Bolton rezoning proposal clears first hurdle, preservation deal reached with Western Reserve Land Conservancy – News-Herald.com

After multiple reviews, revisions and hours-long discussions, the Bolton property rezoning request is moving forward.

The Mentor Planning Commission on Dec. 9 approved a preliminary proposal to rezone about 186 acres northeast of routes 615 and 84 from C-1, Conservation District and R-4, Single-Family Residential to Planned Mixed Use Development.

The commissions positive recommendation now goes to City Council, which will review it and conduct a public hearing. Council can accept, reject or modify the proposal, which would also require voter approval.

If it passes, they come back for the final site development process, Law Director Joseph Szeman said. The key is that the final plan has to be in substantial agreement with the preliminary.

Project representative Chris Hermann, principal of Columbus-based MKSK Studios, came to the meeting armed with good news.

He announced that a deal had been reached between the Bolton family and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to preserve about 69 acres of ancient forest on the property, at 8021 Center St.

Conservancy President Rich Cochran was on hand to explain the significance of protecting such a site.

Ive been president of this organization for 23 years and, to my knowledge, theres only one (other) forest like this in Northeast Ohio, Cochran said. It happens to be in Wayne County; its called Johnson Woods. And I dont think theres another one like it, so were extremely excited to be working to preserve this property.

I can tell you that if this becomes a preserve, tree-lovers from all over the state, and perhaps from beyond the state, will come to visit just to see these trees. Thats how unique and rare and special they are.

About half the preservation area is in Kirtland Hills.

The development proposal also calls for about 55 acres of residential use on the northern end and roughly 32 acres by Interstate 90 as commercial. Forty-two acres in between is designated a town center.

Under the proposed zoning, a maximum of eight units per acre could be built, or nearly 1,500. However, the applicant is requesting permission for up to 650 total units.

The site also could support an upper midscale class, limited-service hotel of 80 to 100 keys by 2020, according to a market study presented previously.

Four residential types are proposed: single-family with medium lots, 50 feet wide with vehicle access and garages in the rear, and porches in the front; single-family with 30-foot-wide lots; townhouses and estates.

Ken Kalynchuk of Project Management Consultants LLC has indicated that the development could generate more than $600,000 per year through income and real estate taxes, and 500-plus jobs.

Build out is projected for 2030.

We think this is going to be a fantastic development both for the people that live and work here as well as all of the residents of Mentor, Hermann said. Were excited to move forward with this. We hope you are too.

While the applicant seeks to retain and repurpose the Bolton mansion, commission member Geoffrey Varga sought a condition guaranteeing that it wouldnt be demolished or allowed to deteriorate.

Project representatives expressed concern about being straitjacketed by any conditions.

The applicant has every intention of making the home a primary feature of the development, but we dont think its reasonable to provide an absolute requirement that they must maintain the residence in perpetuity if they cant find a financially viable means of maintaining it, said the applicants attorney, Thomas Coyne.

He proposed a condition that, if the applicant cannot find an economically viable use to preserve the Bolton house, the owner would agree to provide notice to the city and a 60-day discussion period to allow the city to work with the owner to find a means to preserve the home.

Commission member Joseph Sidoti and others were agreeable to the proposition.

At least that gives the city, the commission, the administration the chance to re-engage with you on some discussions on how to resolve that, Sidoti said.

The project was approved with 17 conditions, including:

The buildings proposed along the Norton Parkway corridor (east of Route 615) within Subarea B shall be ground-floor retail with the allowance for small office. Residential shall only be permitted above retail/office space within this area.

The residential unit count approved for Subarea A is up to 300 units and up to 350 units in Subarea B.

The Bolton family home should be preserved and re-used as a bed and breakfast, a boutique hotel or any of the allowed uses: housing/residential care facilities (single-family, mid-rise multifamily, assisted living, nursing homes) ; retail/services (barber shops/hair and nail salons, dry cleaners, restaurants, financial institutions, hotel); offices, and research and development facilities.

Public access shall be provided to the entire proposed conservation area (69 acres) and a conservation easement put in place over the 34 acres of the conservation zone within Kirtland Hills to guarantee it will not get developed.

Any proposed architectural design of residential and commercial buildings, and site design, shall meet or exceed the Design Criteria set forth in the Planned Development Overlay District regulations during final plan submittal.

A traffic impact study is required as part of the final plan submittal.

A tree preservation plan for trees outside the conservation area.

Any issues that may arise concerning the shortage of the required parking, due to the parking-sharing concept, shall be resolved with the introduction of structured parking.

Commission Chairman William Snow voted no.

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Bolton rezoning proposal clears first hurdle, preservation deal reached with Western Reserve Land Conservancy - News-Herald.com