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Record of Proceedings

Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting - April 4, 2024

Boards and Commissions — Thursday, April 4, 2024
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateThursday, April 4, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:46

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Good evening.

0:02

Would like to call the regular meeting of the City of Liquid Planning Commission to order for April 4th, 2024.

0:09

Mr.

0:09

Boss, roll call, please.

0:11

Ms.

0:12

Gall.

0:13

Present.

0:13

Mr.

0:14

Le Point.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Mr.

0:17

McDermott.

0:18

Present.

0:18

Mr.

0:19

Reese.

0:19

Here.

0:20

And Mr.

0:20

Sanderson.

0:21

Here.

0:23

Great.

0:23

Thank you very much.

0:25

On the agenda, we have the approval of the minutes from our March 7th, 2024 meeting.

0:30

Hopefully you've all had a moment to review those minutes.

0:34

Thank you again, Mr.

0:35

Bass, for the preparation of those.

0:38

Any questions, comments, or care for a motion on the minutes from March the 7th.

0:47

I will make a motion for approval.

0:50

First from Mr.

0:50

LePoint.

0:51

Is there a second?

0:52

Second.

0:53

Second from Mr.

0:54

Reese.

0:54

All in favor signify by saying aye.

0:57

Aye.

0:58

Okay.

0:59

Any opposed?

1:00

Motion carries unanimously.

1:02

Thank you very much.

1:03

Mr.

1:03

Boss, opening remarks.

1:06

Good evening and welcome to the Lakewood Planning Commission.

1:08

The commission is comprised of five members charged with evaluating proposals as required by Lakewood Zoning Code and Community Vision.

1:15

The charter of the city establishes the authority of the commission.

1:18

Its members are volunteer liquid residents appointed to five-year terms by the mayor and city council.

1:23

Tonight, the commission shall hear testimony from each applicant making presentation for their docket item.

1:28

The commission may also take public comment for each docket item and public commentary shall only address the specific docket item being considered.

1:40

Well, you're welcome to state your agreement with prior commentary that has been made.

1:43

Please make an effort to provide new comments you find relevant to the commission as time is limited, and the commission welcomes a variety of viewpoints and a diversity of information.

1:51

You may also submit your statements, feelings, or concerns in writing to the secretary to have them included as a matter of public record.

1:58

Anyone addressing the commission, and I we asked to please can you come to the podium, sign the oath uh sheet there, and then state your name and address clearly into the microphone for the record prior to addressing the commission.

2:09

Thank you.

2:12

Thank you, Mr.

2:12

Boss.

2:13

Um with that, we will move in to new business and the renewal of conditional use.

2:19

Um we have docket item number 04, 1124 18206 Detroit Avenue, Mercury Music Lounge.

2:27

Uh do we have Mr.

2:28

Guntis with us uh this evening?

2:31

Um Mr.

2:32

Guntis, if you wouldn't mind uh signing in on the O sheet and uh please give us a background on you know what um let's address that actually and Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Conditional Use Permits██████████████████████████████30%
Public Engagement██████████████████18%
Parking Management█████████████13%
Tree Preservation████████████12%
Zoning Code█████████9%
Procedural███████7%
Noise Ordinance████4%
Bike Parking███3%
Pedestrian Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting - April 4, 2024

The Lakewood Planning Commission met on April 4, 2024, at City Hall Auditorium for pre-review at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. The commission considered five docket items: three renewals of conditional use for outdoor dining (Mercury Music Lounge, Mars Bar, El Tango Grill), a similar use determination and conditional use permit for The CoLab & Lounge, and a conditional use permit for outdoor sidewalk dining at Cozumel Lakewood. All motions carried unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (March 7, 2024): Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mercury Music Lounge, Mars Bar, El Tango Grill: No public comments.
  • The CoLab & Lounge (Similar Use & Conditional Use): Aaron Davis (resident at 17006 Madison Ave, above the lounge) spoke in support, stating he had never experienced noise issues and that the business was a good neighbor.
  • Cozumel Lakewood:
    • Nick Holtkamp (on behalf of his father Walter Holtkamp, owner of adjacent residential property at 1390 Ethel Ave) opposed the expansion, citing existing parking shortages on Ethel Avenue, frequent illegal parking in private lots, litter, and noise. He stated that Cozumel had been unresponsive to previous requests to help alleviate parking issues.
    • Robert Kolkowski (resident at 1368 Ethel Ave and employee of the Holtkamp property) echoed the opposition, describing continuous parking violations, threats from customers, and general nuisance.

