Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting - August 1, 2024

The Lakewood Planning Commission met on August 1, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Auditorium. The meeting was called to order with roll call: Ms. Gall, Mr. LePoint, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Reese, and Ms. Sanderson present. The minutes from the July 9, 2024 meeting were approved with one abstention (Commissioner Reese). The commission reviewed four docket items: one planned development, two communications (deferred), one conditional use, and one parking plan.

Consent Calendar

• None.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Planned Development (Irene & Donald Ave): Tom Taylor (1299 Donald Ave) questioned the unit mix change (from three single-family and eight townhouses to one single-family and eight townhouses) and the access drive location. He also asked about proof of property transfer. The applicant stated they have a contract to purchase the land.
• Planned Development: Dave Kermod (1286 Thoreau Road), an adjacent neighbor, expressed strong opposition citing insufficient rear setbacks, building height, no landscaping in the buffer, and existing flooding concerns. He stated the buffer is wholly inadequate.
• Conditional Use (Screw Factory): Tom Orzikowski (Hallstead Ave) expressed concern about noise from event spaces, citing live music, bagpipers, and rehearsals that are audible from residences directly across the street. He urged the commission to consider proximity to homes.

Discussion Items

• Old Business: Planned Development (Docket 06-21-24) – Susan Broadwater, Beegan Architectural Design, presented a revised plan for seven townhouse units and one single-family house on a site between Donald and Thoreau Avenues. Key changes from the June meeting: eliminated a public roadway in favor of a private drive on the north side, moved units south for better setbacks, added a connecting pedestrian path from Donald to Bunts (adjacent to railroad tracks), and reduced building height to a median of 35 feet 8 inches. The applicant noted discussions with fire, public works, and engineering; a hydrant is required. The drive is proposed as private, possibly one-way east-west. The rear yard setback is 25-29 feet (code requires 40 feet), but staff noted the site's linear shape creates practical difficulty. The sidewalk may be public with an easement; HOA responsible for maintenance. The commission expressed support for moving forward but requested more detail on: traffic impact (one-way vs. two-way, cut-through prevention), landscape buffer (6-foot fence and vegetation), stormwater management, and a public access easement for the path. A preliminary approval was granted with conditions to address these items before final review.
• Complete Streets Initiative – Ordinance No. 11-2024 (Docket 07-30-24) & Resolution No. 2024-42 (Docket 07-31-24) – Staff communications from Planning and Development regarding the Complete Streets Initiative. The commission deferred both items pending further review and coordination with City Council.
• New Business: Conditional Use (Docket 08-34-24) – David Ligas (Omni Lakewood Ltd.) and JP Pachik (Larson Architects) requested a mixed-use overlay at 13000 Athens Ave (Screw Factory) to convert existing industrial spaces to commercial uses: retail, event space, gym, etc. The building is at 96% occupancy with over 100 tenants. Staff analysis focused on parking requirements: the existing 280 on-site spaces plus 157 public spaces at Madison Park appear adequate, but the code requires a use table and traffic study for new uses. The commission discussed the need for flexibility for future tenant changes without repeated approvals. Concerns included noise from event spaces. The applicant clarified leases contain noise ordinances. The commission deferred the item to allow staff to develop a clearer parking and use threshold (e.g., maximum square footage per use type) and to obtain employee counts.
• New Business: Parking Plan (Docket 08-35-24) – Joshua Gonsalves (Vocon) presented a plan for a new retail bank at 16003 Detroit Ave (Huntington Bank). The project seeks an exception to the maximum parking limit, requesting 13 spaces (instead of 7-8 allowed) due to operational needs (5-6 employees, 2 ADA spaces, customer parking, walk-up ATM). Staff noted the exceptions for stormwater management and innovative landscaping. The plan includes a valley gutter for drainage and a landscape buffer on the south side. The commission discussed conditions from the previous conditional use approval: coordination with adjacent development on Orchard Grove, pedestrian connections, and cross-parking rights with Barry Buick. Concerns included the wide driveway throat on Detroit, pedestrian safety, and the valley gutter's impact on pedestrian experience. The commission deferred the item to allow the applicant to revise the plan: narrow the Detroit entry to one-way in, improve pedestrian connectivity, coordinate cross-access with adjacent lots, and address drainage design.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of July 9, 2024: Approved (4-0, with 1 abstention).
• Docket 06-21-24 (Planned Development): Preliminary approval granted with conditions: provide traffic analysis, finalize one-way drive details, develop landscape buffer and public access easement for the path, and complete stormwater and engineering plans. Applicant to return for final approval after ABR review.
• Docket 07-30-24 (Complete Streets Ordinance): Deferred unanimously.
• Docket 07-31-24 (Complete Streets Resolution): Deferred unanimously.
• Docket 08-34-24 (Conditional Use – Screw Factory): Deferred to allow staff to develop a flexible use table with parking thresholds and obtain employee data. Applicant to coordinate with administration.
• Docket 08-35-24 (Parking Plan – Huntington Bank): Deferred for revisions: show cross-access with adjacent development, narrow Detroit entry to one-way, improve pedestrian connectivity, and revise stormwater design to avoid valley gutter.