Large shopping, restaurant, office space proposed for Oberlin

OBERLIN — A large retail, office and restaurant space could come to Oberlin's south side if City Council is willing to rezone nearly 28 acres. Carnegie Management of Westlake is seeking to develop a 120,325-square-foot commercial center on the northeast corner of state Route 58 and U.S. Route 20, wrapping around the Marathon gas station and Advance Auto Parts. Robert Hanmer has owned the vacant land since 2011, according to county records. It has a market value of $89,710. Oberlin Planning and Development Director Carrie Handy said Hanmer plans to sell the property to Carnegie Management if officials pave the way for development. Carnegie vice president George Papandreas told the Planning Commission on Wednesday that he has two anchor tenants lined up if rezoning is approved — one of 30,000 square feet and another of 22,000 square feet. Handy said a 10,000-square-foot medical office also is in the mix. Once the land is rezoned, Carnegie can go into "true planning mode," Papandreas said. Leases with tenants can be secured and a traffic study required by the Ohio Department of Transportation can move forward. The target opening date would fall somewhere in 2020, he said. Planning commission members still would have to approve a site plan, but most signaled they are excited about Carnegie's intentions. "In general, what we have is a conceptual plan that is not tied in stone. We are using it to start discussions" with the planning commission, said senior project manager Rick Pichola. Planning Commission member Tony Mealy said he sees the need for only minor adjustments to the rough overhead and elevation drawings unveiled Wednesday. There is a major hurdle to overcome first. Carnegie asked for C-2 zoning and the commission recommended Council designate the property as C-3 because of its location along the two busy highways. That's fine, Carnegie reps said, with one caveat. Oberlin's C-3 code includes a conditional use restriction on any building or group of buildings attached in any manner that total more than 50,000 square feet. That restriction could prove to be a deal-killer, Carnegie reps said, asking for an exception to be made. The Planning Commission seems inclined to go one step further. Mealy, Vice Chairman Eric Gaines, Chairman Matt Adelman and Handy signaled that the 50,000-square-foot restriction shouldn't be part of the C-3 zoning at all — they seemed mystified that it's on the books. Their recommendation to Council is to strip it not just for the proposed Carnegie development but for all future projects. Mealy said nearby Walmart, at roughly 160,000 square feet, exists in a C-3 zone without the conditional use restriction, so it makes sense to extend the same courtesy to Carnegie. Planning Commission member Peter Crowley said he is excited about the development and hopes Carnegie Management will work with the city to make the property sustainable. Papandreas said that will be a goal, as it has been for his company's other developments. Contact Jason Hawk at news@lcnewspapers.com.