Commission tables site-alteration request for 7139 Hopkins Road, asks for clearer drawings and landscaping plan

The Mentor Planning Commission on May 1 tabled a request to modify previously required site conditions at 7139 Hopkins Road, asking the applicant to return with engineered site plans that show proposed landscaping, defined access points and any consolidation of adjacent parcels.

Representative Judd Klein explained the practical difficulties of adding a sidewalk and a nine‑foot streetside landscape zone given existing paving, a bike lane and a narrow frontage. He said the owner has submitted a consolidation plan and prefers to prioritize building reimaging and tenant fit‑out. City staff said engineering plans and a defined curb/landscape treatment were still required and expressed discomfort with leaving the lot largely unchanged.

Commissioners emphasized the importance of defining the in/out access and retaining some landscaping to separate parked cars from the street. One commissioner suggested the landscape area could be smaller than originally requested but should be retained to define the driveway; another recommended keeping the approved curb definition. The owner reported recent cleanup and hedge trimming along the property’s north edge.

The commission voted to table the item and directed the applicant to provide a clearer engineered site plan that shows access points, any proposed curb or island treatment and a modest landscape buffer. Staff advised that engineering and public‑works review will be required before the commission will consider modifications to previously approved conditions.