05/15/2003 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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t ? store itself cannot afford to do less business. He indicated with opening two new stores, the folks in North Olmsted might be inclined to go to the other stores if certain merchandise is not available here. They will spend a million and a half dollars to come in and remodel the North Olmsted facility to make it a world class store. It will have everything the other stores have and be the best store in all of Ohio. He said when Mr. Franz told him the crew dropped four trailers with construction material, they thought everyone was on tune. Mr. Klesta asked for confirmation that it is construction material in the trailers. Mr. Pouliot said it is all construction material. He said they rented the warehouse on Sheldon and it has roughly a quarter of a million dollars worth of inerchandise in it. They never thought this particular store would do $77 million in sales. He said Mr. Franz needs to keep the shuttle trucks going back with freight because they have totally revamped how they receive freight. He reviewed that process. Mr. Klesta said they do not have a problem with the trucks moving in and out. There is a problem with the trucks that are parked and the trailers being dropped. Mr. Pouliot said the four construction trailers are only needed through the first week of July, and the city would never see those trailers again; at least in the next eight years until they remodel again. He said he gives his word on that. The shuttle trucks have to be kept on the lot because they move the merchandise back and forth. They have done that to keep the board and the city happy. He said the facility on Sheldon is an abandoned warehouse and they have had experience with damage to the trucks. If they are able to keep them on their lot, they will be fine. He said they do not want to have trailers or trucks on their lot. They take up valuable parking spaces. They are doing the best they can do but if someone has a better solution, they are open to that. He said they had the same issues in Mentor and he knows their solution can work. They remodeled the store and they had a variance to put construction trailers on site. When they were finished, they cleaned up everything, replanted seeds, and made sure it looked perfect. They rented a warehouse and shuttled merchandise back and forth. Mr. Althen asked if they plan to keep the two other trailers aside from the construction trailers. Mr. Pouliot said there should be no trailers other than the shuttle trucks. He said there should be nothing except construction trailers there. Mr. Franz said all six will go away after construction is completed. Mr. Pouliot said they would like until July 8th just in case there are any problems. Mr. Klesta said the board has been very flexible but his big concern has to do with no one from Wal Mart appearing when the issue came to the board the first couple of years. He is upset that Wal Mart did not have the common courtesy to send someone to address the board. Mr. Pouliot apologized on behalf of Wal Mart but said when he was informed about what was going on he made sure he could be present. He said their intent is to comply with the law. Mr. Conway asked Mr. O'Malley to share his legal opinion on the situation. Mr. O'Malley said that the board's prior order never to have the matter come up again is not consistent with the board's jurisdiction. He said as an example, the Board of Zoning Appeals may make a decision about a 5-foot variance. They don't then want to see another 5-foot variance request. They don't want to see the same request; they want to see a substantially different request. He said the board can view this matter as being somewhat different from previous requests. He said the applicant is not talking about using storage trailers every busy season or four months a year. They are looking for a variance for construction trailers. Mr. Pouliot said to his knowledge they are construction trailers. Mr. Klesta took issue with the term, "to my knowledge." Mr. Pouliot said he has to rely on his store manager. He offered to go check the trailers after the meeting. Mr. Franz indicated there are no trailers on the lot now. Mr. Althen asked if the shuttle trailers are kept on the lot overnight. W. Pouliot said they will be. He said ultimately there will be one trailer. He said that right now they have four going back and forth, because they are storing things off site. He then reviewed some of their remodeling plans. Mr. Klesta said the board does not have issues with the construction trailers because they are only benefiting the city and the store. The issue has been that the trailers have been used for storage and put out in the lot. W. Pouliot said he can assure the board that is not happening. Mr. Althen commented that they have been before the board four times on this. Mr. Pouliot said that the last time they got a clear understanding and they took action and rented the warehouse. Mr. Conway asked if Mr. Rymarczyk would have a problem with a variance in this situation. Mr. Rymarczyk said he would not, it is whatever the board wants. He said the trailers are not taking up required parking or blocking a drive isle creating another violation. W. Conway asked if the board would be within its rights to grant a variance until July 8th. Mr. O'Malley said the application is 2