Jiffy Lube proposed for Pearl Road north of Whitney in Strongsville

Strongsville Jiffy Lube 1

A Jiffy Lube has been proposed for Pearl Road just north of Whitney Road in Strongsville. (Bob Sandrick, special to cleveland.com)

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- A Jiffy Lube proposed for Pearl Road just north of Whitney Road has encountered another delay.

The Planning Commission tabled the project in October to allow time for a wetlands study of the site. A commission official said wetlands are there, but it’s uncertain how much or where.

If the wetlands take up too large a space, they could sink the project. The commission might know more in January.

The Jiffy Lube was first proposed to the commission in May by Sevan Multi-Site Solutions, a Downers Grove, Ill., business consulting firm.

Sevan, according to its website, is working with Jiffy Lube -- which provides oil changes and brake replacements, among other services -- to build new shops for the first time in more than 20 years.

Jiffy Lube would stand on the southwest corner of Pearl and Broxton Drive, across the street from O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar, on a half-acre lot.

The building would cover nearly 3,000 square feet and include four vehicle bays. Both Pearl and Broxton would have curb cuts leading into and/or out of the business. The curb cut on Pearl would allow only right turns out.

The project needed two zoning variances -- one for the parking lot setback from Broxton, the other for the building setback from Pearl.

Under city code, the building must be set back at least 125 feet from the middle of Pearl. The proposed Jiffy Lube would be set back 96 feet.

Also under code, the parking lot must be set back at least 20 feet from Broxton. The Jiffy Lube lot would be set back 10 feet.

Due to the variances, the commission in May rejected the Jiffy Lube site plan and referred the project to the city’s Board of Zoning & Building Code Appeals (BZA).

At the June 22 BZA meeting, board member John Rusnov said Jiffy Lube and Sevan purposely positioned the building closer to Pearl so that it would stand as far as possible from homes on Broxton.

Assistant Law Director Dan Kolick said a 6-foot-high wall would separate Jiffy Lube from the houses behind it on Broxton.

Kolick advised Frank Malawski, senior development manager with Sevan, to make sure that Jiffy Lube’s lights don’t shine onto residential properties nearby.

The BZA approved the two variances and referred the plan to the city’s Architectural Review Board. On July 19, the ARB rejected Jiffy Lube’s sign package, saying the plan included too many signs taking up too much space -- more than allowed under city code.

On Oct. 18, the ARB approved a revised sign package, along with the site plan, building exterior designs, building materials, colors and lighting.

The Planning Commission, in addition to approving the site plan, would also have to approve a conditional use permit for Jiffy Lube. Under city code, automotive service centers are allowed on Pearl at Broxton -- a general business district -- only on a case-by-case basis.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.

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