KENT PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING AUGUST 4, 2015 MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: Anthony Catalano John Gargan Amanda Edwards Doria Daniels Peter Paino Jennifer Barone, Development Engineer Eric Fink, Assistant Law Director I. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. II. Roll Call: Mr. Catalano, Mr. Gargan, Ms. Edwards, Ms. Daniels and Mr. Paino and were present. III. Reading of the Preamble The Planning Commission operates in accordance with the provisions of the Kent City Charter, the Kent Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations, all of which establish the powers and duties of the Commission. Members of the Planning Commission are appointed by Kent City Council and serve without compensation. Certain cases such as Conditional Zoning Certificates, Special Zoning Permits, Overlay District Projects and Zoning Amendment require Public Hearings before the Planning Commission. During the Public Hearing, any person wishing to address their concerns to the Commission will be provided the opportunity. Once the Public Hearing is closed, it shall be the discretion of the Chair whether to allow any additional public comment. Cases such as Site Plan Reviews and Subdivision Projects do not require a Public Hearing. However, the Chair will allow public comment on each case as it is taken on the agenda. In each instance where the Commission receives public comments or conducts a Public Hearing, those persons wishing to address their concerns to the Commission will be required to do so under oath or positive affirmation. The oath or affirmation shall be administered to all who wish to speak at the beginning of the Planning Commission Meeting. Once a decision has been made by the Planning Commission on a case, the Case is closed for the commission, as there is no provision to reopen a case. With the exception of cases falling under the Subdivision Code, any decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City s Board of Zoning Appeals in accordance with the Chapter 1109 of the Zoning Code. Anyone interested in appealing a decision of the Planning Commission is advised to seek private legal counsel.
Page (2) IV. Administration of Oath Mr. Fink instructed those members of the audience wishing to be heard on any of the cases presented at this meeting to rise and raise their right hand. Mr. Fink administered the Oath, Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony that you are about to give this evening is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Please say I do. The participants responded, I do. V. Correspondence None VI. Old Business A. PC15-014 FAIRMOUNT PROPERTIES College Town Parcel D 220 South Depeyster Street Site Plan Review The applicant is seeking approval of the Park Fee agreement of the mixed use facility for commercial and residential project recommended by the Park Board. The subject property is zoned C-D: Commercial Downtown District. Mr. Catalano asked the applicant to present his case. Norm Elbin (1138 West 9 th Street, Cleveland, OH) stated he represented Fairmount Properties. He said Fairmount Properties agreed to pay the park pee of $15,600 that the Parks and Recreation Board recently approved. PUBLIC COMMENTS None PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION Mr. Fink stated that the fee is calculated under the new rules. Ms. Daniels asked if this was the standard rate. Mr. Fink stated that everyone agreed with the calculated fee. There were no other questions or comments. Mr. Catalano asked for a motion.
Page (3) MOTION: Mr. Paino moved that in case PC15-014, Fairmount Properties, College Town Kent Parcel D, property located at 220 South Depeyster, that the Planning Commission approves the Park Fee in the amount of $15,600.00 for a mixed use facility for commercial and residential. Ms. Daniels seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 0. VII. New Business A. PC15-015 HUNTINGTON BANK ATM 1580 South Water Street Conditional Zoning Certificate and Site Plan Review The applicant is requesting approval of a Conditional Zoning Certificate and Site Plan Review & Approval in order to construct an ATM in the Marc s Plaza. The subject property is zoned C: Commercial District. Mr. Catalano asked the applicant to present his case. Chris Humphrey (4495 Millwater Drive, Powell, OH) stated he represented Huntington Bank. He said Huntington Bank plans to install a free standing, drive-up ATM in the Marc s Plaza parking lot. He said this is the standard design for a stand-alone ATM. PUBLIC COMMENTS None PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION Ms. Barone reviewed the staff report and noted that there is room to stack three cars. She said no landscaping is required. She said that 11 existing parking spaces will be removed from the parking lot to install the ATM. Mr. Paino had no comments. Ms. Edwards had no comments. Mr. Gargan asked the applicant if he had any idea what is the current utilization. Mr. Humphrey replied no but there was more than enough parking. There were no other comments or questions. Mr. Catalano asked for a motion.
Page (4) MOTION: Mr. Gargan moved that in case PC15-015, Huntington Bank, property located at 1580 South Water, that the Planning Commission approves the Conditional Zoning Certificate and Site Plan to install an ATM in the Marc s Plaza. Subject to the following conditions: 1) Submit for Technical Plan Review. 2) Provide evidence of site control. Mr. Paino seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 0. B. PC15-016 PORTAGE COMMUNITY BANK 1530 South Water Street Site Plan Review The applicant is requesting Site Plan Review & Approval in order to construct a new commercial building for their operations office. The subject property is zoned C: Commercial District. John Gargan recused himself from this discussion. Mr. Catalano asked the applicant to present his case. Ted Manfrass (101 Parking N., Ravenna, OH) stated he is the architect for the project. Kevin Lewis stated he is the President of Portage Community Bank. Mr. Manfrass stated that the bank purchased the three lots 10 years ago. Currently the house is being used for the loans/operations department but the space it is no longer adequate for offices. He said they plan to raze the existing house and build a 2,400 square foot building in its place. There will be five private offices, eight modular work stations, conference room, staff areas and restrooms. PUBLIC COMMENTS None PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION Ms. Barone summarized the staff report and stated that the Architectural Review Board meeting was cancelled due to the lack of a quorum. She said the Planning Commission may table this case or may use the proposed motion language and state that the applicant must meet the Architectural Review Board s recommendations.
