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;,-• . <br />Mr. Benik advised that he drew his own scale drawings to avoid the cost of an <br />architect's plan until he actually received a variance. He pointed out that <br />whoever drew the "Dubelko plan" had suggested an in and out drive on both <br />Whitethom and on Lorain which was agreeable to all the Planning Commission <br />members on June 23rd. He:cla.rified that when this property was used as a service <br />station there was access onto Whitethorn, but in 1989 when Toys 'R Us was <br />developed the access was taken away without any notification to them. He noted <br />tha.t Toys 'R Us (across the street) put the traffic light in and relocated the <br />Whitethom intersection. Mr. Orlowski clarified that Mr. Dubelko had advised that <br />the Whitethom access had never been officially approved. Building Commissioner <br />Conway clarified that final motion of Planning Commission had recommended exit <br />only onto Whitethom Avenue. Mr. Benik is asking for ingress/egress on both <br />Whitethom and Lorain. Law Director Gareau believed that it would be diffi.cult to <br />turn from Lorain into the Whitethom drive, but Mr. Benik must justify having <br />this entrance. Mr. Benik presented a plan (noted a"A"), given to him by the <br />Engineering Department, showing the relocated Whitethorn intersection and the <br />traffic signal installed by Toys 'R Us, and stated that this plan showed that <br />turning from Lorain Road into this property has been made easier with the <br />relocation. Assistant City Engineer, L. Griffith, who is the traffic engineer for <br />the city, had agreed that with this eonfiguration it would be easier for a car <br />travelling west on Lorain Road to turn left into his property and it would haue a <br />more direct access point than the original drawing had shown. Mr. Deichmann, the <br />city engineer, agreed and presented a memo stating that: "The Engineering <br />Department does not object to the subject property ha.ving two driveways, one on <br />Lorain Road and one on Whitethorn Avenue, with each serving as an entrance and <br />exit. Because of this, the Engineering Department also has no objection to an <br />aceess drive in front of the building linking the two driveways./The two .._, <br />driveways, each serving as an entrance and exit, would alleviate some potential <br />for accidents as vehicles moving into and aut of the site would have the option <br />of using the Whitethom driveway, hence a signalized intersection on Lorain <br />Road./For your information, enclosed is a copy of the June 24, 1993 memo, as well <br />as the July 12, 1993, memo from Larry Griffith, the City's Traffic Engineer." Mr. <br />Benik believed that the expertise of the Engineering Department should have <br />precedent in a decision of the safety of the conrnnunity as well as the traffic <br />flow on Lorain Road which is overwhelming at this time. He further stated that <br />the code for the front setback is 20 feet and he is proposing 10 feet (11 feet <br />off of the sidewalk) and maintained that the drive in front of the building is <br />vital, not only to the operation of his business, but also to the safe flow of <br />traffic an the premises and in the vicinity of Whitethorn and Lorain. He pointed <br />out the difficulty of a car turning out of St. Richards, and having to get <br />imEdiatelp into the tnrning lane after stopping for the light, especially if <br />there were cars stacked in that lane to get into Toys 'R Us. He speculated that <br />many customers would just drive past his business. The members discussed if there <br />was a turning arrow at this light, and it was noted that there was one on Lorain <br />to turn left into Toys 'R Us. Mr. Gomersall suggested having the 20 foot <br />landscape buffer and the drive behind that (where landbanked parking is shown). <br />Mr. Benik responded that 97% of independent food businesses go out of business, <br />and he would have to create a modern build.ing with a good atmosphere for his <br />customers who, with this plan, would look out on green area. He also has a <br />concern about a car hitting the building if the drive were closer. He would like <br />the landscaping as close to the building as possible. Mr. Conway verified with <br />Mr. Benik that there would be 16 spaces and 4 spaces landbanked. Mr. Benik then <br />presented another plan with the building in the center of the site (plan "C") <br />which does not change any of the variances requested but shows 18 actual spaces <br />5