At the meeting, planning staff presented a site‑plan application by GJMGP for Kanesville at Eastland, an 8.35‑acre industrial development on Kanesville Road that includes variance requests for building materials and cross‑property access. Staff said the proposed metal panels exceed the allowed façade percentages by about 3 percent on the front elevation and about 5 percent on one side, and that the developer has requested a variance on that basis.

The applicant has also requested variances to required cross‑access easements to the north, northwest and south. Staff told the commission the north connection is shown but must be extended to the property line and that the northwest and south connections are required for adjacent industrial parcels. The staff position was that the hardships asserted — including concerns about loss of use and security and an elevation difference at the southern property line — appear to be man‑made, not unique to the site, and therefore do not meet the threshold for a variance.

Charlene Dean, representing Dean Design Group, said the applicant had paid fees and submitted the applications and asked the commission to postpone a final decision until the next meeting so the team could respond to questions. An applicant representative explained they were seeking relief because, they said, cross‑access easements could allow vehicles to stage and park out of sight of the public road and could reduce site security.

A meeting attendee, Joe McKnight, said the city is considering a zoning code update and that under the new code “there's only 1 cross access easement required under the new code for industrial,” adding that the variance requests might not be needed if council adopts the draft change. Staff acknowledged the draft code and said whether council amends the code remains to be determined.

No formal vote was taken on the variances at the commission meeting; staff recorded opposition to the access variances and noted the materials variance either must be reduced to code limits or pursued through a formal variance application. The applicant indicated they would return next week with further material and access discussions.