Planning Commission Tables Final Site Plan For Proposed Osborne Office Complex

The Planning Commission approved the final site plan for 's at its meeting Tuesday, but it tabled the final site plan for Rick Osborne Jr.'s at the southwest corner of Bellflower and Center Street.

Planning Commission Chairman Bill Snow asked Richard Cantanzriti, the consultant who spoke on behalf of the Osborn project at the meeting, if the office complex had any tenants yet.

"I'm not aware of that," Cantanzriti said.

Snow replied that he was concerned about having half-built buildings that remained unfinished while its owner looked for tenants. Snow said that would look especially bad in the case, were it to happen, because the buildings would be in a high-visiibility area.

"I can't have a building that's not done because the tenants aren't lined up," Snow said.

Then Snow asked what insurance he could get that this wouldn't occur.

Cantanzriti replied that the owner would work with the city to their satisfaction.

Ultimately, the Planning Commission members decided they had some questions that needed to either be answered by the owner or the project's architect and, since neither were there, they tabled the final site plan.

Fran Meinke, a Mentor resident who lives near the proposed office complex, spoke at the meeting and said she had some concerns regarding the project.

"It was originally poposed as an assisted living facility, which think of as a multifamily residential," she said "It almost seems like a shell game. You go to the grocery store to get apples and they give you oranges."

Assistant Law Director Joe Szeman replied that the owners could use the property in any way that fits a B1 business development because the land was rezoned via an initiative petition.

Szeman added that the owners did originally try to put an assisted living facility there but the project fell apart.

Meinke also said some nearby property owners had water rights to an artesial well on the Osborne property.

Szeman replied that the city doesn't get involved in property right complaints and suggested the owners consult with an attorney. He added that property rights like that can expire so they might no longer be in effect.

At the same meeting, the Commission approved the site plan for Classic Auto's Ford Lincoln dealership at 8540 Tyler Blvd.

In addition to building a Ford dealership, Classic Auto hopes to move its expanding Hyundai dealership to the former Ford location. This will allow both dealerships to expand, .

Villines told the Planning Commission that he would probably return to them later this year or early in 2013 with architectural re-imaging plans for the former Ford and future Hyundai building.

Villines said Classic Auto hopes to add about 50 jobs as a result of the two expanding dealerships.

The Commission also approved permits to allow outdoor dining at .