Mentor BZA Approves Business Signs for Great Lakes Mall, O'Reilly Automotive

During its meeting Tuesday at , the Mentor Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance to allow the Great Lakes Mall to install a new freestanding sign on Mentor Avenue, which is part of the mall’s .

The new 391-square-foot sign will stand a little over 32 feet in height and replace the existing 305-square-foot sign that is 30 feet tall. A variance was required because city code requires a maximum height for a freestanding sign of 15 feet in height with a maximum area of 120 square feet.

The mall also plans to replace its freestanding sign on Johnny Cake Ridge Road with a monument sign, which complies with city code.

In May, the mall that include changing the mall’s color scheme, replacing the flooring with ceramic tile and carpeting and refurbishing the food court with new lighting and banquet seating.

In other action, the BZA approved four variances that will allow the yet-to-be constructed O’Reilly Automotive Store on Center and Market streets to erect a freestanding sign, as well as install wall signs on its new building facing Market and Center streets and Route 2. The total sign area is 254 square feet. The variances were required because city code allows for a total sign area of 217 square feet.

Mentor Planning Administrator Ric Spence said O’Reilly plans to raze the existing vacant building and construct a new commercial building.

The BZA also granted a parking variance for a new dental practice that will open in the former InkStop store at 9368 Mentor Avenue.  City code requires 34 parking spaces, but the variance allows the dental practice and other retailers to utilize only 26 parking spaces.

The board also approved variances for:

• The construction of a shed at 7794 Litchfield Drive,

• The construction of a two-car garage and an addition at 9422 Headlands Road.