Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approves three variances and a lot split; one item tabled

The Beachwood Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 25 approved three separate variances for residential properties and granted a commercial lot split, with one agenda item tabled at the applicant’s request.

Ron Klutchen, an architect representing the homeowners at 2797 Shaker Crest Boulevard, told the commission the proposed single-story kitchen and owner-suite addition would let longtime residents remain in their home and would preserve several large trees. "They've lived at that house for 40 years," Klutchen said, asking the board to allow the addition to sit 32 feet from the rear lot line, an 8-foot variance from the 40-foot requirement. City staff recommended approval; planning staff said the lot backs up to a high-school property rather than another residence and found a practical difficulty. The commission approved the measure unanimously.

Rebecca Fertel described a reduced-scope project at 23413 Greenlawn Avenue, saying the current one-story design replaces a previously approved two-story plan and that an irregular, tapered lot line requires up to a 5.4-foot variance. Staff reported no departmental objections and confirmed the new variance would supersede the 2022 approval (which had not resulted in construction). The board cited the same practical difficulty and approved the requested variance.

At 24803 Wimbledon Road, Mark Friedman sought a 190.5-square-foot hardscape variance to install a 95-square-foot permeable-paver walkway connecting a patio to a gate. Friedman said the area is shaded and slippery and that permeable pavers would avoid increasing runoff — a point city engineering praised. Commissioners discussed whether to include a perpetually permeable-paver stipulation; staff said that requirement would have to be explicit but that the small area made measurable runoff differences unlikely. The commission approved the variance with the staff stipulations.

The commission also approved a lot split for properties at 23600 and 23650 Commerce Park Road to create two parcels (parcel A approximately 1.29 acres and parcel B approximately 1.04 acres). Planning staff noted Parcel B would have 30 feet of frontage where the UA district typically requires 150 feet and that shared parking needed recorded cross-access and parking agreements; the board granted the frontage and parking-setback variances and required a perpetual cross-access and parking agreement to be recorded with the plat. One agenda item (2025-540) was tabled at the applicant’s request and will return at a future meeting if refiled.

All motions were made by Mr. Shoikert and seconded by Mr. Silver unless otherwise noted; all votes on the items acted on that night were unanimous by roll call. The commission adjourned at the end of the agenda.