10/16/2002 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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like. Mr. Zergott asked what else they can do. Mrs. Nader asked what other options there are. Mr. Yager said he could take pictures of other sites that were forced to be more historical. Ms. Radwanski said if North Olmsted had nice historical buildings out there, the company would have no problem matching that, but Lorain is a strip street. It is a mall street. The mold and pattern of that street makes their proposal work. Mr. Yager said his problem is it's a new building but not a new look. He said more thought should be put into how to address the canopy because that is what will be seen down Lorain Road. He said the board has been attempting to improve the look along Lorain. Ms. Radwanski said they are doing a lot for that site. They are doing storm water retention drainage. They are being required to store over 3000 cubic feet of water, which is amazing for that site. The reason they are being asked to do that is because the existing storm water systein is old and is not capable of holding the water. Mr. Yager said every city in every state where he has done work, requires the same thing. Ms. Radwanski indicated that is not true because of the size of this site. She said they will be spending $35,000 more to do this than on any other site she has worked on. Mr. Yager said as an architect they are always required to do on- site retention. Ms. Radwanski said that is true with every site they do, but with this site it is an astronomical amount of water. Mr. Yager said isn't about 80% of the site hard surface, between the roof and the parking. Ms. Radwanski said they are being asked to use agricultural coefficients on the site. They are not being asked to use the standard coefficients. She suggested the board speak with Cathy Becker, the assistant city engineer. Ms. Radwanski indicated they are willing to meet the requirements and willing to spend $35,000 more than a typical building to do that for the city. Mr. Rymarczyk commented that the applicant is saying it is for the city, but he says it is for Speedway. Mr. Yager said he would like them to re-do the canopy. Mrs. Nader asked if what they are presenting is the only type of canopy they use for Speedway. Ms. Radwanski said there are a handful of sites in Michigan that are in historical areas. There are brick buildings down the street and it is very consistent. This now is not being consistent. They are being required to put in mansard canopies which is an additional $45,000 to the project. She does not know the return of investment at this site but if the cost gets too high, it will kill the project. Mr. Ryinarczyk asked what Speedway is doing at the site at Route 252 and Bagley. Ms. Radwanski said it is the same design they are proposing for North Olinsted. NIr. Zergott commented it is a generic canopy there and the building is nicer. Ms. Radwanski said it is a brick building. W. Zergott said perhaps they can work in that direction. He said the city is working to upgrade the buildings that are going up now. It has to start somewhere. Ms. Radwanski said Speedway would be more willing to make it a brick building than they would be to work on the canopy because of the cost factor. Mr. Zergott said they could go to a brick building and maybe the canopy can have brick columns at the base instead of concrete. Ms. Radwanski said she can go a step further and make the columns brick. Mr. Zergott said that would really help and if they can soften the canopy in some way it would be better. He said the sign should have a brick base also. Ms. Radwanski said they would do that automatically if the building were going to brick. Mr. Yager said the board has made a difference with the buildings that have come before them. He said the canopy is ugly and it is inconsistent with a new brick building in the back. He finds it immensely disturbing. He can understand the logic of making the building brick but he does not see why they cannot make the canopy better. He said the face they put on it can be more or less expensive depending on what material they use. Ms. Radwanski said they will not change the face because that is their image. She said Babies 'R Us is right there. She asked if the board would ask them to change their logo. Mr. Yager said they would and everyone that comes before the board goes through the same thing. We are one of the largest retail areas around. We know what people are willing and not willing to do. He said because it is a corporate image means nothing to him. B. Zergott made a motion to approve Speedway; 26516 Lorain Rd., with the following recommendations: The building will be brick, and the board will need to see a sample of the brick. The pillars on the canopy are to be brick, and the sign base is to be brick. He said he marked up the landscape plan and he believes it will jazz things up a bit. He said if they can meet those requirements, he recommends that it goes back 7