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Parkside Church gains approval for expansion
(by Joan Demirjian - January 28, 2010)
Parkside Church gains approval for expansion
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Parkside Church received approval from the Bainbridge board of zoning appeals last week to carry out plans for an addition to its building on Pettibone Road.
The board approved a modification of Parkside's conditional-use permit and a variance to height restrictions at a Jan. 21 hearing which attracted several neighbors of the church.
Plans call for an addition of 114,817 square feet. The church will reconfigure the existing sanctuary with about 400 seats for special uses and for classrooms, according to architect Tony Paskevich. The plan calls for a 45-foot height. The township height limit is 35 feet.
A new sanctuary would be built with 2,588 to 2,600 seats, along with 14 classrooms in the lower level, as well as storage and maintenance space. The existing building is about 139,000 square feet.
Although the application was approved, Michael Bowerman, director of facilities and planning for the church, said afterward that a start date has not been set. The plan will undergo continued study and fine-tuning, he said.
"The church leadership and congregation will wrestle with the decision if we are going to proceed," Mr. Bowerman said. "A project of this magnitude wouldn't go without congregation's involvement," he said.
"This was a good step in communication with the residents and neighbors," he said. "It's an important step in the process, and we need additional study before announcing a project."
Chardon attorney Dale Markowitz, who represents Parkside, said several issues from a hearing last month were worked out.
One was a review of the plans by the Bainbridge Fire Department. Assistant Fire Chief William Lovell said the department is asking for a "repeater system" to be installed in the church so police and fire radios can communicate. "It will enhance our communication capabilities in the building," he said.
Mr. Markowitz said Parkside is complying with all of the fire department's requests, including a loop system for fire hydrants at the site.
In respect to surface water drainage, Parkside is proposing to convert a pond on property it owns on the east side of Root Road back to the original natural stream. A previous owner created the pond.
That plan will satisfy Root Road neighbor George Wierdsma who has property downstream with a pond and was concerned about the chemicals being used to treat the Parkside pond for algae and flowing to his property.
Amy Brennen, director of the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, said a stream on the church property on the west side of Root Road will be filled in for parking. To make up for impacting the riparian-setback requirements of the township, restoring the stream on the east side of Root Road will serve as mitigation, Mrs. Brennan said.
Water flowing off the parking lot into a retention basin will be treated before it flows out into a lake on city of Solon park property.
Traffic is a concern for some residents in the area. David Berry said "traffic is like a freeway" when people are leaving after services. "There is a big safety concern there," he said.
He asked if anything was being done for residents who want to walk, jog and stay safe such as extending the bike trail from Solon on Pettibone Road.
That is a matter that is beyond the authority of the board of zoning appeals, board chairman Michael Lamanna said.
Mr. Berry suggested Parkside include extension of the bike path in its plans because traffic is such a concern to residents.
Mr. Markowitz said it is his opinion that joggers and bikers are safer on Sunday because the church has traffic control and people drive slower because there are more vehicles. The highest percentage of the traffic goes west to Solon, Parkside representatives said.
Still, Mr. Berry said, it is a safety issue for residents. "Where's it going to stop?" he asked.
Geauga Lake Road resident Karen Bartlett said she runs everyday on the roads. "Parkside does wonderful things," she said, but she said traffic is a concern. She said a gate on Root Road is not kept closed as promised.
When it is open, people leaving the church are encouraged to turn left to go down Jackson Road to Geauga Lake Road, cutting through the neighborhood, she said. The gate needs to be kept closed, she said.
She also cited the need for natural cover around the church. She said she does not believe anyone is keeping the church accountable.
The situation "has caused me a lot of stress," she said. The township is not doing its job in enforcing the church to do what it is supposed to do, Ms. Bartlett said.
"I'm really upset about this." It is an injustice to neighbors, she said. And speaking to Parkside, she said, "This has caused me heartache."
Mr. Markowitz said the Root Road exit was used on Sundays when Solon was working on Pettibone Road and putting in water and sewers. He said about 20 cars are going to the left, to Jackson Road.
In approving the modification request, the board placed some conditions on the approval, including requiring Parkside carry out the mitigation project by removing the pond on Parkside's Root Road property, returning it to a stream. If it is not feasible another mitigation project will be required.
With respect to Root Road, there will be right-turn-only signs, and left turns onto Root Road will be discouraged.
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