Planning commission approves Circle K at Lorraine and Root with right-of-way dedications, traffic conditions

The North Ridgeville Planning Commission on May 13 approved a plan for a new Circle K convenience store and gas station at the southeast corner of Lorraine Road and Root Road, with several access and dedication commitments intended to mitigate traffic impacts.

Director Lieber presented the proposal: a 4,000-square-foot store, a canopy with 12 fueling positions, a surface parking layout and a stormwater basin at the site's rear. The applicant agreed to dedicate a 20-foot strip of property along both Lorraine and Root Road frontages for potential future widening, to dedicate additional property to accommodate a potential future 200-foot-diameter roundabout, and to provide a larger easement around the French Creek culvert.

Staff and the applicant negotiated access and traffic conditions. The Route Road curb cut will be right-in/right-out only and placed as far south from Lorraine Road as practicable. The Lorraine Road curb cut was shown as full access on the current plan, but the applicant agreed that if a roundabout is later built at the intersection the Lorraine curb cut would be converted to right-in/right-out; the applicant also agreed to convert that access if crash metrics following opening meet a threshold described by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (specifically, five angle or pedestrian crashes in a three-year period). Staff also requested pavement markings and left-turn-lane queue improvements; the applicant agreed to extend the northbound Route Road left-turn queue from roughly 50 feet to about 150 feet by restriping within existing right of way.

Brett Lamb, Circle K real-estate representative, and engineer Robert Wellert described site controls. Wellert said new underground storage tanks will be double-wall and continuously monitored, and the applicant will obtain required permits. Circle K said it maintains spill-prevention procedures and spill kits and that the site will meet Ohio EPA and city stormwater-quality requirements; the stormwater basin design is intended to hold runoff and discharge at rates equal to or less than predevelopment rates.

Several residents spoke in opposition, citing traffic, safety, property values and stormwater concerns. Kitty Salyer said she opposed any new gas station at the corner because of congestion and potential crime and litter. Douglas Connor, a church trustee at the corner, said erosion and increased surface water in a nearby ditch are concerns. Commissioners and staff addressed truck-route enforcement and liquor-license notification processes during public comment.

After discussion, the commission voted to approve the project; roll call shows affirmative votes by commissioners Ali, Toth, Schuman, Abins and Smollett (5-0). Engineering asked the applicant to prepare and record a right-of-way dedication plat; staff and the applicant will implement the agreed traffic, dedication and stormwater items during final engineering.