LAKEWOOD - The Lakewood Village Board has approved a site plan for a multi-use development on Chautauqua Avenue but denied a special-use permit for a used-car lot on Fairmount Avenue. .
Two public hearings were held during a Monday's Village Board meeting. The first was to approve the site plan for a two-story mixed-use building at 140-144 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood. The application was submitted by Betsy Shults for the proposed construction of a commercial and residential building. The building will consist of businesses on the ground level and have two apartments on the second floor.
Laurie Shults, representing her mother, and Donald Harrington of Harrington Architecture presented the plan to the board. The proposed building will be 34 feet in height, exceeding the village's zoning law maximum of 30 feet.
Article Photos
Designs for a proposed multi-use development at 140-144 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood. Betsy Shults submitted the application proposing to construct a two-story mixed-use commercial and residential building. The proposal was discussed Monday during a Lakewood Village Board meeting.
P-J photo by Dennis Phillips
Also, the rear yard setback will be around three feet instead of the legally allowed 10 feet. Shults said the reason for the height variance relates to a desire for more natural light for retail space and the apartments. The setback variance would be for the two-car garage for parking for the apartments. Village zoning law states each residential unit needs at least one parking spot.
Shults said someone has already shown interest in operating a bistro or a restaurant in the commercial space.
Gale Denn, village trustee, said the Shults family has always been good neighbors in the community.
''It's a beautiful project," said Joe Troche, village trustee.
The board unanimously approved the site plan.
The second public hearing was on a special-use permit for a used-car lot. Lawrence Spacciapolli of Larry Spacc auto dealers presented his proposal to the board. He said the business would have about 50 cars on the lot. The building on the property, which is the former Carnahans Clothing Company, would be renovated and used for office space. The third-generation family business, which has been in operation since 1956, has lots in Dunkirk and Westfield.
Troche said he doesn't like the idea of any more car sales lots along Fairmount Avenue using commercial property. Denn said he has concerns with a car lot at such a busy intersection. Spacciapolli said he believes most people will use Fairdale Avenue in Lakewood and not Fairmount Avenue to enter the business. He also said he feels he will have less traffic than a retail store would receive.
Susan Drago, village trustee, asked if Spacciapolli would use any flashing signs or other items to attract attention to the business, which could be a potential traffic hazard. Spacciapolli said he doesn't like using those types of items. He said, at times, he uses balloons for special sales events. John Jablonski III, village trustee, said it would be a positive to have a business use the currently empty commercial lot.
When the board voted, it was 2-2 among village trustees. David Wordelmann, village mayor, then voted against the special-use permit. Wordelmann said the village will have a work session before its next meeting to discuss more regulations for the car dealership, possibly to end up allowing the special-use permit. The board's next meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 13.