The future of the former 7 Ladies Tea Parlor building at 107 Center Street in Chardon may be one entirely devoid of retail use.
The future of the former 7 Ladies Tea Parlor building at 107 Center Street in Chardon may be one entirely devoid of retail use.
Joyce Perrico, representing Abruzzo Investments, attended the Chardon Planning Commission meeting Nov. 25 to request a variance allowing the lot to be used as a two-family dwelling rather than for its current mixed-use zoning.
“As the commission members are probably aware, the C2 Chardon Square mixed-use district allows dwelling units above non-residential uses, but it does not permit standard, two-family dwelling uses,” Community Development Administrator Jonathan Holody said.
Perrico said her purchase of the building is contingent upon receiving the variance.
“With the limited two (parking) spaces in the front and now with the former Chase Bank building not allowing parking without paying $4 or whatever — when it was the tearoom, we saw people walking across the street all the time using that parking facility because of the limited parking in the space and it just is not ideal for (commercial use),” she said.
The second floor is already residential. They only need the variance for the first floor, she said.
The building currently has a half-bathroom on the first floor, Perrico said, noting interior modifications would be needed for it to become a two-family dwelling.
There is also a two-car garage behind the house with a short driveway, she added.
The property has been on the market for a year, Perrico said.
Parking has not only been a concern for Perrico, but for surrounding property owners.
“I’m not sure about the parking for this property. I’m not sure how it could be suitable for two families to live in this adjacent property,” said Stephanie Cordes, who lives next door to the former tearoom. “What I think will happen is they will use the on-street parking in front as much as possible. I think it will impact our property quite a bit to have two families in this small house next to us.”
Cordes said her family moved in six months ago knowing the property had previously been used commercially.
John Sheehan, who lives down the hill from the property, questioned whether there are enough parking spaces per family and whether the property meets fire code standards for two apartments, among other concerns.
Perrico said she has not measured the driveway, but believes two families using the garage should have independent ingress and egress.
There are a number of apartments on the square with back-to-back parking, where one tenant uses the garage and another parks directly behind, she noted.
Abruzzo owns multiple other apartments in the area and has not had issues between renters and adjacent property owners, she said, adding they screen applicants carefully.
Perrico also emphasized she takes matters of fire safety seriously.
“We are very serious about our fire security and safety. We follow every guideline again that the county and the city and the fire department — we just had fire inspections, we do them annually, so that’s not something we take lightly,” she said.
Commission member Colin Wantz noted other agencies in the county handle building and fire code issues and that the owners would be required to comply with code regardless of whether the commission grants the variance.
“Is there a fine line here on our decision making?” he asked Law Director Ben Chojnacki.
To obtain a variance, the commission must consider whether it would adversely impact public health, safety or general welfare, Chojnacki said.
“There’s enough here, there’s enough question marks that I’m not certain I’m hearing that the commission has enough information to render a decision … appropriately determining whether the public health, safety or welfare is going to be adversely affected if this use were approved,” he said.
Typically, relevant departments provide that information to the city in advance, he said, noting the commission did not have that information at the meeting.
Commission Chair Andrew Blackley suggested tabling the item until the next meeting, when additional information could be provided and a more informed decision could be made.
The commission agreed and passed a motion to table the item with one abstention from Robert Emmons.
In other business, Blackley noted two seats will soon be opening on the planning commission, with members Wantz and Dean Peska set to vacate their seats, Wantz two years before his term officially ends.
