Planning commission approves sending revised Silver Hills preliminary plan to city council

The City of Lorain Planning Commission on Sept. 3 approved a motion to forward its recommendation on revisions to the preliminary development plan (PDP 02-2024) for the Silver Hills multifamily project at 5430 West Erie Avenue to city council for consideration Sept. 15. Staff and counsel said the applicant revised the plan since the commission last reviewed it in July and requested the commission formalize a recommendation so council would have a recorded vote. Key changes reviewed at the Sept. 3 meeting included an increase in total units from 150 to 172 (the maximum allowed under current zoning was described as 173), a reconfiguration of building typology from several three-story garden-style buildings to a mix of two- and three-story townhouse-style buildings, and removal of the previously proposed retail building at the Colby Road corner in favor of residential buildings. Commissioners were told the plan reduced the height variance for the tallest three-story building from 11.83 feet to 9.42 feet and revised parking. The updated plan provides 262 parking spaces, which staff said results in a requested variance of 125 spaces from the cited requirement of 387. The zoning administrator noted some earlier variances granted by the zoning board of appeals (parking-related) had been reduced by the applicant. Staff recommended the applicant pursue any remaining variances through the standard process and not seek an additional variance before final submission to council. No members of the public approached to speak on the item during the commission’s meeting. The commission voted in favor of forwarding the PDP revision to city council; the matter will be considered by council at its Sept. 15 meeting. No final development plan or building permits were approved at this session; additional approvals and any variance authorizations would follow the normal PUD and legislative processes.