Plans for 99-room hotel under study in Macedonia

The city’s planning commission is studying a proposal to build a four-story, 99-room hotel on Girl Scout Way, and is expected to further discuss it April 17.

Oakwood Hospitality representatives were on hand at the commission’s March 20 session to present plans for the new structure and request a similar use determination/conditional zoning certificate. The latter was granted.

According to city planner Brian Frantz, the property is zoned B-1 convenience business district and is subject to additional architectural standards set forth in Chapter 1172 of the zoning code.

Oakwood Hospitality representative Vaibhav Patel said negotiations are under way toward obtaining a franchise/brand under which the hotel would operate.

The building, which would be between I-271 and the American House senior living facility, is proposed to be 42 feet tall, with an additional 7-foot parapet wall to screen the rooftop mechanical equipment.

There was some confusion as to whether the zoning code allows that high of a building in that district. Patel claimed the code was changed a few years to allow up to 45 feet, but Frantz said he doesn’t remember the change.

So the city will consult its law director to verify. If the allowable height is 45 feet, Patel would not have to seek a variance from the board of zoning appeals. But if the previous 35-foot maximum is still in effect, a variance would be necessary.

“At a very high-level, the hotel use is acceptable with a full understanding of potential impacts to theadjacent residential area,” said Frantz, who explained some additional buffering/screening may be needed around the property.

Other business

A preliminary site plan was OK’d for a Chase banking office at East Aurora Road and Golden Link Boulevard, at the former Golden Corral site, as was a final site plan for an addition to the Goddard School in Alexandria Square.

Chase proposes to erect a 3,333-square-foot building. Initial plans were presented to the planning panel in February, but several architectural and other items have since been revised, including reducing parking spaces from 37 to 28.

Goddard School’s 3,207-square-foot addition has been reduced from the originally proposed 3,534 square feet. The existing building measures 8,100 square feet.

The panel’s Goddard site plan approval is subject to administrative reviews of a handful of items, including an acceptable landscaping plan. John Elsey of GBC Design Inc. said work on the addition is expected to start when this school year ends.

Plans were approved for Montessori School to relocate from Faith Fellowship Church to a manor house owned by the church at 10277 Valley View Road. The property is zoned R-1 residential, and Frantz said the proposed childcare use is permitted.

An outdoor play area and a “little library” structure also are proposed somewhere on the property in connection with the occupancy. Applicant Lydia Stephens must return to the planning panel with a signage package once administrative approval is given.

Stephens also asked the panel to consider revisions to the zoning code to allow for the use of solid fences on residential properties. Frantz said fence regulations were changed in 2017-18, thus prohibiting solid fences.

After discussion, Stephens decided to go to the board of zoning appeals for a fence variance at her home, and withdraw her code revisions request and allow Building Commissioner Bob Rodic to explore possible future code amendments.

Chris Coblentz received approval to renovate two existing warehouse buildings on 1.95 acres on the north side of East Highland Road near Highland Pointe Parkway.

“Improvement to these aged buildings is greatly needed, and this proposal provides a solid start,” said Frantz.

Finally, plans were approved for Ken Moauro to construct a 20-by-40-foot addition to an existing 30-by-40-foot detached garage at 9647 N. Bedford Road. The lot is about 10 acres and is zoned R-1 residential.

Approval was conditioned on Moauro obtaining any BZA variances that are necessary and agreeing to a deed restriction stating that no business activity will take place on the property.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: New hotel proposed on Girl Scout Way in Macedonia