09/24/1996 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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I. _ Y. retail developinent; the Saturday figures are higher at the intersections with a retail development, but they are not as high as the evening peak hour with the exception of the Wal Mart entrance. The next chart described the level of service rated from "A" to "F" with "A" being superior and "F" being the poorest at the intersections that were studied. The following chart showed the existing leveLs of sexvice at these intersections during the p.m. peak hour and the Saturday peak hour without new development and without any traffic improvements. The third chart showed the level'of service projected for 1998 without addition development and without improvements which showed very little change, except for Brookpark and Columbia (estimated at a six percent growth rate). The fourth chart estimated the daily traffic volumes with the proposed development, includ.iug weekday morning peak hours, evening peak hours, and Saturday peak hours. Mr. Wentzell explained that North Olmsted was in the process of upgrading the traffic signal system within the city and they had eonsidered this when doing the study for both the office and retail impact. They also considered the roadway improvements for additional lanes which they are recommend.ing for the retail development. This study concluded that an office complex would have a similar or greater impact upon weekday peak hour traffic, which is when the highest traffic volumes occur on Brookpark Road. He explained the road improvements that they planned: signal improvement at Brookpark and Great Northern which will provide additional left turn phases; the medium widths of the median strip on Brookpark will be reduced to 4 feet to allow left turns as recommended by O.D.O.T: the left turn lane at Brookpark and Great Northern will be extended; new left and right turn lanes will be added, and the traffic signal will be re-phased to allow for those turns at the Wal Mart/access drive to this retail development; a right turn in and out drive onto Brookpark Road, will be added; and a new right turn lane and extended left turn lanes on east and west approaches along with revised traffic signal phases will be addecl at Brookpark and Columbia Roads. He believed that these improvements would inaintain, or even improve, the current levels of service even if the traffic volumes increase. Mr. Richardson advised Mr. Manning that they planned to pay for these proposed improvements. He presented various illustrations showing the proposed site and the abutting property, and advised that they would be deeding 40 foot oftheir land to the adjacent residents, but, if any resident did not want the additional property, they would give them a perpetual easement. He explained they hired a certified appraiser to study the adjacent property to determine the impact on these homes by the retail development, who concluded that this development would have no negative impact on the adjacent properiy values. He advised the neighbors that they would provide copies of the appraisal. Mr. Bader, architect and landscape architect, explained the site plan. He advised that, because of the residents previous objections, they have eliminated the proposed restaurant from the plans, and there will be no restaurant on this site. T`he largest building shown at the eastern end of the property will be a Home Depot, a major retailer with 53,000 square feet will be in the center of the site; arid two other retail buildings, 23,000 and 26,000 square foot respectively, will beat the western portion of the property. He clarified that there were some quality trees within the buffer zone, and some which need to be removed; they will add trees and re-landscape the entire buffer along Westview and MitchEll Drives and Columbia Road. They intend to use varied plant materials that will create the largest screening for the development and would put in larger sizes than was agreed upon with the rezoning. They will do a complete tree survey, protect the existing trees, and supplement them with new growth. He pointed out the line that depicted a 6 foot board on board which will border the residential properiy, but it has been moved in 40 feet, but that could always be varied to give a more aesthetic appearance. They are willing to do mounding on their side of the property to protect the buffer. Parking lot landscaping and mounding will be installed along with landscaping along Brookpark Road with flowers detailing the entries into the project. They intend to keep the service facilities facing Brookpark Road and screening them with landscaping to keep many of the service areas away from the residents. He pointed out that they are maintaining the office building setback of 100 feet, which is deeper than the normal retail setback. The 55 foot berm, required with the rezoning, has been extended to 75 feet, they will add at 6