Proposed project draws concerns from residents / Drainage and privacy among issues raised about Bath Road development

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by Steve Wiandt

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- City Council is expected to vote May 12 on a 200-plus unit development planned on West Bath Road.

Despite concerns raised by Akron and Falls residents, Council's planning and zoning committee agreed to send the site plan on to Council.

The development's site plan includes a 100-unit assisted-living complex, a 50-unit nursing home and 96 residential rental units. Plans also include a sales office and a clubhouse. The land is bordered on three sides by the city of Akron. Fred Guerra, city planning director, said the land is nearly 45 acres, but construction is proposed on only 14 acres because within the property is a stream corridor where development is prohibited by the zoning code.

About 80 people attended the May 5 meeting, and several of them raised concerns about the development. Some of the concerns included drainage, privacy, lighting at night and construction noise.

"We've worked with [Bath Crest Estates developer] Danny Karam on a lot of projects, and he has come through time and time again," Mayor Don Robart told the residents at the meeting.

Guerra said Karam reduced the number of residential units from 108. Concerns over the height of the buildings, as high as three stories, were voiced by the planning commission and the public last month.

Councilmember Diana Colavecchio (D-5) said the revised plan was "much more accommodating than what we saw a couple weeks ago" when the planning commission approved a site plan for the project.

A public street is proposed in the development with a 50-foot right of way. Guerra said sidewalks along both sides of the street, or a hiking and biking path along one side, will be built.

Guerra said the city's zoning code promotes walkability, and an R-5 district -- where the development is planned -- is a transitional district that lies between a single-family and a mixed-use district. "The goal is to get people to walk from a single-family, through a high-density to a mixed-use district, so you don't have to take your car everywhere you go," Guerra said.

If Council approves the site plan, Guerra said, a subdivision review then must be submitted by the developer because there is a road and more than one parcel proposed in the development as well as retention basins. Guerra said the subdivision review will include plans for the street, lighting and landscaping.

David Mann, Karam's architect, said the road proposed in the development will be 65 feet from the western property line which abuts the High Hamptons allotment in Akron. He said the assisted-living building in front will be three stories. Three of the nine rental units in back were reduced a story to two stories.

Mann said the appearance and construction of the buildings was modified to look more residential. Mann said the development would provide 60 to 70 new jobs.

Guerra restated the city's goal is to have walkable areas next to mixed-use areas. "We're dealing with Cuyahoga Falls and what's best for Cuyahoga Falls, not so much what's best for Akron or the High Hamptons," Guerra said.

E-mail: swiandt@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3141