Plans unveiled for storage, trailer sales sites in Macedonia
MACEDONIA – A new self-storage facility is planned on 7.6 acres on Bavaria Drive East. The city’s planning commission favored a conditional zoning certificate and preliminary site plan for it on Oct. 17.
The panel also acknowledged that JTI Inc.’s proposed sales/servicing business for trailers on North Freeway Drive is a conditional use in a general industrial zoning district. The 7.5-acre parcel is between North Freeway Drive and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks.
The parcel at 8231 Bavaria Drive East is in a general industrial zoning district, and is owned by local resident Steve Kresse. It is situated between Grainger Distribution Center and IER Fujikura.
The facility, to be known as Smart Self-Storage, would be comprised of six smaller and two larger buildings totaling 73,781 square feet and providing 450 storage units ranging from 25 square feet to 300 square feet each.
The two larger buildings would include 20,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage space (heating, cooling and humidity control). A 930-square-foot office area would be staffed a minimum of 40 hours a week, with tenant access available 24/7/365.
Kresse said the buildings would be situated 500 feet from the nearest residential dwelling to the west, and an existing dense wooded area and additional proposed screening would act as a buffer between the buildings and residences.
No outdoor storage is being proposed, the premises would have 24/7 video surveillance and the perimeter would be fenced in, with secure gated access for registered tenants. All units would be locked at all times.
Meanwhile, a 30,000-square-foot building set back from Freeway Drive because of a wetlands on the front half of the property is planned for JTI Inc.
The business was founded in 1935 as John’s Trailer Co. Its first location was on Buckeye Road in Cleveland. Today, the firm manufactures trailer axles, but its mainstay business is sales and servicing of trailers.
The proposed building would consist of offices, a retail area, warehouse bay, service bay, loading dock and drive through area. Parking would be on the east side of the building, with light trailer storage behind it.
The planning panel agreed that the automotive-related business is a conditional use, so no conditional zoning certificate is needed. A final site plan will be reviewed thoroughly in the future.
OTHER BUSINESS
The planning panel OK’d signage for Panda Express at the Crossings at Golden Link and Burns Industrial Equipment on Roll & Hold Parkway, awnings for IHOP on Route 82 and a facade change for T.J. Maxx in the Gateway Plaza.
Panda Express is erecting a 2,381-square building on land that previously was the Golden Corral parking lot. The panel favored three wall signs and one ground sign totaling 159 square feet.. A third proposed wall sign was eliminated.
Burns Industrial revised its original plan for two wall signs. Instead, one sign measuring 67 square feet with two companies’ names on it will be placed on the front exterior wall. The site is in a limited industrial zoning district.
IHOP had proposed placing fabric awnings over the entrance and a handful of window combinations, but the city’s architectural adviser recommended metal awnings. Planners were comfortable with allowing the awnings to be blue.
The front facade of T.J. Maxx will be china white cement board, and small signs on brick columns near the entrance will be eliminated, with one large wall sign remaining. The facade at the adjacent Burlington store is a tan/beige color.
Another retail tenant is expected to eventually take up an additional space on the west end of the building, where a tower structure is located.
If revised plans for the facade at the additional space are not filed before Dec. 31, the building’s owner must enter into a development agreement with the city or post a bond.
Contact the newspaper at newsleader@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Plans unveiled for storage, trailer sales sites in Macedonia
