Brunswick in beginning stages of possibly creating new combined residential, commercial area

BRUNSWICK — The city of Brunswick is in the early stages of potentially making its ninth special planning district. During the Brunswick Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, representatives from Mann Parsons Gray Architects presented their current design plan to turn an empty plot of land into an area with both commercial and residential features. Mann Parsons Gray presented the original plan, which was tabled, to the commission in October. The land is an L-shape which starts at Center Road across the street from Fire Station No. 1, goes behind and around the clock tower and ends at Pearl Road, just north of Brunswick Plaza. The plan is to have retail space on the first floor facing Center Road and apartments on top, Ian Jones from Mann Parsons Gray Architects said. There would be 241 one- or two-bedroom apartments spread across multiple buildings, and a roundabout would connect the drives from Center Road and Pearl Road. "Then, as we get back to Pearl Road, we have a new opportunity for retail that kind of matches the existing frontage along Pearl Road," he said. "We didn't want to do something that was out of place, so we line up generally with all the existing buildings that are nearby to infill there." Then, to the back, there would be 49 townhomes with attached garages. Jones said pedestrian walkways would be throughout the property along with green space. "We're trying to create something fresh and modern," Andy Gray from Mann Parsons Gray Architects said. "Something that can attract a whole different sort of clientele to this area. Like we mentioned, this doesn't exist in the community as it stands." Some purposes of a special planning district are to mix compatible uses and to allow for more flexibility and creativity in design than traditional zoning, according to Brunswick's codified ordinances. The 28 acres of land is currently zoned as medium density residential and general commercial district. Ward 3 Councilman Brandon Lambert said the city rarely has control over privately owned land, but an SPD allows for more feedback from the city. "What scares me is what could have went in here," Planning Commission Chairman Joe Shirilla said. "The last thing we want was a cellphone tower, a manufacturing plant, a vape shop and a sexually oriented business because, in theory, all that could come in here. I look forward to working with this." The topography is challenging because the elevation from Pearl Road to the back of the property declines by 55 feet, Brunswick Economic Development Director Grant Aungst said. Also, none of the adjacent sites have stormwater management, which leads to sheets of rain during downpours, Jones said. The project would address the lack of stormwater management in the area. Residents expressed concerns about the project during Thursday's meeting. Concerns included the density of housing, a lack of character in the design of the buildings, the water main breaks which already happen in the area and an increase in traffic. "This is an extremely dangerous intersection that exists at (state Route) 303, Meadowbrook (Boulevard) and Jefferson (Avenue)," Brunswick resident Lynnette Ozanich said. "It's riddled with traffic accidents. This development, I hate to say, will cause more." Jones said they have a traffic study, which still needs to be reviewed by the city engineer. The Planning Commission passed a motion to approve the applicant hiring Doug Harsany as a qualified consultant to prepare revised guidelines for an SPD application. The project was also moved to a public hearing and another revised discussion at a later date. "We are in the very beginning stages of this process right now," Lambert said. "This is not the end all be all." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.