07/13/1993 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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3) Wal-Mart Store, 27254 Lorain Road (former Sherwin Williaris site including pa.rt of Cross Roads Dealership and property at 27423 Pti.ll Road). Proposal to construct building. Tabled at meeting of January 18, 1993. Mr. Newberry, engineer, M. Bingham, Wal-Mart real estate manager, D. King, manager of the Elyria store, and D. Lepisto, traffic consultant, represented Wal- Mart. Mr. Newberry explained the revised plans which reflect the requests of the Commission at previous meetings. As requested October 13th, a traffic analysis had been presented and discussed January 18th in detail which is still valid since only the entrances have been changed. Also, they were asked to eliminate all accesses on Dover Center and Mill Roads and secure cross access easements with adjacent commercial neighbors. This plan has one 2 way access point located between Olmsted Square shopping center .and McDonald's and a second right in and right out only access at the former Sherwin Willia.m.s driveway on Lorain Road. There is no access planned on Mill Roacl nor any through the old Sherwin Williams drive onto Dover Center. Wal-Mart has presented cross access agreements to Rally's, Rooney's, He11er's Restaurant, and Suburban Auto Body, Olmsted Square and McDonald's for review pending the results of this meeting. They believe they have been successful in trying to come to some kind of agreement for cross access with the neighbors rather than having curb cuts directly onto the side streets. An 8 to 10 foot high mound, heavily planted, is planned an the west property line adjacent to the residential lots on Porter Road. Originally there was only 1 tree for ever 26 parking spaces, the Commission had asked for 1 for every 10 spaces, they no« show more than that, including-81 shade trees, evergreen and flowering trees. The city forester had walked the site and advised that he will flag trees which should be saved, but believed that only a few were worth saving in the rear between Sherwin Williams and Cross Roads.. They intend to save whatever is possible. The primary pedestrian access is planned from Lorain next to McDonald's through the site to the main entrances and will continue along to Mill Road. An e.xpanded site plan also shows all curb cuts and properties in the immediate vicinity. Cart corrals, probably 5; will be installed in the parking lot and enployees return carts to inside the store. The only exterior storage of merchandise will be in the garden center. Mr. Thomas clarified that there should be no exterior display of goods. Mr. Newberry responded that the only items displayed outside are impulse items which a customer would like to see assembled, such as a swing set. These items will be displayed on a 20 foot sidewalk in front of the store between the main entrance and the garden center but 5 to 10 feet of sidewa]k would remain open, there is seasonal outdoor storage of plant ma,terials. A chain link fence enclosure, the northern garden center, has been added to store more plant material. As requested they have met with the neighbors twice, once in Deceznber and last night, and they plan to continue these meetings. Plans have been submitted to Engineering and Safety. The Engineering Department has advised that they will review for compliance to city criteria after plans are finalized. The Safety Department has reviewed the plans and had no strong aversion to what had been proposed and did not see any par.ticular need for access points onto Mill and Dover Center Roads. Regarding tYie capaeity of the roadways, their traffic impact analysis stated that even tmder current conditions, without this project, traffic signals were warranted at both Mill Road intersections, and that in order to improve traffic flow additional lane construction would be needed. They are aware that the roadways are heavily congested, especially on Saturdays and during rush hours. E?cterior lighting will be 30. foot high black or bronze anodized finished masts with square box lights with blue metal halide lamps directed down toward the parking lot. Wall packs will illtuninate the rear of the building and will appear as a glow, not a glare, to the adjacent residents. He pointed out the 7