11/12/2002 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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George said one reads entrance and one reads exit. He said that is per the traffic survey through the city engineering department. That department said to leave the signs the way they are but take off the body shop entrance and put entrance on the one and exit on the other to improve it. Mrs. Hoff-Smith said it is one of the most accident-prone areas in the city and the drive is very close to the intersection. She asked if there is anything they can do to make it a right turn only. Mr. George said there is a gas station right next to him where people make left and right turns too. His entrance on that side almost marries the drive exiting for the gas station. Mrs. Hoff-Smith said they are taking the most dangerous intersection in the city and compounding the problem. Mr. George said there is a turn lane there and it is never vacant long enough for someone to make a left hand turn. Mr. Spalding asked if he would have a problem with saying right turn only. Mr. George indicated that is not a problem at all. He knows it is a complicated area. Mr. Spalding asked about the refuse trucks access at the rear of the property. The engineer had reported it would be difficult in that area. Mr. George said they have no problem there now. He referred to the blue prints and pointed out some vacant land by the bowling alley. He said the dumpster is actually located partially on that property. They moved it over there because they planned on doing some work back there. Mr. Spalding asked if they have an easement. Mr. George said he could get an easement from the owner but it is not necessary at this point. Mr. Koeth asked where the handicapped parking is located. Mr. Margulies said there are 2 designated spots; one for a van and one by the entrance to the ramp by the deck. The first one is out in the parking lot in the center isle. Mr. Koeth asked Mr. Rymarczyk if they have enough spots for parking. Mr. Rymarczyk indicated they do. He said they reduced the number of occupants for the restaurant therefore they meet the code. He mentioned there was a discrepancy on the light fixture to be used. He said there was a conflict on the two spec sheets. Mr. Margulies clarified the light fixture to be used and handed out the correct plan. He said if they review the photometrics, by the time they are out 48 feet, which is not quite at the property line, they show .1 foot candles. They reviewed the plan further. Mr. Allan asked if the body shop is 2 stories. Mr. George indicated it is 1 story. He explained the topography from the front to the rear is about 8 feet and when a person looks at it from the street there is a 3 step deck that separates the building. That is the only part that is 2 stories. What they are dealing with is the front upper section. The rest of it is like a basement area that walks out to the parking lot and then the rear building. Mr. Allan said he assumes there is some sort of firewall between the two buildings. Mr. George said the building is compartmentalized with brick walls in between. The front 2nd story has a brick wall that separates it from the rear and from the next tenant over with access doors between each one. There is a concrete floor between the downstairs and the upstairs. Mr. Margulies said the body shop fiuiction never touches the restaurant. The only part that does is the offices of the body shop. The offices are part of the body shop so he has to separate them from the restaurant above with a 3 hour separation. Mr. Allan asked if it was the EPA that came in to look around and said they can go ahead and paint in one room and cook in the other. Mr. George indicated that was correct. Mr. Koeth asked if there is any type of landscaping in the back by the swale. Mr. Margulies indicated it will be gravel in the back. Mr. Koeth asked if the curb goes all the way around the parking spaces. Mr. George said there is a sewer entrance down below and the furthest corner where they might have to have water gather may have to be squared off. It would still give them the 15 foot setback. Mr. Margulies said there is a yard drain there that picks up all the run-off. The paved area is all self-contained. Mr. Spalding asked about the fencing. Mr. George indicated the wooden stockade fence will be replaced. Mr. Allan asked what is in the front section of the building. W. George said the lower section is the office for the body shop and the upstairs is now a cell phone shop, which used to be the office for the body shop. Mr. George conf?irmed that is where the proposed restaurant will go. Mr. Koeth asked for questions from the audience. There were none. Mr. O'Malley said that on behalf of his colleague in the engineering department he would recommend that the lot consolidation be inade a condition of approval. He thinks the building and engineering department have routinely seen that kind of matter handled administratively and brought before the Planning Commission after the fact but in conjunction with the development, often times before the final occupancy occurs. Mrs. Hoff-Smith asked if getting an easement should be a condition of approval as well. Mr. Koeth said it is up to the applicant. Mr. Spalding asked if the dumpster is on the neighbor's property. Mr. George said it not, it was on his property and they moved it to the neighbor's lot because they are cleaning the lot. He said the location on the plans is where it has been for 15 years. Mr. Koeth asked if the dumpster will be enclosed. Mr. George replied it will be, and it will be fenced in and gated. Mr. Koeth asked for the distance between the bowling alley and his building. Mr. George indicated that at the shortest point it is 12 feet. He added the fire department would be able to get back there. Mr. Rymarczyk said there is a 13 foot driveway going back. He cannot conf?irm whether or not a fire truck can get in. The fire department would have to answer that. Mr. George indicated a very large truck was just back there to set a pole for the Illuminating Company. Mr. Spalduig asked if they only have one light in the back parking lot. Mr. George said there is one on the pole and it lights up the whole back area. 4