Laserfiche WebLink
<br />` PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 22, 1986 PAGE 2 <br />drive north would serve any purpose. City Engineer Schaller advised <br />that there was no signal on the north side of the existing traffic light <br />and since the light will be for the developers advantage, the cost should <br />be born by him (the City assumes the maintenance). He suggested traffie <br />activated signalization. Mr. Morgan questioned this since the.,Commission <br />is requiring the drive at this location. Chairman Burns read a letter <br />from the Reverend L. Gordon Blasius, pastor of the John Knox United <br />Presbyterian Church (see attached) and another from Ross E. Eyer, President <br />.of the Board of Trustee's (see attached). Mr. John Schurr, a ruling elder <br />of the church, gave a brief history of the property involved: property <br />was purchased by Rocco and Hennie Puzzitiello in 1964 for $33,000; later, <br />after the centerline was journalized in the mid-seventies and after Mr. <br />Puzzitiello requested a building permit from the City, the State of Ohio <br />purchased a strip of land ap.proximately 15' by 400' for the roadway at <br />the cost of $22,000., they also granted $41,000 for damages to the balance <br />of the property and paid $6,000 for a temporary easement to be used during <br />the construction, making a total of $69,000 compensation. It is also pos- <br />sible that another 25 feet of land may be needed for a turning point, and <br />this, t.oo, could cost the taxpayers money. He concluded that since the <br />developer has been paid damages, and taking into consideration the traffic <br />problems previously discussed,' that no variance should be granted. Mr. <br />Nagy, also representing the church, stated that the Board of Zoning Appeals <br />granted a set back variance predicated on the approval of the Planning <br />Commission and the Safety Department, thus shifting the responsibility of <br />granting the variance to the Commission, and he maintained that there is <br />no variance because there is no approval. He quoted four of the points <br />mentioned in the Oliio Jurisprudence regarding variances whicfi would be <br />applicable in this -case and concluded that the Commission should not <br />grant a variance on these points. Councilman Tallon asked the Commission <br />to consider the following points: activating the north side of the light <br />would rob time from the operating lights (probably from the Lorain Road <br />side); variance should have been granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals, <br />not predicated on Planning Commission's approval; property was paid for <br />and it should cpnform to the setbacks required. Councilman Lackey':s.tated <br />that the temporary access during construction period should be considered <br />at this time. Mrs. Davis, a member of the church, asked that the integrity <br />of the use of the land be maintained by not.granting zoning changes and <br />variances, and that granting a variance for a road prior to its develop- <br />ment is setting a pr.ecedent; In reference to the variance, Assistant Law <br />Director Dubelko advised that the variance had been granted on the condi- <br />tion that the developer had agreed to be bound by any reasonable condi.tions. <br />Mr._Nagy and Councilman'Woerpel disagreed witfi this cvntention maintaining. <br />that no variance has been granted until the Planning Commission approves. <br />Attorney'Moss reminded the Commission that because of inflation this pro- <br />perty is more valuab le than when the compensation was made. Mr.. Gorris <br />questioned if the Board of Zoning Appeals could reconsider this variance <br />on the basis that they did not have all the facts pertinent to the com- <br />pensation received. Mr. Dubelko stated that the general subject was <br />discussed, and it is to be presumed that the Board granted the variance <br />being aware of all the material facts. In reference to Captain Krynak's <br />comments, City Engineer Schaller stated that.it was his responsibility to <br />determine what modifications to the light would be needed, and this would <br />be determined after the detailed plans were available. A member of the <br />audience suggested that there should be some clarification of wh at the