Macedonia Rejects 7-Eleven Plan, Approves Buffalo Wild Wings Go Sign

Macedonia's Planning Commission spent more than two hours on a full agenda Sept. 21, turning down a corporate tenant's plan for a long vacant gas station site while throwing its support behind a citywide drive through safety measure born out of a Stow family's tragedy. Commissioners also approved new signage, two lot splits, and pushed a subdivision fence dispute into November. Entire Meeting Video https://youtu.be/AMPKRUEeujU?si=P7pg8QfMiCHb6WxM Storage Buildings Approved At Nordonia Landscaping City staff had flagged a mismatch between an earlier approval and structures already built at Nordonia Landscaping, prompting the applicant to return for a formal sign off. A company representative told commissioners the clear span hoop houses store salt and topsoil and needed extra height to accommodate tarp covers, something he acknowledged was not made clear during the original review. Planning Consultant Brian Frantz confirmed the property is zoned general industrial, where outdoor storage is permitted, and said his only remaining concern involved the accessory buildings staying shorter than the main structure. No commissioner raised objections, and the hoop houses were approved pending an administrative review of final drawings. New Signage Cleared For Buffalo Wild Wings Go Commissioners approved a wall sign package for the incoming Buffalo Wild Wings Go, pending confirmation of the property's exact tenant frontage. Frantz explained that frontage measurement determines the allowed square footage under city code, and staff still needed updated paperwork identifying which tenant occupies which space in the shopping center. The approval also requires a landlord authorization letter before a permit can be issued. Hotel Sign Redesign Wins Praise After Rework A hotel on Macedonia Commons Boulevard returned with a reworked ground sign after commissioners rejected an earlier plastic faced version for clashing with Town Center design standards. The revised plan swaps in an aluminum cabinet with routed acrylic letters and adds a brick base intended to match the building. Commissioners liked the direction but wanted a genuine brick foundation instead of a thin veneer, along with a softer profile on top of the cabinet. Frantz joked that the earlier design looked like something built out of sticks, and the panel approved the new version contingent on those adjustments along with an administrative review of landscaping. Two Lot Splits Move Forward Without Objection City Engineer Joe Gigliotti found no major issues with a lot split at 649 and 661 Highland Road, submitted by Jill Atwell to fix a driveway that crossed a property line. Commissioners approved it unanimously after a brief review. A second request from Brian Torres covered three parcels on Shepherd Road, where Torres and his wife plan to enlarge their home lot to a full acre before building a new house nearby. Frantz noted the split would resolve existing nonconforming conditions on both properties, but a chicken coop would end up sitting on the newly combined lot. Torres agreed to relocate the coop once construction finishes and to post a bond guaranteeing the move, and commissioners approved the split on those terms. Fence Dispute At Valley Reserve Continued To November Pulte Homes representative Devin Docherty presented a revised vinyl privacy fence plan for roughly 325 feet along Valley View Road, after commissioners previously rejected a stockade version. Frantz said city code does not clearly classify that stretch of common open space as a front or rear yard, meaning the commission could not legally approve any fence there without a separate ruling from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Several commissioners argued the original subdivision approval called for landscaped mounding rather than fencing along that frontage, a commitment they said was never honored. Commissioner Scott Wallenhorst called the proposed change disrespectful to the original process. At Pulte's request, the matter was continued to the commission's November meeting so the company can weigh alternatives, including a return to a landscaping based buffer. Commission Denies Office And Training Center Plan At Former BP Property The night's most heated discussion centered on a proposal to convert the long vacant former BP gas station at 316 East Highland Road into a 7-Eleven office and regional training facility. Engineer Matt Davis of CESO presented an updated site plan reducing the property's Highland Road driveways to one entrance while shifting more traffic to Capital Boulevard, along with new landscaping and a paneled exterior meant to mimic brick over the deteriorating building. Frantz's report found the office component fits an existing use already codified for the B4 district, but said the proposed training center does not resemble any permitted use there and functions more like an industrial operation. He also flagged a long list of unresolved concerns, including nonconforming driveways, a