Discussion Items

  • Mercury Music Lounge (Docket 04-11-24): George Gountis, owner, apologized for failing to remove outdoor dining enclosures by the November 30 deadline, attributing it to oversight. City staff reported a correction notice was issued in January and February, with resolution by March 12. Recommendation: approval with a condition that failure to adhere to 2024 regulations results in revocation. Motion carried.
  • Mars Bar (Docket 04-12-24): Same circumstances as Mercury Music Lounge; enclosures had been up since June 2017. Staff recommended renewal with same condition. Motion carried.
  • El Tango Grill (Docket 04-13-24): Owner Antonio Carafelli was ill and sent patron Chris Marshall as proxy. Staff confirmed the outdoor dining had been removed after correction notices in January and February. Recommendation: renewal with condition of adherence to November 30 deadline or revocation. Motion carried.
  • The CoLab & Lounge (Docket 04-14-24 – Similar Use): Applicant Maureen Koopman described the business as a boutique event space (baby showers, micro weddings, etc.) operating mainly Friday–Sunday. City staff recommended approval based on a comparison to the permitted bar/tavern/nightclub use in the C1 district, finding it compatible and not negatively impactful. The commission approved the similar use determination unanimously.
  • The CoLab & Lounge (Docket 04-15-24 – Conditional Use): Staff reviewed general standards and noted only one noise complaint in the past year (resolved). Recommendation: approval with emphasis on noise control compliance. Public comment was supportive. Motion carried.
  • Cozumel Lakewood (Docket 04-16-24): Applicant Graham Post (Sixmo Architects) proposed adding 12 outdoor seats on a recessed area along Detroit Avenue, with a phased approach: umbrellas this year, then a trellis with roll-down vinyl covers for year-round use. Cozumel already has 36 outdoor seats. City staff analysis: the existing parking lot has 34 spaces (exceeding the maximum of 10 for the 4,000 sq ft restaurant); the additional 12 seats (about 143 sq ft) do not trigger more parking. Two emails of opposition from residents at 1390 Ethel were noted. After hearing public opposition, commissioners supported the proposal for activating the streetscape but discussed conditions to mitigate neighbor concerns. A motion was made and seconded for approval with four conditions:
    1. Approval is for year-round outdoor dining.
    2. A tree (minimum 2-inch caliper at breast height) shall be planted in the southwest planter, maintained for three years, and match the existing tree species.
    3. Bike parking (6–8 spaces) shall be provided on site or along the frontage, in coordination with city staff.
    4. The business operator shall conduct a discussion with the neighbors (residents at 1390 Ethel Ave and 1368 Ethel Ave) about parking and nuisance concerns, with documentation provided to city staff within one month. Motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All three outdoor dining renewals (Mercury Music Lounge, Mars Bar, El Tango Grill) were approved for the 2024 season with the condition that failure to remove enclosures by November 30 will result in permit revocation.
  • The CoLab & Lounge received a similar use determination (as a use similar to bar/tavern/nightclub) and a conditional use permit, both approved without additional conditions beyond normal noise control compliance.
  • Cozumel Lakewood’s outdoor sidewalk dining conditional use was approved with four conditions addressing tree planting, bike parking, neighbor communication, and year-round operation.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Would like to call the regular meeting of the City of Liquid Planning Commission to order for April 4th, 2024. Mr. Boss, roll call, please. Ms. Gall. Present. Mr. Le Point. Here. Mr. McDermott. Present. Mr. Reese. Here. And Mr. Sanderson. Here. Great. Thank you very much. On the agenda, we have the approval of the minutes from our March 7th, 2024 meeting. Hopefully you've all had a moment to review those minutes. Thank you again, Mr. Bass, for the preparation of those. Any questions, comments, or care for a motion on the minutes from March the 7th. I will make a motion for approval. First from Mr. LePoint. Is there a second? Second. Second from Mr. Reese. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Okay. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. Mr. Boss, opening remarks. Good evening and welcome to the Lakewood Planning Commission. The commission is comprised of five members charged with evaluating proposals as required by Lakewood Zoning Code and Community Vision. The charter of the city establishes the authority of the commission. Its members are volunteer liquid residents appointed to five-year terms by the mayor and city council. Tonight, the commission shall hear testimony from each applicant making presentation for their docket item. The commission may also take public comment for each docket item and public commentary shall only address the specific docket item being considered. Well, you're welcome to state your agreement with prior commentary that has been made. Please make an effort to provide new comments you find relevant to the commission as time is limited, and the commission welcomes a variety of viewpoints and a diversity of information. You may also submit your statements, feelings, or concerns in writing to the secretary to have them included as a matter of public record.

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