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New headquarters for land conservancy on track
(by Sali McSherry - April 14, 2011)
New headquarters for land conservancy on track
By SALI McSHERRY
Moreland Hills Village Council was poised to consider issuing a conditional use permit to Western Reserve Land Conservancy last night (April 13).
The proposal for the organization's new headquarters in the village on Chagrin River Road adjacent to Forest Ridge Preserve received unanimous support from the planning commission.
An addition to the historic 4,700-square-foot home previously owned by the Charles Lang family will give the property a "farmstead" look, with a barn-style building connected to the rear of the house that was designed to conceal its bulk and size, according to village architect Richard Kawalek. The initial design was too large and out of character with the existing house, he had said.
Architect Anthony Paskevich, who designed the building, has told the commission the design was more picturesque and captured the character of the Chagrin Valley more than the initial design had done.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy Executive Director Richard Cochran told commission members he appreciated their feedback as well as working with the village to redesign the addition. He said the concept of the "little house, big house, little barn, big barn" is reminiscent of a Vermont- or New Hampshire-style farmstead and was in response to feedback from the commission.
Mr. Cochran said the footprint of the building had been reduced 1,700 square feet to 11,687 square feet. The lineal feet of visible facade was reduced 150 feet in the revised plan, he said.
Mayor Susan C. Renda praised the conservancy and architect for the work that had been done to bend to the commission's requests for a change in the initial design.
One of the main differences in designs is the addition of a larger new finished second floor. The existing second floor is 2,094 square feet and the revised plan would add another 3,472 square feet for a total of 5,566 square feet, about 141 percent more than the original plan.
Mr. Cochran said they have board meetings six times a year and the upstairs gathering room would accommodate 40 seats.
There were some concerns over the expanded size of the second floor by the commission. Mr. Paskevich had said it might be possible to decrease the size once programming and specific needs had been determined.
The conservancy's headquarters would be on about 4 acres owned by the conservancy. Through grants, the village is working to purchase the other 18 acres to use as a park. The property is adjacent to Forest Ridge Preserve, a passive park owned by the village, across from the Cleveland Metroparks land between Chagrin Boulevard and South Woodland Road (Route 87). The conservancy has been instrumental in obtaining the land for the park.
Last fall, Moreland Hills voters approved amending the zoning for residential open-space conservation districts, or U-4, which can include conditional uses such as passive parks and environmental educational.
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