PERRYSBURG – The Planning Commission has seen the broad stokes of an updated site plan for a new Kroger
store, but members want a formal proposal before committing to a decision on the project.
Developers for the proposed Kroger store, which would be located at the southeast corner of Ohio 25 and
Roachton Road, had submitted a revised site plan to the commission as expected. However, the developers
subsequently made additional changes to accommodate more recent recommendations and only submitted those
plans to the city last week.
The Planning Commission saw for the first time Thursday a "revised" revised plan, which shows
the property’s southern drive along Route 25 moving farther south. As the developers explained, the
modification has a domino effect on other features of the development. The commission ultimately agreed
to hold a special meeting Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m. to help the store meet deadlines for closing a deal on
the property, but not without some reluctance about changing the schedule.
John Wanick, the commission chair, said he resisted exceptions to rules that would set a precedent for
similar scheduling requests.
"I understand your concern, but looking at the time frame, have you not had plenty of opportunity to
basically verify or revise your plan?" he asked developers at one point.
Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Administrator Rick Thielen noted that the Oct. 2 revised plan,
which the developers submitted on schedule, accounted for several recommendations made in September by
the Planning Commission. But an update of that plan was presented for the first time Oct. 22 at the
Architectural Review Committee meeting.
"So one would have to say, ‘Why didn’t this Oct. 2 plan reflect those changes that came out of the
Planning Commission meeting last month, which included comments about the distance of the roads,’"
he said, pointing specifically to a debate about plans for a right-in/right-out access on Dixie Highway.
But George Oravecz, a project consultant, said the discussion last month did not include specific changes
to the location of the signalized intersection at the south end of the project along Route 25. He said
the recommendation to move that access farther south occurred at a meeting with city administration,
staff and representatives and Ohio Department of Transportation a few days after the Planning Commission
meeting. And since the developers had to submit their revised site plan on the same day, he said, the
Oct. 2 site plan did not account for the most recent recommendations regarding the southern drive.
Thielen said after the meeting that ODOT had recommended the southern drive be located 1,350 feet from
Roachton Road or 1,000 feet at a minimum.
The most recent site plans place the southern access and traffic light 1,060 feet from Roachton.
To accommodate the change, developers moved a northern right-in/right-out access on Route 25 farther
south, increased overall landscaping to about 37 percent and rearranged plantings as well as increased
the Kroger store parcels of the project from 9.32 acres to 9.93 acres. The size of surrounding outlots
also increased.
The Oct. 2 revised plan also included a requested 25-foot greenspace buffer along Roachton and Route 25,
which has been a concern to neighboring Perrysburg Heights residents.
According to a preliminary comparison of the Oct. 2 and Oct. 22 plans prepared by Thielen, the updated
plan includes fewer shade trees and landscape islands than the city requires for the grocery store and
retail parcels.
The administrator continues not to support a right-in/right-out drive on Route 25. Much of the discussion
about the traffic study focused on this feature.
Jean Hartline, senior project manager for Mannik & Smith, again cautioned that – without that
access – many people would likely try to make a more dangerous left turn at Roachton Road to the north
instead of backtracking to the light at the southern drive. She said the right-in/right-out on Route 25
would create a relief valve for other traffic hot spots that may emerge.
Wanick initially asked the developers to return with their updated plan at the regularly scheduled
December meeting. Commission members said they needed to see a formal review of the new site plan.
"I cannot approve a site plan that I have not had before me," commission member Becky Williams
said.
But property owner Jeff Reitzel and Danbury National President Brian McMahon asked the commission to make
an exception, considering the developers’ tight deadlines. McMahon said the deal needed to be finalized
before Dec. 31, after which Kroger would enter a new tax year. He said a delay would affect the store’s
financial plans.
Mayor Nelson Evans said the he thought the community was anxious to see the project completed and that he
would not oppose a special meeting, but deferred to Wanick. Williams added she would not be able to
attend the December meeting.
Wanick decided to allow the rescheduling request and told developers they must submit their new plan by
Monday. Pending approval of the preliminary site plan from the commission, the project will next head to
the Architectural Review Committee.
