Chardon Planning Commission granted final development plan approval and architectural review Nov. 26 for a new Chipotle at 414 Water Street.
Chardon Planning Commission granted final development plan approval and architectural review Nov. 26 for a new Chipotle at 414 Water Street.
“The case before you this evening, filed by Cardinal Realty, is for a new Chipotle restaurant at the site of the former Burger King. As you’re aware, Cardinal Realty had come before this commission several months ago with a plan to renovate the existing Burger King,” Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney said.
Chipotle has since shifted gears and would prefer a new location on the site, he said.
Over the past few weeks, the former Burger King was demolished.
James Sabatine Jr., of Cardinal Realty, was able to shed more light on the decision.
“Chipotle had changed the CEO and they literally — this was the one that got cut, in between,” he said. “They had a new CEO that went to Starbucks and the new incoming people didn’t want to remodel Burger Kings anymore, which we had been doing for them.”
The Chipotle will be approximately 2,325 square feet and will have a pickup window for call-ahead and online orders, Yaney said.
The parking lot will also be greatly reduced from about 50 spaces to about 30, he said, adding the former horseshoe driveway will be modified, leaving only the original “in” driveway, located on the east of the property. The driveway closest to the bike path will be removed.
“Nothing will be happening with the bike path,” Yaney said. “Actually, the parking lot will be getting further away from the bike path with this plan.”
A conditional use permit for the drive-through, which met all requirements, needed approval, Yaney said.
Two variances were also requested, one to reduce the side parking setback from 10 feet to 5 feet for six spaces and one to reduce the setback for parking lots adjacent to buildings from 10 feet to 6 feet.
“If you recall, when Burger King had the lot, their parking stalls went all the way to the property line, so even though this is a variance from the code, it’s going to be further from the property line than the parking spaces were two weeks ago,” Yaney said.
Several other commercial buildings have the same 10-foot-to-6-foot variance, he said, noting there will still be a 6-foot wide sidewalk.
The reason for the variances is to maintain the existing driveway in its current location and preserve more green space on the property, Yaney said.
The city engineer, architect, fire department and arborist recommended the plans for approval, he said.
“I’m grateful that a significant area of green space will be restored to this site that probably hasn’t been green for 150 years there,” Commission Chair Andrew Blackley said. “It used to be the railroad depot once upon a time.”
Given the restaurant’s proximity to the bike path, Blackley also asked if there is a provision for bike racks.
“We told the site engineer to have bike racks. I’m pretty sure they’re on the plan,” Sabatine replied.
There are two Olympia bike racks that can fit four bicycles, he said, noting most Chipotles don’t have bike racks at all.
“Chipotle is, they’re very proactive. If the manager sees they’re getting big bike traffic … there’s room to add more if they’re needed for the bikes,” he said.
While Blackley pointed out the bike racks are located behind the building and suggested they be moved to the front, Sabatine said Chipotle would likely not want that.
“They probably want to make them a little bit out of sight, but definitely not out of mind and where they’re at now, they have a big, large concrete area there where they got plenty of room to set up the bikes,” he said.
The upper part of the building will be Chipotle’s classic blue-gray color, with the lower half a deep gray brick, Sabatine said.
“This is an upgraded design that was used in North Ridgeville. A lot of them you see, they won’t have the brick,” he said.
The current goal is to start construction by early March, weather willing.
The commission approved the conditional use permit, variances, final development plan and architectural review.
