review of the matter, and that members consider what issues are worth discussing and amending. He pointed out that the Route 8 upgrade project would cause major changes in land use within the village, as would proposals for projects "on our borders". (The latter reference was probably to the proposed soccer stadium complex in Northfield Center Township.) From the audience, Council President Bill Goncy endorsed the idea of creating a narrative Comprehensive Plan to express the goals and intentions of village land use planning. Zoning Inspector Dave Himes added that this should expressly be a long-range plan.

In addition, the Planning Commission discussed and refined the Zoning Inspector's draft of a new application form for Zoning Certificates.

Dr. Cheung also mentioned that he had met with developer Sam Petros to further discuss the development of the Boston Heights Country Club golf course property. Without going into any detail, Dr. Cheung reported some ideas were offered and discussed, and that he gave his views to Mr. Petros. He felt that it was possible that Mr. Petros' development group might be put forward another development plan in the future. Please see the March 2006 PC meeting, et al., for the recent history of this matter.

Resolution:
Discussed by the Planning Commission.
Back to the Agenda/Map

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