Planning commission approves school pavilion relocation at Fairmount Boulevard

Neil Bennett, director of operations for the Beachwood City School District, told the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 25 that the district plans to reconstruct and repurpose a 12-by-16-foot pavilion at 24601 Fairmount Boulevard to sit between athletic fields.

Bennett said the structure was deconstructed from Bridal Elementary during recent construction and would be reassembled at the Fairmount site with 42-inch-deep concrete footings. “There will be picnic tables underneath it,” he said.

In the absence of the city planner, Mr. Renick read the planner’s report, which said the property is zoned U5 (public and institutional), the proposed pavilion would be roughly 10½ feet high with a metal roof, and there were no setback or zoning issues. The report recommended both preliminary and final approval, subject to the final location being approved in the field by the building commissioner and noting no objections from the fire, police, or building departments.

Commissioner Hecht moved to approve PNZ2024-24, the request by Neil Bennett and the Beachwood Board of Education for preliminary and final site plan approval to reconstruct the pavilion at 24601 Fairmount Boulevard, with the building commissioner approving final placement. Commissioner Dylan seconded. The clerk called the roll and members voted yes; the motion carried.

The commission’s approval is limited to the site-plan review and the condition that the building commissioner verify the final on-site location. The project will return to administrative review as necessary for building permits and any additional departmental sign-offs.

The commission moved on to other business after the approval.