Macedonia Planning Commission Takes Up Signs, Hotel Plans at May Meeting

The Macedonia Planning Commission met on May 18, 2026, working through a packed agenda that included two signage approvals and a lengthy preliminary review of a proposed four-story Fairfield Inn by Marriott at 240 East Highland Road. Members Present Commission Chair Mr. Westbrooks called the meeting to order with members Mr. Wallenhorst, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Varhola, and Ms. Meske present. City Planner Brian Frantz, AICP, and City Engineer Joseph Gigliotti also participated. The commission opened by approving minutes from the April 20 meeting, with Mr. Wallenhorst abstaining. Signage Nutec ETS Schaefer Gets New Ground Sign The commission approved revised ground signage at 8050 Highland Pointe Parkway for Nutec ETS Schaefer, which completed its acquisition of the Macedonia-based ETS Schaefer LLC effective March 1, 2026. The company is rebranding its exterior sign to reflect the new ownership. According to Frantz’s May 9 memo, the existing split-face concrete block surround will remain in place. A new aluminum composite panel with acrylic dimensional letters will be inserted into the existing structure. The 29.42-square-foot sign is set back 26 feet from the street and complies with the city’s size and setback requirements. The one issue Frantz flagged was landscaping. The existing dense plantings around the sign appear to have already been removed, and no new landscaping was proposed. The commission approved the signage on the condition that the applicant submit a landscaping plan, which can be reviewed and approved administratively. Staff noted that low-lying shrubs or flowers would be appropriate. Power Up Studio Sign Gets a Color Debate The commission approved new wall signage for Power Up Studio, an incoming tenant at Unit 20 in Macedonia Commons, the space formerly occupied by Yoga 6. The two-line sign reads “POWERUP” on top and “STUDIO” below, totaling just under 30 square feet, within the 37.5 square feet allowed for that unit. Before approval, the sign application required several revisions. Per Frantz’s memo, the sign had to be trimmed to exactly 36 inches in height to comply with the commons criteria for miscellaneous stores. The side returns and trim cap must be painted Akzo Wyandotte 641 Dark Bronze. The bottom of the sign must sit 15 inches from the bottom of the fascia sign band. The sticking point was color. The sign is designed as black during the day, with illuminated white letters at night. Frantz noted that the city’s planning and zoning code limits sign colors to primary and complementary hues, and black falls into neither category. After discussion, commissioners acknowledged the intent of the color restriction was likely to prevent unusual or clashing sign colors rather than to exclude neutral tones. The sign’s roofline alignment and the fact that it illuminates white were noted as supporting factors. The commission voted to approve the signage and formally designated black as an acceptable color for the Macedonia Commons sign package, noting it in the common sign package record for future reference. Final conformance with all items in the Frantz memo was referred to administrative review. Fairfield Inn Proposal Continues to July A Four-Story Hotel Returns With Questions Still Unanswered The commission spent the bulk of the evening on a preliminary plan review for a proposed Fairfield Inn by Marriott at 240 East Highland Road, currently the site of a Nights Inn motel complex. Architect James Evans of Portal Associates and civil engineer Matthew Weber of Weber Engineering Services presented on behalf of the owner. The proposal calls for a four-story, 75-room hotel with meeting space on the first floor and 82 parking spaces, which the applicant said comfortably meets code minimums. The owner holds the Nights Inn franchise on the eastern portion of the property and plans to keep that building operating until construction begins, at which point the western portion would be demolished to make room for the new hotel. Site and Design Overview The hotel footprint covers approximately 1.5 acres of an oddly shaped parcel with seven property lines. The building is designed around a Marriott prototype, but Evans said the team significantly modified the standard design to better fit Macedonia’s aesthetic. The front elevation is 40 percent brick and 60 percent siding, while the end elevations are 57 percent brick. Evans argued that when viewed in perspective, as a building is seen in real life, the overall impression is closer to a 50/50 split. The architect provided a rendered view from Interstate 271, generated from 3D CAD at a 40-foot elevation, showing the building would not expose rooftop mechanical units from the highway. The lot split needed to separate the hotel parcel from the Nights Inn parcel was discussed. Frantz noted the split appeared approvable when reviewed previously in 2024 and could be submitted alongside a future final devel