08/18/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 8/18/2009 A master sign plan was also submitted. Westfield proposes to update the building facade for the new tenants, create a new mall entry on the east side of the building near Sears and improve the mall entry to the west of Dick's. The building facades will be updated with a combination of rusticated block, EIFS, storefront glass and brushed metal framing. The proposed metal canopy, bollards, building lights, metal roll up doors, and loading dock gates will all be of a coordinating brushed metal finish. The patio at the former Wild Mango space on the north side will be reconfigured to serve a potential Retail C tenant or alternatively for general use by food court patrons. New fencing and landscaping is proposed. New landscaping is also proposed along the south side of the mall adjacent to Retail A and B tenants. Of significant discussion has been the subject of pedestrian and bicycle access to the center. For the north side, Westfield proposes that a path could be created from the Brookpark Road right of way to the main entry east of Dick's using the existing Dick's sidewalk in part. The path across the ring road could be designed as a speed table that will provide a marked pedestrian route as well as slow traffic in the center. This would involve the shortest path of travel across the parking field and disrupt the fewest parking spaces. Some spaces may need to be shortened which would require a variance. For the south side, the most logical path of travel follows the drive aisle along the Westfield/Sears property line. More detailed plaruling needs to be conducted to ensure all necessary property owners are involved, that ADA requirements are being met, and for coordination with the Great Northern Multi Modal Transportation Plan. Sears owns a portion of the property as the back of the Sears store against the mall building is the property line. Westfield is trying to work with Sears to get landscaping extended all the way around. The Board of Zoning Appeals considered and approved a number of variances for signage. Of those variances requested, the BZA approved variances for number of signs, height of signs and area of signs. The BZA did not approve signs above the roof line, and limited the height of Westfield signs to 8 fees and limited the height of Retail A's main wall sign to 14 feet. The recommendations by the Planning & Design Commission which was moved by Mr. Lasko and seconded by Mrs. Meredith is as follows: 1. Enlarge planting sizes consistent with Mr. Malone's recommendations; 2. Install or add bike racks at mall entrances; 3. Ensure a brushed metal finish for bollards, roll up doors, lighting, gates and other trim; 4. Conditional occupancy for Tenant A is subject to the submittal and approval of pedestrian access paths on both north and south side of the property; S. No roll down mesh gates are permitted on the exterior of the building. The Commission requested documentation of easements amongst mall property owners for cross access and parking for recordkeeping purposes. That motion was approved 7-0. After some discussion during the committee meeting from Ms. Wenger and the Westfield representatives, it was noted by Ms. Wenger and Mr. Vlaeminck that there was great cooperation between Westfield, Planning and Design and the Board of Zoning Appeals to get this project completed and all. were very happy. As Chairman of BZD, he feels this was one of the most productive and positive meetings he has had with a developer in quite a while. To him, it is a vote of confidence by Westfield about North Olmsted. As Mr. Gareau said, for Westfield to be doing this expansion and extensive facelift to the mall when other malls in our area are losing businesses or closing, says a lot about Westfield and our city. A committee motion was made by Mr. Barker to approve CMS09-OS Westfield Great Northern. Mall. located at 4954 Great Northern Mall, including all recommendations of the Planning and Design. 5 W^r£nYFie+9so- 1rigH