BRUNSWICK --- Although they were precluded by city council resolution from approving any plans for the proposed Comfort Suites by Choice Hotels Feb. 2, planning commission members' reaction to to the latest plans from property owners, Pinecraft Land Holdings, LLC, were still mixed.
Planning commission chairman Joe Shirilla complimented Pinecraft representative Robert Schlabach for changes made to the plans, specifically the addition of a 2,970 square foot conference room facing Brunswick Lake, and landscaping that Schlabach described as creating a "golf course look" fronting the lake.
Commission member Jeff Arona, however, took issue with a number of points in the plan, most notably the description of the rooms as "suites."
"I wouldn't exactly call that a suite," Arona said.
Planning commission suggestions
Planning commission disapproved the company's detailed site plan in November, due to non-compliance with the city's Town Center Special Planning District guidelines. This led to city council's six-month moratorium on the project, passed Nov. 21.
The moratorium disallows any receipt, review or consideration of any application for a site plane or variance approval, or the issuing of any permits within the six month period.
The new plans call for a 57,850 square foot, 84-room, four-story hotel.
Planning commission recommendations to the hotel construction team include the addition of "building elements such as canopies, porches, bays or projections...to break up the appearance of a long wall" facing Brunswick Lake. Schlabach reiterated that proposed landscaping would address much of this issue.
Planning commission also noted that a variance from the board of zoning appeals would be required for a proposed 58-foot section of the building, as design guidelines call for a maximum building height of 50 feet above ground level.
Project history
Plans for the project were first presented to the city in 2015, when a four-story, 74-room Wallhouse Hotel with an indoor pool, lounge and conference room was proposed for the 3.5 acre site off Ohio 303 near Interstate 71 in Brunswick Town Center.
Schlabach told commission members he had hoped to proceed with the Wallhouse concept, but was forced to abandon it due to the length of time it was taking to get the project approved. He said he is still hopeful, however, about the Brunswick Town Center location.
"We own the number one and number three (ranked) sleep properties and we look forward to being a part of your community," he said.
No action was taken due to the moratorium. A public hearing on a proposed text amendment to allow hotels into the Brunswick Town Center Southeast Neighborhood as a conditionally permitted use, instead of a permitted use, is scheduled for the 7 p.m. Feb. 16 planning commission meeting at city hall, 4095 Center Road.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
