OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting - April 2, 2026

Boards and Commissions — Thursday, April 2, 2026
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateThursday, April 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 35:59

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good evening.

0:04

I'd like to call to order the Planning Commission meeting for the City of Lakewood for Thursday, April 2nd.

0:11

Uh turn it over to the city for roll call, please.

0:16

Mr.

0:16

LePoint.

0:17

Present.

0:18

Mr.

0:18

Miller.

0:20

President.

0:20

Mr.

0:21

Reese.

0:22

Mr.

0:22

Sanderson.

0:23

And Mr.

0:24

Chair, I believe Ms.

0:25

Gole is absent tonight.

0:27

Yes.

0:28

I'd like to make a motion to excuse her absence.

0:33

First and second.

0:34

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

0:37

Aye.

0:37

Opposed.

0:38

Motion carries.

0:40

I'll turn it over to before we have opening remarks.

0:45

I would like to take a minute to review the meeting minutes from the Thursday, March 5th meeting.

0:54

Any feedback or comments on the meeting minutes?

0:58

Mr.

0:59

Chair, I'd like uh I don't think the meeting minutes uh reflect the fact that I recuse myself or the Marlowe Park uh business.

1:10

I'd like to make minutes.

1:13

Yeah.

1:13

Just make them thank you.

1:15

With that proposed modification of the minutes, um, I'd like to make a motion for approval.

1:22

First, is there second?

1:24

Second.

1:26

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

1:29

Aye.

1:29

Aye.

1:30

Any opposed.

1:30

Motion carries.

1:32

Turn it back over to Mr.

1:34

Boss for the opening remarks, please.

1:37

Good evening and welcome to the Lakewood Planning Commission.

1:40

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

1:47

The charter of the city is established the authority of the Commission and its members are volunteer Lakewood residents appointed to five-year terms by the mayor or city council.

1:55

Tonight, the Commission shall hear from each applicant on their respective docket item.

1:59

The Commission may also take public comment on each item.

2:02

The public comment shall only address the specific item being considered.

2:06

To allow adequate time for all present, public comments limited to five minutes per person.

2:11

The timer at the front of the auditorium is provided to help stay within the allotted time.

2:16

While you are welcome to state your agreement with prior comment that has been made, please make an effort to provide new comments that you find relevant to the Commission.

2:24

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

2:30

For both applicants and members of the public making comment, when you are called to the podium, we ask that you please sign the O sheet and then state your name and address into the microphone for the record prior to addressing the Commission.

2:42

Thank you.

2:45

Thank you, Mr.

2:46

Boss.

2:46

Uh there is no old business uh on the agenda, so we're going to turn it over to new business.

2:53

Uh conditional use.

2:55

First item up on the docket this evening is item number 0407 26, 2035 Quail Street for Birdtown Brewing and Outdoor Dining.

3:07

I'd like to invite Mr.

3:09

Grammersdorf to the podium here to step us through your request.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Building Codes███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Disability Rights███3%
Signage██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting - April 2, 2026

The Lakewood Planning Commission met on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM (presumed start; meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM). The Commission considered five conditional use applications for outdoor dining, one renewal of 48 private-property permits, and approved all items after staff presentations and public comment periods (none offered).

Consent Calendar

  • None. The meeting began with roll call (members present: Mr. LePoint, Mr. Miller, Mr. Reese, Mr. Sanderson; Ms. Gole absent and excused). Minutes from March 5, 2026 were approved with a correction noting Mr. Miller's recusal on a prior item.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

  • Item 0407-26 (2035 Quail Street – Birdtown Brewing Outdoor Dining): Applicant Ryan Grammersdorf proposed a fenced outdoor dining area with 35–40 seats, string lighting, and a handicap lift. City staff noted no maximum seat count; parking calculations indicated one additional space needed, which could be credited from public lots within 1,000 feet. The business requested year-round operation. Approved with conditions: promote public parking options, patio occupancy limited to 35 per certificate of occupancy, and year‑round operation granted.
  • Item 0408-26 (15314 Madison Avenue – Mars Bar Sidewalk Dining 2026): Reapproval required under new ADA ProAG regulations. The existing fence must be adjusted to maintain a continuous 5‑foot pedestrian access route. Applicant not present. Approved with condition to maintain the 5‑foot minimum width.
  • Item 0409-26 (15527 Madison Avenue – Barrio Sidewalk Dining 2026): Same reapproval process. Prior layout met width and slope requirements. Applicant Tom Lenahan appeared. Approved with condition to maintain 5‑foot pedestrian access route.
  • Item 0410-26 (1711 Detroit Avenue – Cleveland Vegan Sidewalk Dining 2026): Sidewalk width constraints limit outdoor tables to two feet from the building. Applicant Justin Gorsky acknowledged the limitation. Approved with condition to maintain 5‑foot compliant path.
  • Item 0411-26 (14224 Madison Avenue – Pastimes Cafe Sidewalk Dining): New outdoor dining on sidewalk, limited to three feet from the building due to width. Approved with condition to maintain 5‑foot pedestrian access route.
  • Item 0412-26 (Renewal of Conditional Use Permits for Outdoor Seasonal Dining on Private Property): City staff reviewed 48 existing permits. No adverse CAD reports (no noise complaints or citations) were received for 2025. Discussion noted that two businesses (Bar Italia and Mercury Music Lounge) could not meet ADA compliance and will not be renewed; others may work with the city on modifications. Approved without additional conditions.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 0407-26: Motion to approve (first/second) passed unanimously (aye vote). Conditions: promote public parking, limit patio occupancy to 35, allow year‑round operation.
  • Item 0408-26: Motion to approve (first/second) passed unanimously. Condition: maintain minimum 5‑foot pedestrian access route.
  • Item 0409-26: Motion to approve (first/second) passed unanimously. Condition: maintain 5‑foot pedestrian access route.
  • Item 0410-26: Motion to approve (first/second) passed unanimously. Condition: maintain 5‑foot pedestrian access route.
  • Item 0411-26: Motion to approve (first/second) passed unanimously. Condition: maintain 5‑foot pedestrian access route.
  • Item 0412-26: Motion to approve (first/second) passed unanimously. No conditions.
  • Meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Planning Commission meeting for the City of Lakewood for Thursday, April 2nd. Uh turn it over to the city for roll call, please. Mr. LePoint. Present. Mr. Miller. President. Mr. Reese. Mr. Sanderson. And Mr. Chair, I believe Ms. Gole is absent tonight. Yes. I'd like to make a motion to excuse her absence. First and second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. I'll turn it over to before we have opening remarks. I would like to take a minute to review the meeting minutes from the Thursday, March 5th meeting. Any feedback or comments on the meeting minutes? Mr. Chair, I'd like uh I don't think the meeting minutes uh reflect the fact that I recuse myself or the Marlowe Park uh business. I'd like to make minutes. Yeah. Just make them thank you. With that proposed modification of the minutes, um, I'd like to make a motion for approval. First, is there second? Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed. Motion carries. Turn it back over to Mr. Boss for the opening remarks, please. 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 is established the authority of the Commission and its members are volunteer Lakewood residents appointed to five-year terms by the mayor or city council. Tonight, the Commission shall hear from each applicant on their respective docket item. The Commission may also take public comment on each item. The public comment shall only address the specific item being considered. To allow adequate time for all present, public comments limited to five minutes per person. The timer at the front of the auditorium is provided to help stay within the allotted time. While you are welcome to state your agreement with prior comment that has been made, please make an effort to provide new comments that you find relevant to the Commission.

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