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Commission grants parking reduction for 9055 Mentor Avenue as restaurateur seeks larger kitchen
Summary
The commission approved a reduction in required parking at 9055 Mentor Avenue to allow the Indian Kitchen owner to reopen and expand catering operations; staff referenced a 1997 variance and presented 13 conditions the commission attached to approval.
The Mentor Planning Commission approved a request Feb. 26 to reduce the required number of parking spaces for 9055 Mentor Avenue, clearing the way for the Indian Kitchen’s owner to reopen and expand catering operations at the site.
Representatives said the building historically operated as a restaurant (noting a 1997 approval that allowed 50 parking spaces in lieu of a previously required 95) and later housed a daycare. Hardik Prajapati, identified as the owner/operator, said he intends to use the site primarily for lunch and dinner service and to expand kitchen space to support catering. Prajapati confirmed he is not planning to use the upper-left party room space for restaurant patron seating.
Staff said aerial photos and site review found previous use as a restaurant and that a variance in 1997 allowed 50 spaces rather than the 95 then required. Staff presented 13 recommended conditions for the parking reduction, including restoring landscaping in specific spaces, maintaining traffic flow and, if necessary, seeking a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals for zero setbacks along Victoria Drive. The applicant agreed to add landscaping and to adjust two parking spaces to avoid blocking a dumpster.
Commission discussion focused on how to calculate required parking when portions of a building are not used for dining. Staff said the calculation excluded the corridor area not used for dining and produced a count of 49 required spaces under that approach. One commissioner noted that staff can judge whether reduced interior-use area justifies a parking reduction under the revised parking code.
A motion to approve the parking-reduction request with 13 conditions was moved, seconded and carried on a roll call vote with affirmative votes recorded by the commissioners present.
The approval is subject to the 13 staff-recommended conditions and any required variances identified during site plan review or by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