Page (5) Mr. Paino asked about the consolidation split of the three lots to meet the zoning code setback requirement. Mr. Manfrass replied that the bank will occupy the majority of the site and the individual lots are too small for this project. Mr. Paino asked about the landscaping. He said a detention basin would look good in the area. Mr. Manfrass stated that some rocks and grass will be used to hide the outlet structure that will be similar in design as the bank. Ms. Daniels stated she liked the landscaping. Ms. Edwards stated it was a nice project. The application for the project submitted was complete. Mr. Catalano had no comments. There were no other comments or questions. He asked for a motion. MOTION: Ms. Edwards moved that in case PC15-016, Portage Community Bank, property located at 1530 South Water, that the Planning Commission approves the Site Plan to construct a new commercial building for their operation office. Subject to the following conditions: VIII. Other Business 1) Submit for Technical Plan Review. 2) Consolidating/splitting the property to meet the zoning setback. 3) Provide bicycle storage, rack or other bicycle friendly facility for one (1) bicycle. 4) Incorporate the recommendations from the Architectural Review Board. 5) Submit a photometric plan. Mr. Paino seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 0. Presentation by Kent State University on the construction status and upcoming projects. Motion: Mr. Gargan moved to change the order of the agenda because the representatives from Kent State University were not ready to give the presentation. Mr. Paino seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 0.
Page (6) B. HALLMARK CAMPUS COMMUNITIES Holly Drive Conceptual Presentation Rooming and Boarding House Project Mr. Catalano asked the representatives from HallMark to give the presentation. David Williams representing HallMark Campus Communities stated they were not looking for any action to be taken. He said the y want input from the Planning Commission. He said the people from Hall Mark have met with the City staff. The buildings will be partially in Franklin Township. He said a rooming house is permitted in this district and that they have applied to the township. Gus Cook (150 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH) from HallMark Campus Communities, passed out packets and data sheets to the Planning Commission. He said the site is 4.5 acres in Kent ((Pizzino/Miller) and 2.8 aces (two properties) in the township. He said the Planning Commission was looking at a conceptual plan. The house will have 362 beds in 98 units. The first page in the packet showed the parking and emergency access. He said they want to maintain access along Holly Drive. He said pedestrians and bicyclists will be encouraged. The second page was just a blowup of the first page. He said there will be 110 parking spaces in Kent and 242 parking spaces in Franklin Township. It will be a three story structure. He said the first building will be off Horning Road and will include the leasing office. The third page showed the setback requirements and they will be asking for relief of the side yard setback with more against the residential side. He said they have spoken with the neighbors. The fourth page showed the greenspace. He said none is required but nearby they are meeting the 30% requirement. The fifth page showed the fire department access, turning radius and access to Holly Park. They will maintain the emergency access that needs to be maintained along Holly Drive. He said this access will be improved but only for pedestrian and pavers for safety forces. The sixth page showed the PARTA route. The seventh page showed the site. All the storm water will go north through storm basins which will help areas that currently have flooding issues.
August, 2015 Page (7) The eighth page showed the general building profiles and sections. Mr. Cook referred to the data on the street information. There ae 62 spaces for park-nride. The use of 0.75 parking spaces per bed would give the site 81 spaces. Mr. Paino asked if any green space was required. He said the data sheets given to the commissioners were wrong regarding the setbacks and zoning. Mr. Cook stated that the park-n-ride was a township condition. There are land bank spaces for PARTA to create park-n-ride spaces. He said the area highlighted in yellow was not part of the 242 required parking spaces. A discussion was held on the setbacks. Mr. Paino stated there was nowhere to play outside. There was no common field and he would like to see green space. A community center would be nice. He said 0.8 spaces are required per bed. Mr. Cook stated there will be stickers and on site management of parking. He said the fire department wants 24 with nothing in the way in the drive aisles. Mr. Gargan asked if they had acquired the parcels. Mr. Cook replied they are under contract. Mr. Gargan asked if a market study had been done. He said they do not want to over build. Mr. Cook stated extensive research has been done including University Edge. He said they have been following the market for the past five years with actual market details and rents. He said this site will be smaller than Aspen Heights. The City of Kent is doing a housing study which will be good for this. Ms. Edwards stated the setback requirements should be met and there should be green space. She said there are four bedroom units with nowhere to meet outside the units. Mr. Cook stated that the community center is available. Ms. Edwards asked if PARTA was an issue Mr. Cook replied it makes transportation available.
August, 2015 Page (8) Ms. Edwards asked if the issue of bus stops was in the code. Ms. Barone stated this is not a code requirement. Ms. Daniels asked if there were flooding issues. Mr. Cook replied that there will be engineering controlled storm water basins to the north. He provided a drawing showing the storm water system. Mr. Catalano agreed with Mr. Paino that there should be more green space in the southwest corner, near the parking lot. He showed the applicant the areas of concern. Mr. Williams asked if there was guidance for green space. Mr. Paino replied it should be of some size and should not count the detention basins as usable. Mr. Cook stated there will be areas such as courtyards and the paver brick are in the open. He said they will provide more details at a later date. Mr. Catalano thanked the representatives from HallMark for their conceptual presentation. A. Presentation by Kent State University on the construction status and upcoming projects. Kent State University could not give their presentation because the audio visual equipment was not working. They will return to present information in September. Ms. Barone stated there will be no meeting on August 18, 2015. IX. Adjournment Motion: Ms. Daniels moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gargan. The motion carried 5 0. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.