Planning Commission approves home-based youth media and training use at 7604 Hopkins Road

The Mentor Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit for a home-based media production and youth sports training operation at 7604 Hopkins Road.

Applicant Andrew Cardos told the commission he installed a turf field in his backyard and proposed coaching and video-based training for local youth to “give players a place to go to to get better,” saying “I’m not trying to get rich off it.” Staff had recommended 10 conditions in the staff report; commissioners discussed neighbor outreach, participant limits and hours.

Commissioner Tiedemann noted that condition three requires children be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and asked whether the applicant agreed to the restriction; Cardos said he did. Commissioner Varga asked whether Cardos had informed his neighbors; Cardos replied that neighbors including “Joe” and “Angela” supported the use. The commission agreed to modify condition four to specify that outside training activities occur between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and accepted a limit on participants consistent with the conditions. The motion to approve the permit as amended passed on a roll-call vote with six votes in favor, none opposed; one member was excused.

The commission closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. and recorded the approval subject to the staff conditions as amended. The applicant and staff were directed to ensure the approved conditions are reflected in the permit documentation; no further public comment was recorded.