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Record of Proceedings

Lakewood Planning Commission Approves Garden Bar Conditional Use and Outdoor Dining Renewals - March 6, 2025

Boards and Commissions — Thursday, March 6, 2025
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateThursday, March 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:14:28

Original source
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0:03

Good evening.

0:04

I'd like to welcome everybody to the Lakewood City of Lakewood Planning Commission meeting for March 6, 2025.

0:12

I'd like to go ahead and start off with Mr.

0:15

Boss calling the role, please.

0:17

Ms.

0:17

Call.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Mr.

0:19

LePoint.

0:20

Here.

0:20

Mr.

0:21

Reese.

0:21

Here.

0:22

Mr.

0:22

Sanderson.

0:23

Here.

0:23

Mr.

0:24

Chair, you know, Mr.

0:24

McDermott was not available tonight.

0:26

So yes, and with that, I'd like to make a motion to approve the absence of uh Mr.

0:32

Chair McDermott.

0:33

Second.

0:35

All that and uh that with first and second, um, all those in favor uh indicate by saying aye.

0:42

Aye.

0:42

Aye.

0:43

Any no's motion carries four zero.

0:48

All right.

0:49

Um now we'll move on to the min minutes from the uh February uh meeting, February 6th, 2025 meeting.

0:58

Uh those have been distributed in advance of uh the meeting.

1:03

Um commissioners, I believe you've all received that.

1:05

Um I'd like to open up the floor here for uh any edits, comments um if there are any to be made.

1:14

Hearing none, I'd like to make a motion for approval.

1:18

A second.

1:19

Okay, if there's a first and second, uh I'll indicate uh in favor by saying aye.

1:25

Aye.

1:26

Any one abstention, so three three A's and one abstention for Mr.

1:32

Reese, who was not present at the meeting.

1:36

All right, Mr.

1:37

Boss, I'm gonna turn over to you for opening remarks.

1:40

Good evening and welcome to the Lakewood Planning Commission.

1:43

The commission is comprised of five members charged with evaluating proposals as required by Lakewood's zoning code and community vision.

1:50

The charter of the city is established the authority of the commission.

1:53

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

1:58

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

2:03

The commission may also take public comment on each docket item.

2:07

The comment is asked to only address that specific docket item being considered.

2:11

Public comment be limited to five minutes tonight per person.

2:15

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

2:18

Please make an effort to provide new comments you find relevant to the commission.

2:23

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

2:30

Anyone addressing the commission tonight?

2:32

I've just asked that uh you please come up uh if you're either presenting or offering public comment that you please sign the O sheet uh with your name and then clearly state your name and address into the microphone for the record prior to addressing the commission.

2:46

Thank you, Mr.

2:47

Chair.

2:48

Thank you, Mr.

2:49

Boss.

2:50

With that, we will move into new business for the meeting.

2:52

Uh first is conditional use, docket number 030525, uh, property location 17415 Detroit Avenue.

3:01

Uh project named Garden Bar.

3:03

I'd like to invite uh Nate Bailey with Hara Architects and or another representative to the uh podium.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Conditional Use Permits██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Community Engagement███████████████████████23%
Procedural██████████10%
Zoning Code█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Parking Management████4%
Historic Preservation███3%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting - March 6, 2025

The Lakewood Planning Commission met on March 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. The commission approved a conditional use permit for a private outdoor bar at 17415 Detroit Avenue, approved the renewal of 64 seasonal outdoor dining permits with three exceptions requiring further hearings, and approved seven lot split/consolidation plats for ODOT property transfers along the I-90 corridor.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the February 6, 2025 meeting were approved with a 3-0-1 vote (Mr. Reese abstained due to absence).
  • Approval of Absence: Commissioner McDermott's absence was approved unanimously (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Docket 03-05-25 (Garden Bar):
    • Sophia Judges (owner of St. James Corporate Campus): Expressed concerns about parking, noise, and the impact on St. James Church's outdoor religious activities. She noted the courtyard is used for prayer and events and argued the bar would conflict with church functions. She requested the commission visit the site before deciding.
    • James Flood (St. James parishioner): Opposed the bar, citing parking scarcity, noise, and the incompatibility of a bar adjacent to a historic church. He noted most parishioners were unaware of the proposal and would likely oppose it.

