Erie County Convention Center seeks two-level parking ramp addition; commission recommendations noted

Shaleen Beeler of Beeler and Associates presented a proposal on Oct. 1 to add two floors to the existing parking ramp at Sassafras Pier for the Erie County Convention Center Authority.

Project details: Beeler said the two-story addition would add 232 parking spaces and bring the ramp to five stories, which meets the zoning maximum height. The design keeps existing materials and storefront enclosures consistent with the current ramp, adds a small canopy entrance on the east side and will include metal panels on the west façade to reduce snow intrusion while maintaining required ventilation.

Planning commissions: Cooper Moore said the Design Review Committee and Planning Commission unanimously recommended the project. The commissions commended the proposal's attention to snow impacts and asked questions about lighting and security; staff said those measures would match existing ramp security.

Public comment and council questions: No members of the public testified in opposition at the hearing; a council member asked whether expanding parking would affect parking space width and cause more vehicle door dings; the applicant said the project meets current code for parking space dimensions. Pier 6 access and entrances to retail were not changed, the applicant said; the top-level enclosures for elevators and stairs will match existing materials.

Next steps: The public hearing record closed at the meeting; no final council vote was recorded on Oct. 1. The project will proceed through the city's permit and review process as required.

Ending: The presentation emphasized the added parking capacity for the convention center and retail area and noted design moves to address Erie's wind and snow conditions.