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Commission approves Akron's Finest Mulch site plan with conditions after residents recount past nuisances
Summary
The commission conditionally approved Akron's Finest Mulch site plan for 4590 Masson Road (a 9.14-acre site) contingent on final engineering, an Army Corps jurisdictional determination for wetlands, a recorded pedestrian trail easement and a requirement that large vehicles be stored inside the building or out of sight at night. Residents said prior activity created dust, odor and traffic.
The Green City Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve the site-plan review for Akron's Finest Mulch on Aug. 21, 2024, subject to several conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.
Staff described the property at 4590 Masson Road as a 9.14-acre site on the west side of Masson Road with an existing concrete-block building. The application proposes a new building with storage and office space, outdoor bins for landscape material and concrete and gravel surfacing where loading and turning will occur. Staff noted wetlands and a pond on the property and said the applicant will use the existing pond for stormwater management; the proposal is conditionally permitted in the B-3 district and the Design Review Board recommended approval with façade modifications.
Applicant representatives said product will be manufactured off-site at Akron and trucked in to the Green site for retail and contractor distribution. Owner Mario Halasa said the operation will be a satellite yard: “We make everything off-site, at our Akron location. And what we would do is we would truck it in, and sell it out of this site as, like, a satellite yard.” He estimated a seasonal sales range that could be in the thousands of yards, and described hours and typical equipment (a small front-end loader, a bobcat and pickup-style delivery trucks).
Residents spoke at length during public comment. Dave Stefanik of 4599 Maslin Road described prior activity at the site last year including truck traffic, grinding operations, dust and odors and said that disrupted neighborhood life: “We had dust. We had, smell. We had big trucks going in and out.” Diane Brinkley of 4571 Maslin Road also cited concerns about traffic, the facility serving commercial landscapers as well as residents, and the cumulative load on Maslin Road.
Staff and commissioners acknowledged those concerns and noted the property's existing context along a truck corridor and historical use as a nursery. The commission approved the site plan with conditions motioned by Commissioner (S2) and seconded by Commissioner (S4). The conditions recorded in the motion were final engineering approval and improvement plans, submission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional determination for the wetland area, recording of a pedestrian-trail easement across the southern portion of the site, and a requirement that trucks and loaders be parked within the building or out of public view when not in use. Roll-call voting recorded a majority in favor with Miss Wodrowski voting no.
Staff noted remaining items (final engineering sign-off, wetland confirmation letter and standard permitting) before construction could proceed. The commission did not eliminate the applicant’s ability to return for future signage review; staff said a freestanding sign application would likely be filed separately.