Discussion Items

  • Conditional Use – Docket 03-05-25 (Garden Bar):
    • Applicant Nate Bailey (Hara Architects) presented plans for a private outdoor bar for the Warrior Club, a members-only social club. The bar would accommodate up to 40 people, operate after 5 p.m. (closed Sundays and Mondays), and include landscaping to screen it from the adjacent church. City staff (David Baas) noted the use falls under outdoor dining regulations but raised concerns about parking, seating capacity, and proximity to St. James. The commission discussed operating hours, guest limits (three per member), and shared parking agreements. After public testimony, the commission approved the permit with conditions: (1) limited to club members only, (2) updated shared parking agreement to be filed with the city, (3) approval from the Architectural Board of Review, plus additional conditions to coordinate with parishioners on statue relocation, landscaping, and monthly event scheduling.
  • Communication – Docket 03-06-25 (Outdoor Dining Renewals):
    • David Baas presented the annual renewal of 64 seasonal outdoor dining permits. He highlighted three locations with multiple noise complaints: Ohio Tea House (15319 Detroit; 4 complaints), Fieldhouse (1384 Hird; 4 complaints, with repeat offenses on the same day), and Hola Taco (12102 Madison; 3 complaints). The commission approved renewal for all 64, but directed staff to schedule renewal hearings for these three to address compliance with noise regulations.
  • Communication – Docket 03-07-25 (Lot Splits/Consolidations):
    • David Baas presented seven plats for lot splits and consolidations along the I-90 corridor (between Hilliard and Alger roads) to facilitate transfer of ODOT parcels to the city. City engineer Mark Papke confirmed review. The commission approved the plats unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Conditional use permit for Garden Bar (17415 Detroit Ave.) with six conditions.
  • Approved: Renewal of 64 outdoor dining permits for 2025, with three (Ohio Tea House, Fieldhouse, Hola Taco) to appear at a future hearing for review of noise complaints.
  • Approved: Seven lot split/consolidation plats for ODOT property transfer.
  • Next Steps: The Garden Bar applicant must secure ABR approval and finalize parking agreement; renewal hearings for the three restaurants will be scheduled; the ODOT plats will be recorded to enable property transfer.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to welcome everybody to the Lakewood City of Lakewood Planning Commission meeting for March 6, 2025. I'd like to go ahead and start off with Mr. Boss calling the role, please. Ms. Call. Here. Mr. LePoint. Here. Mr. Reese. Here. Mr. Sanderson. Here. Mr. Chair, you know, Mr. McDermott was not available tonight. So yes, and with that, I'd like to make a motion to approve the absence of uh Mr. Chair McDermott. Second. All that and uh that with first and second, um, all those in favor uh indicate by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Any no's motion carries four zero. All right. Um now we'll move on to the min minutes from the uh February uh meeting, February 6th, 2025 meeting. Uh those have been distributed in advance of uh the meeting. Um commissioners, I believe you've all received that. Um I'd like to open up the floor here for uh any edits, comments um if there are any to be made. Hearing none, I'd like to make a motion for approval. A second. Okay, if there's a first and second, uh I'll indicate uh in favor by saying aye. Aye. Any one abstention, so three three A's and one abstention for Mr. Reese, who was not present at the meeting. All right, Mr. Boss, I'm gonna turn over to you for 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's zoning code and community vision. The charter of the city is established the authority of the commission. Its members are volunteer Lakewood 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 on each docket item. The comment is asked to only address that specific docket item being considered. Public comment be limited to five minutes tonight per person. 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. You may also submit statements or concerns in writing to the secretary to have them included as a matter of public record.

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