Design Review Board gives favorable recommendation to Akron's Finest Mulch site plan with conditions on trees, elevations and site protections

Dan Kozad, representing Cromroy Kozad Construction, presented a proposal Aug. 7 for Akron's Finest Mulch to operate on a 9.1-acre site at 5490 Maslin Road. The design review discussion covered wetlands, site access, building materials, landscaping and operational controls; the board recommended the project to the Planning Commission with several conditions.

"My name is Dan Kozad representing Cromroy Kozad Construction who is representing Mario Halasa for Akron Finest Mulch," Kozad said in his presentation, describing the site as 9.1 acres with an existing pond and wetlands previously delineated this spring by Flickinger Environmental Group and submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a jurisdictional determination that is still pending.

Kozad described the proposed layout: use of the existing drive from Maslin Road, a pole‑barn style storage/equipment building with a 16‑by‑32 office at the front, concrete bins for material storage, and separate loading equipment (Bobcats and larger loaders) to serve pickup customers and landscapers. He said the company will not manufacture mulch on-site but will sell and load material from the site.

Board members pressed for operational clarity, including whether trucks and loaders would use backup alarms. Kozad noted that OSHA requires backup alarms around 90 decibels at 4 feet from equipment; board members discussed tree species selection to help dampen noise and asked the applicant to consider white pine instead of Colorado blue spruce because white pine establishes and grows faster.

The board also discussed building materials and elevations. Members asked for refinements to the Hardie (cementitious) siding and continuity of line work, including possible shake/shingle detail in a gable area and stone base treatments on support columns; Kozad said the submitted color renderings will be updated to show stone bases and that some Hardie products are available prefinished with extended warranties.

The board made a motion to give Akron's Finest Mulch a favorable recommendation to the Planning Commission with conditions: use of white pine along the northern border in lieu of Colorado blue spruce, refined elevations and material detailing (including stone base on columns), bollards to protect the dumpster enclosure and garage/loader doors, and a requirement to maintain the appearance of the Hardie siding consistent with masonry expectations. The motion passed on a board vote.

The applicant noted wetlands work has been submitted to the Army Corps and that a jurisdictional determination (JD) is pending; Planning Commission review and any required Corps approvals remain outstanding steps before site work can begin.