Stow Planning Committee: Seasons Road Storage Expansion, Marsh Road Rezoning, Zoning Code Changes

STOW, Ohio – The Stow Planning Committee and Planning Commission this month weighed a new financial institution on Kent Road, advanced an industrial expansion on Seasons Road, and backed a rezoning on Marsh Road, all while grappling with the first wave of issues arising from the city’s newly adopted zoning code. Together, the discussions highlighted how the Stow Planning Committee and its sister commission are balancing development pressure, environmental protections and neighborhood compatibility. Kent Road Financial Institution: Drive-Thru and Setback Variances Recommended The Planning Committee agenda for December 4, 2025 included Resolution 2025‑247 , concerning 4420 Kent Road (Parcel 56‑13002) . The applicant is Matthew Schoening on behalf of TWL Kent Road LLC , the property owner. The request covered several pieces: Site plan approval for site alterations for a financial institution (Section 1137.03(d)) A conditional zoning certificate for a drive‑thru facility (Section 1145.02) A variance from the minimum 20‑foot side yard building setback , with 13 feet‑3 inches proposed (Section 1145.06) A variance to omit the required 10‑foot bypass lane at the drive‑thru (Section 1145.15) The 1.19‑acre property is zoned C‑4 General Business , a corridor where drive‑thru and auto‑oriented uses are common but still subject to site design standards. According to the agenda materials, the Planning Commission (PC) previously approved the case 4‑0 with an amendment requiring at least a 9‑foot bypass lane rather than the full 10 feet, striking a compromise between code compliance and the constraints of the site layout. Key takeaways from the 4420 Kent Road case: The city is still willing to accommodate drive‑thru financial institutions along Kent Road, but will look closely at circulation and safety. Rather than waiving the bypass lane entirely, the commission required a reduced but functional bypass lane , acknowledging the site’s limits while preserving a path around queued vehicles. The project, if built, would refresh a commercial site in a high‑traffic corridor that already hosts similar auto‑oriented uses. The Planning Committee’s role on 2025‑247 is to forward a recommendation to City Council , which will make the final decision. Seasons Road Storage Expansion Near Wetlands Moves Forward In a separate case, the Planning Commission considered PC 2025‑029 for 816 Seasons Road , a nearly 3‑acre property zoned I‑2 Industrial within the Mud Brook Wetland and Stream Setback Overlay . The applicant is seeking site plan approval and a variance to construct a second 3,600‑square‑foot storage building that replicates a 2023 approval on the same property. City planning staff explained that: The proposed building would be 20 feet from the west property line , 90 feet from the east property line , and 30 feet from a Category 2 wetland . The wetland setback requirement is 50 feet , and it applies to both buildings and impervious surfaces . A gravel parking and maneuvering area would come as close as 5 feet to the wetland, creating a request for a 45‑foot variance from the setback. Owner explains wetlands and circulation limits Adam Froman , owner of Green Oasis and a resident of Stow, testified that the new building will: Be used for small business and heated contractor storage and warehouse space Allow Green Oasis to move operations into the new building , freeing existing bays for renters Match the appearance and colors of the existing structures Be tucked behind current buildings , making it not visible from Seasons Road Froman said the real constraint is truck and trailer circulation: He told commissioners that even if the building could be shifted, “the parking lot is always going to be the problem,” because any workable turning area for large vehicles inevitably pushes into the wetland setback. He also noted: A Category 1 wetland behind an existing building would be filled under a permit already granted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . A Category 2 wetland along the east side of the property will remain, but its required buffer “shoots out and then goes back in,” making full compliance difficult. The wet areas are largely old farm depressions that became wetland by vegetation, not part of a continuous stream system. The commission discussed the property’s prior approvals, including a 2023 building that did not require variances after redesign. In this case, staff and the applicant said the remaining developable area is too constrained to avoid a setback encroachment while still allowing trucks to function. Commissioners ultimately recommended approval of the site plan and variance request, with one “no” vote tied to the city’s wetland setback standards. The case will now go on to City Council in January for final consideration. Marsh Road Rezoning to Support Medical and Office Reuse The Planning Commission also revisited a zoning question for 3605 and 3625 Marsh Road , where two 16‑unit buildings were most recently