Dunkin' proposed at Broadway and Cooper Foster Park Road, but some neighbors irked by plans

SHEFFIELD TWP. — The Sheffield Township Board of Trustees is considering a rezoning request that would allow the construction of a Dunkin' drive-thru restaurant at the northwest corner of Broadway and Cooper Foster Park Road. A roomful of concerned neighbors attended a public hearing Monday evening, and several voiced concerns about traffic, property values and more if the land is allowed to be rezoned. The site is currently classified as medium density residential but would become a general business district if rezoned. Multiple public bodies have recommended approval of the rezoning, but the decision is now in trustees' hands. The entity requesting the zoning change is The Coles Group, owners and operators of 19 Ohio Dunkin' locations, as well as Taco Bell and Mickey Mart locations. "When we look at a market to identify property that would support a Dunkin', we look at a couple different things," said Paul Rubenstein, representing the group. "Number one is traffic and population density." If the Dunkin' plan is allowed to proceed, the house on the northwest corner of the Cooper Foster and Broadway intersection would be razed. A garage on the same property could be kept for storage. The property is currently owned by the Broadway Assembly Church, which is located across the street, according to meeting minutes. Rubenstein said The Coles Group approached the church about the land. Other parties had been interested in the property in the past. He said the intersection is a desirable location to open a new restaurant because of the availability of traffic there compared to an area shopping center. A concern of multiple residents was that a Dunkin' would only add to traffic woes they've experienced there. Nearby resident Sharon Fain described the intersection as "overburdened" and worried how a new Dunkin' might add more, possibly even affecting emergency vehicles traveling through the area. The concern was shared by resident Michael Furci, a retired firefighter. He said turning west onto Cooper Foster from southbound on Broadway in a firetruck could already be "absolutely horrific" because of traffic backed up there. "We have been on horrific scenes, and when you can't get there, just 30 seconds means a lot," Furci said. There is already a Dunkin' location about 2.4 miles away from the site at Cooper Foster Park Road and Leavitt Road in Lorain, in addition to numerous other locations of the coffee and donut chain around Lorain County. One resident referenced the Cooper Foster and Leavitt Road location and the traffic problems he said it creates. However, Rubenstein said the proposed location in Sheffield Township would be a larger lot size compared with that location and could potentially fit about 40 cars at one time. He also said it is a misnomer that quick service restaurants like Dunkin' generate traffic. "The fact of the matter is, QSRs (quick service restaurants) pull from existing traffic. In other words, it's convenience," Rubenstein said. "A QSR wants to be where the generators are, and it's because a QSR doesn't generate traffic." The township trustees will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. May 6 at 5166 Clinton Ave. to vote on the rezoning. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com.