OReilly Auto Parts Might Build Store in Middlefield

March 7, 2013

By Ann Wishart
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Middlefield may soon be welcoming an O’Reilly Auto Parts store to the village business community.
The village’s Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed preliminary plans last Thursday for a 6,800-square-foot proposed store located on the northeast corner of West High and Elmwood streets.
A lot split from the Russell Funeral Home property to the east and a setback variance for the west side of the building would be required, said village Zoning Inspector Steve Roessner.
The company sent a letter asking him to take it to planning and zoning, he said.
“They’re just looking for suggestions, trying to get an initial reaction,” Roessner said.
Primary access to the parking lots on the north and south sides of the building will be off Elmwood Street, but the southern driveway is too close to the intersection in the plan, he said.
Roessner said the company might consider shifting the location of the building to keep the driveway farther back from the intersection.
Also, O’Reilly is proposing parking spaces be 9 by 18 feet and the village requirement is 10 by 20 feet, he said, adding a sidewalk along Elmwood could be problematic since the lot is narrow.
Other items to be considered are the lack of drainage and storm water runoff. Signage should be discussed as the project progresses, Roessner said.
O’Reilly Auto Parts is a leading retailer in the automotive parts after-market industry, according to its website, www.oreillyauto.com.
The first store was opened in 1957 and the 4,000th store was opened in Tampa, Fla. on Jan. 13, 2013. The closest O’Reilly store to Middlefield is in Mentor.
In other discussion, commission chairman Scott Klein asked if Sperry Lane homeowners were aware infrastructure work on their street would limit it to one lane most of the summer.
The village will install sewer and water lines in a project that will take four to seven months, he said.
The residential street is used often by traffic going from state Route 608 to Lake Avenue, Klein said.
Village Administrator Dan Weir said once the work schedule is sure, a letter will be sent to homeowners.
Although people using the nearby baseball field often park on the grass along Sperry, Klein said visitors won’t be able to park along Sperry, but the ball field will be available for use as usual.
Mayor Ben Garlich said construction of a bank office in Harrington Square behind Kentucky Fried Chicken has begun.
Garlich said the annexation of 204 acres of farm land at state routes 87 and 528 won’t be approved by council until the first meeting in May and there are no building plans filed by Chem Technologies for the warehouse they expect to build there.