05/14/2002 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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A.. the parking, and a 2' variance for the access driveways. He indicated they would like that approved by the ]Board of Zoning Appeals. They would also like to make sure that the fence is continued all the way around the new parking area and continued to the back. The motion was seconded by W. Spalding and unanimously approved. 2. Chambers Funeral Home: 29150 Lorain Road: Proposal consists of alterations to the existing building to accommodate a funeral home. Chairman Koeth asked that the representatives from Chambers Funeral Home come forward to addr•ess the proposal. Mr. Jeff Grusenmeyer, the architect on the project, came forward. He indicated he was accompanied by Dan and Bill Chambers of Chambers Funeral Home, and Mr. Kevin Hinkel, a frierid of Mr. Chambers' for many years and an attorney. Mr. Art Lawrence, of Lawrence Diversified, also joined them. He is a real estate agent working on the project. Mr. Grusenmeyer had Mr. Lawrence pass out photos of the building and he gave a brief history of the building. He indicated that the Chambers Funeral Home is a family-run business and they have been in business for three genf;rations. Dan Chambers is currently running the business. They currently have operations in Cleveland, in the West Park area on Rocky River Drive, and in Berea. This will be their third location. One of their reasons for locating in North Olmsted is to follow the families they serve to the Non:h Olmsted area. Mr. Grusenmeyer displayed plans to the Board and to the audience. He pointed out they have an existing building on the site and their proposal will not add on to that building. There are currently a number of parking spaces on the site and they are going to expand the parking sligtrtly into the corner of the site. There will also be parking in the front of the building. They are look:ing at an extensive amount of landscaping. They will have additional plantings along both sides. The:y will require parking in the front but they have looked to land bank approximately 3 spaces, and pos.;ibly 4 if needed, so they can save 3 of the larger 5 trees that are in front of the building. The interior plan will include extensive renovation of the first floor. The area along the west side will inclizde 6 spaces. He said 4 of the spaees will be used for repose rooms, or parlors. There will.be a cask:et display area, and a workroom in the back. The majority of the front corner will remain as offic;es and will be reconfigured. The area that is currently a room used for concerts and recitals will become a chapel within the inter.ior of the building. Two entrances will be located in the building. There is currently an east side entrance and they will be extending a porte cochere from there, coming out j:rom the building. He pointed this out on the diagram. There will be a front entry on the building to g:ive it a street presence from Lorain Road. The building currently looks to the side of the lot and they feel it will give the building a better appearance to have the street presence on Lorain. It is a sece-ndary entrance. Some of the architecture was selected because it was recommended to them to use some of the style which will be used in the library building that will be down the street from them. He showed a rendering of the building to the Board. They will be cutting a number of windows. There are currently almost no windows. There are 3 or 4 small aluminum framed windows that will be ri-Imoved. They will be putting in windows, especially on the south and east side. They will have the jack arches on top. The entire buildina will be faced in brick. They will be adding an amount of trim on the building including cornice work at the top. In addition to areas that have mansard roofs on two sides of the building, they will be cutting off a portiori of the lower mansard because it comes down somewhat in a'60's or 70's style. They will add a cornice around there, about a 3-foot cornice, and continue the look all the way around the building. In addition, there will be all new materials. The current shingles will all be replaced. They will use a gray slate shingle. He then had Mr. Law-rence show the Board Members the samples. He said the intention is to bring in the Western ResE;rve look to the building. Mr. Koeth asked about the brick cunently in place. Mr. Grusenmeyer indicated the brick that is currently on the building is a mixture. He added that the fake lava stone on the building will come off. He said there are two sides to the building where below the mansard it is 3