Planning commission approves Pierogies of Cleveland expansion, with conditions on stormwater and fire access

The Richfield Planning & Zoning Commission on April 14 unanimously approved final plan approval for Pierogies of Cleveland to expand its Brecksville Road facility, with the approval conditioned on meeting outstanding engineering, landscape and fire-department requirements.

Planning and Zoning Director Brian Frantz said the project converts the site’s use to primary manufacturing with retail and café uses remaining accessory, requiring a conditional zoning certificate. Village Engineer David Neumeyer told the commission that the submitted plans show grading changes that make the work redevelopment, not a simple resurfacing, and that the EPA’s stormwater rules therefore trigger detention requirements. Neumeyer recommended the owner inspect the existing 48-inch CMP culvert and coordinate with Summit County Soil & Water and Cleveland Water on stormwater and utility connections.

Architect Jennifer Frazier and owner Jennifer Harrah said the lighting plan shows full-cutoff fixtures at property lines and that the business currently closes at 6:00 p.m. and does not offer dinner service. "We are currently open until 6:00 p.m. and do not offer dinner service," Harrah said.

Village Architect Scott Wallenhorst asked the applicants to finalize canopy, screening and dumpster-gate details; Wallenhorst and the administration also requested final color samples for village records. Landscape consultant Rob Morgan noted planting and mulch-detail revisions and flagged use of barberry as an invasive selection; the applicant agreed to revise the planting schedule and work with a local nursery to select alternatives.

Fire Chief George Seifert’s memorandum requested detection and suppression drawings to locate the fire department connection, an emergency exit, and clear access around the building for firefighting; the applicant added an emergency exit in an east knockout panel. Frantz recommended the applicant resolve remaining fire-access specifics with the Fire Chief before final permitting.

Commission debate focused on technical site elements—the culvert, a southwest retaining wall shown in plan sets and whether existing laterals could be reused—and village staff said unresolved technical disagreements may require outside review by Summit SWCD. After discussion, Commissioner Dan Holahan moved to approve the case “subject to all recommendations and concerns made by the engineers and the rest of the village consultants as submitted for the record this evening.” Teri Moran seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.

Next steps include submission of revised engineering drawings addressing stormwater detention, utility coordination with Cleveland Water, landscape revisions that avoid invasive species, and final fire protection drawings. The approval does not waive any outside-agency reviews or reviews that the Village Engineer or Fire Chief may require.