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Commission approves sidewalk variance at 2640 Brentwood, denies 10‑foot arborvitae request
Summary
The Beachwood Planning and Zoning Commission on June 25 approved a 2‑foot hardscape variance allowing a sidewalk and small landing at 2640 Brentwood but denied the applicant’s request to plant 10‑foot Arborvitae two feet from the right‑of‑way due to sight‑distance and maintenance concerns.
The Beachwood Planning and Zoning Commission voted June 25 to grant a 2‑foot hardscape variance to permit a walkway and exterior stairs at 2640 Brentwood Road while denying a separate landscaping variance that would have allowed 10‑foot arborvitae planted two feet from the right‑of‑way.
The applicant, Mordechai Giffen, told the commission he needs a small landing and walkway on the Fernwood side of his corner lot to store trash cans and to accommodate the yard grading. “We want trees. I was always told to ask for more and then maybe get less,” Giffen said, explaining the request to use trees in lieu of a fence.
City staff split its recommendation. Engineering and building department representatives reported no objection to the hardscape/sidewalk variance; city engineer Mr. Chuni told the commission the walkway to the side street raised no engineering issues. By contrast, planning staff member Mr. Smarrigan recommended denying the landscaping variance, saying the requested 10‑foot arborvitae planted two feet from the line would create vision and maintenance problems similar to a six‑foot fence and could interfere with sidewalk plowing. “They’re going to create a vision issue,” Smarrigan said, adding that either shorter landscaping or a 12‑foot setback would avoid the problem.
After questions from commissioners about monitoring and maintenance, Mr. Carr moved to approve the hardscape setback variance and deny the remaining portions of the application; Ms. Jacobs seconded. The roll call recorded unanimous support for the hardscape variance and denial of the landscaping variance.
The commission’s approval was made subject to the findings and stipulations in the staff report. Commissioners urged Giffen to work with city staff on an alternative landscaping plan that would screen the air‑conditioning units without reducing sight distance. The denied landscaping variance can be revised and resubmitted or modified in consultation with staff.
