09/24/1996 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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r4 least the minimum plant material that was required, but probably will add more evergreens, pin oaks, and ornamental trees: Any property that is deeded to the home owners, is to be maintained by them, but any property that has a perpetual easement would be maintained by the owner. Drainage will be worked out with the city and will meet all requirements. The buffer phasing for the office building was to be done over a period of time as the offices were developed; however, they will create the buffers as part of the initial phase of construction. There will be cut-off lighting with a 0" cut off at the property line, and large mounded islands in the parking fields. Building materials will be compatible with the residential area and willcome before all boards for approval. They would continue to meet with the residents as the plans are developed. He presented a rendering showing a more detailed cut of the plant material. Mr. Richardson advised that beside Home Depot, there would be a Home Place store, and an office supply store and another type of retail. Mr. Platz, representing Home Depot, explained that Home Depot is the world's largest building supply compariy with about 600 stores coast to coast and are just opening up in Ohio. He explained that about 20% of their business was done with professional business customers, and they keep eveiytlung one would need to build a complete house. He maintained that the average hourly wage was approximately $10.70 per hour. Each store will employ 150 to 170 people and 75% of those jobs are full time. They offer experienced help which makes them superior to other building supply companies. At this point, Mr. Bader presented site line drawings looking from both a one story dwelling and a.two story dwelling on Mitchell to a 30 foot high retail development and to a 50 foot high office building, plus the height of the penthouse, to show the differences of site lines to both buildings. The setbacks are the same, and the retail building is set farther than what the offices can be setback. He presented a,video of.a computer generated site plan comparing views ofthe retail and office developments as seen from the back yards, from a house, from the office building back to the houses, the landscape buffer with the fence, the buffer with trees after 15 years growth, the landscaping on both sides of the fence. He pointed out that Home Depot would not be seen after the trees had grown aud repeated that they are using the offiee setbacks for the retail which will allow them to create better screening. A neighbor questioned what it would look like in the winter, and Mr. Bader responded that they would be using evergreens and other materials to create the best screening possible. Mr. Richardson concluded by repeating that they have shown through numerous studies by top local and national consultants that there is no demand for office space in the foreseeable future, there is an ample supply of vacancies and vacant land for office: North Olmsted is a retail hub and needs to bring in today's retailers to remain competitive in the market and maintain its tax base. Retail is Noxth Olmsted's economic backbone, bringing in new retailers will help the vacancies since other retailers will follow the big boxes and fill the existing vacancies. There is no difference regarding traffic 'vnpact on the infrastructure between office and retail; retail will provide immediate economic benefits to the city and -to the schools; retail will have a positive impact on the residence, where office will have a negative impact. In response to the members questions, Mr. Corsi advised that they believe that the pulse of the economic strength of this community lies in retail, and they support this project and support the enharicement of retail in North Olmsted as a regional shopping hub to maintain its presence in the market place against its competitors. He stated that the last time there was any discussion for office was in 1988 when this was a potential site for the M. K Ferguson Company corporate headquarters, since then there has been no inquiries regarding offices. He stated that they frequently entertain the brokerage community and offer special packages, but the brokers have brought nothing to them, It had also been very difficult to fill the Corporate Center which they have subsequently sold. At the time of the sale of the Corporate Center the vacancy rate was over 15%, and it had never had over 80% occupancy. He further advised that at the time of the rezoning, this land was given a higher value with the office zoning, and he does not believe that it would be in the best economic interest of the commu.nity to rezone the property back to residential; and he believed that the city's master plan would also preclude 7