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Mr. Newberry the Civil Engineer for Emerald Village and Mr. Hendershott the Project Manager <br />each came forward to be sworn in and address the request. Mr. Newberry reviewed that variance <br />request 1) was required due to the building being shifted 15-feet to the east at the request of the <br />Planning Commission to give the abutting neighbor to the west sufficient buffering as well as <br />eliminating an engineering issue involving the west entry drive. Request 2) deals with existing <br />Metro Park deed restrictions. After multiple meetings with metro parks representatives it was <br />decided that it would be best to move the building forward to alleviate any possible issues. He <br />advised that variance requests 3, 4, and 5 dealing with signage would be withdrawn as they would <br />meet cities sign code requirements. The west entrance ground sign would be eliminated from the <br />plans and the sign at the east entrance would meet city codes. There are 2 three-story wings which <br />will house 100 independent living units and 1 two-story wing which would be 30 assisted living <br />units. All rooms within the independent units meet city codes however the 30 assisted units are <br />loolced at differently as they are not apartments. He has had multiple meetings with the city to <br />address assisted living unit sizes as they are not truly apartments. In researching North Olmsted's <br />City codes there are no allowances for living spaces other than apartments. <br />Mr. Rymarczylc reviewed bare minimum for square footage in City code is 400 square feet and his <br />calculations used in determining the square footage variances required. Mr. Newberry reviewed <br />that the assisted living units would be a little larger than a single size patient's hospital room. <br />Assisted living tenants independence within the units would be limited and most of their activities <br />would be in common or therapy areas. Board members voiced that they were concerned with the 8 <br />units which require more than 100 square-foot variances. Mr. Newberry reviewed that the assisted <br />living tenants require more assistance i.e. getting out of bed, dressing themselves, having meals, <br />and taking medications properly things of that nature. Mr. Hendershott advised that the layout of <br />the rooms for the assisted living were very common and there would not be two tenants in any of <br />the assisted living units. Mr. Rymarczyk advised that assisted living units each show a double bed <br />which would imply there could be two occupants to a room. The board asked if Planning <br />Commission had reviewed the size of the rooms and had any recommendations. Mr. Rymarczylc <br />reviewed that Planning Commission had not addressed the size of each unit as they had not seen the <br />current plans. Mr. Hendershott suggested that to address the 8 units the board could stipulate that <br />any of the room sizes could not exceed requiring a 60 square-foot variance. They would rework <br />room sizes by using common space square footage to malce sure the number of units did not <br />decrease or exceed the limit of a 60 square foot variance. No unit would be less than 340 square <br />feet of living space in the two-story assisted living wing. <br />Board members were not comfortable addressing the square footage living spaces without <br />recommendations from the Planning Commission or without more information as to why assisted <br />living areas did not require the minimum 400 square feet of living space. Mr. Newberry requested <br />that the board address the first two variances and allow them to return to address square-footage of <br />living areas. Mr. O'Malley advised against addressing some variances and not addressing others as <br />past practices of that nature put the board in an awkward situation. <br />Mr. Newberry advised that to address parking issues there would never be more than 18 employees <br />at the site on first shift, and evening and third shifts would have less. Planning Commission <br />discussed landbanking parking spaces to preserve as much green space as possible. The need for <br />vehicles at a site such as this is not high. Mr. Rymarczyk indicated that there are 140 parking <br />spaces shown and there are 130 units plus employees and guest parking has not been addressed by <br />Plaru-iing Commission at this time. He further advised that without photometric plans it is not <br />known if a variance would be needed. Mr. Newberry stated that there would be a photometric plan <br />submitted which would meet, city codes and not require any variances. <br />3 of 5