K&M Tire warehouse plans in Aurora's southern industrial zone approved
By KEN LAHMERSCorrespondent
AURORA – The planning commission Aug. 17 approved an amended preliminary site plan and a wetlands setback variance for a new K&M Tire warehouse in the southern industrial zone.
Aurora Industrial Park II/Curtis Layer has proposed erecting a 130,000-square-foot building on 13.9 acres on Francis D. Kenneth Drive, south of Lena Drive and just north of Campus Drive.
In April, City Council approved a 15-year, 100 percent tax abatement with C Realty LLC/K&M Tire Inc. for the warehouse, which is expected to bring about 26 new jobs to the city.
It was explained the proposed building would have a roof ridge height of 30 feet, and the proposed side yard and rear yard building/parking setbacks are greater than the required minimums.
A minimum of 65 trees are required to be planted in accordance with the zoning code.
Planning-zoning-building director Denise Januska said the code also requires the site must have 174 parking spaces, and 43 paved spaces with 131 land-banked spaces are proposed.
After review by Chagrin River Watershed Partners, a 58-foot wetlands setback variance was approved, with conditions being that bioswales be added and native vegetation be planted.
OTHER BUSINESS
Panelists favored forwarding to Council a positive recommendation for a conditional zoning certificate for a comparable use, which would allow living quarters on the second floor of the Hanes Properties building on the southwest corner of Routes 82 and 306.
The zoning code only allows for commercial use – Sutton Insurance has occupied the first floor for many years, but plans to move – and the owner wants to rent apartment space upstairs. A public hearing took place prior to the planners’ action.
The conditions attached to the panel’s favorable recommendation are that only one residential unit will be permitted on the second floor, the first floor must continue to house a commercial or retail business and hard-wired/wireless smoke detectors must be installed.
After a public hearing, planners granted a floodplain setback variance for a 0.34-parcel owned by William Thompson at 827 Nautilus Trail.
He plans to construct an addition to his home into a newly created floodplain setback. Januska said the existing home became non-conforming when the floodplain setback became effect June 23.
She added the proposed addition does not extend into the setback any further than the existing house.
Conditions attached to the variance are a topographic site plan must be submitted and an as-built document must be turned in for approval after grading.
Meanwhile at the panel’s Aug. 3 session, Harry Caplan of Aurora Partners III told members he did not collect enough signatures for a zoning amendment to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Several months ago he sought to rezone 7.18 acres between the Brown-Keidel Service Center and Maple Lane Extension from C-3 planned community shopping to R-S residential senior housing, but Council rejected that.
He wants to build luxury, independent adult living condominiums on the property. He said he will try again in the spring to collect enough signatures to place the issue on the May ballot.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Amended warehouse plans for K&M Tire move approved in Aurora
