Painesville: City Council approves zoning changes for planned Mentor Avenue event center

Bryson Durst, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Oct. 20—Painesville City Council unanimously approved rezoning requests and changes to city regulations at its Oct. 17 meeting, bringing a planned event center one step closer to opening.

Both changes came at the request of Marc F. Burr, owner and funeral director of Potti and Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes. In order to maintain an event center at 987 Mentor Ave., formerly home to the Knights of Columbus, Burr asked that council rezone the property from R-1 Single-Family Residential to B-1 Business/Residential.

Additionally, he requested that council amend the city's Unified Development Code to allow event centers as a conditional use in B-1 districts.

Council also approved his requests to rezone two other Mentor Avenue parcels from R-1 to B-1, including a parking area and the funeral home at 1009 Mentor Ave.

The Painesville Planning Commission, at its Sept. 8 meeting, recommended that council approve the proposed changes.

Burr informed council that if he receives the required permit, he plans to offer the facility for public events such as wedding showers, birthday parties and "anything within reason," while still being respectful of local neighbors. He eventually intends to get a liquor license, to sell to event patrons only.

In order to operate the facility as an event center, city Planning Director Phoenikx Buathier noted that Burr will need to apply for a conditional use permit. The permit will go before the Planning Commission and City Council. Each body may add restrictions.

Burr mentioned that these restrictions could address issues such as the closing time.

Until he receives a permit, Burr will only be able to hold funeral home-related events at the center, noted city consultant and former City Manager Rita McMahon at the September Planning Commision meeting.

The Knights of Columbus was previously allowed to operate an event center on the property since it is classified as a fraternal organization, Burr added.

The center is currently hosting funeral luncheons, he noted. More information can be found on the "Locations" page at marcfburrfuneralhome.com, where the center is called Events on the Avenue.