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MINUTES OF THE A VON LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION MEETING JANUARY 6, 2026 A work session of the Avon Lake Planning Commission was called to order on January 6, 2026, at 8: 10 PM in Council Chambers with Chairperson Ma presiding. ROLL CALL Present for roll call were Mr. Leitch, Ms. Lissner, Dr. Ma, Mr. Orille, Mrs. Raymond, Mr. Reynolds, Mayor Spaetzel, Director of Law Ebert, City Engineer Howard, Community Development Director Eshom, and Planning & Zoning Manager La Rosa. 1. CONCEPTUAL PROJECT DISCUSSIONS Learwood Middle School - Conceptual Site Plan Overview Ryan Schmit of TDA Architecture presented preliminary concepts for a new Learwood School. He explained that the district is planning to consolidate the Troy and Learwood student populations onto the Learwood site. He described the planning work underway, including due diligence tasks such as a traffic study, site review, and preliminary technical coordination. Mr. Schmit reviewed existing site conditions, including the location of the current school building, existing parking areas, access drives, surrounding residential context, and the stadium and track area at the rear of the property. He noted that the rear portion of the site has historically remained largely undeveloped and provides the space needed for new construction. Mr. Schmit explained that the conceptual approach anticipates maintaining school operations in the existing building while constructing the new facility in the rear green space. After the new building is completed, students and staff will transition into the new facility, the existing building will be demolished, and the front portion of the site will be finalized. He reviewed a preliminary circulation concept that separates parent drop-off and pick-up traffic from bus circulation, describing this separation as an important safety feature intended to reduce vehicle conflicts. He also discussed a loop road concept to improve emergency service access around the building and noted that parking is being distributed to multiple areas of the site to better support day-to-day school use as well as community activities and events. Mr. Schmit then outlined the general building concept, describing a core academic portion and a more public after-hours portion of the building. He explained that the concept is intended to support controlled access and operational flexibility, allowing the district to secure academic wings while permitting community use of areas such as the gymnasium, dining, music, and related spaces. He also provided early exterior design concepts intended to reflect the community's Lake Erie setting through materials, glazing, and architectural character. He indicated that future presentations would include more refined materials and sample boards as the design progresses. Commission members asked questions and offered preliminary feedback. Topics included planning for bicycle access and bike storage, accessibility considerations and how student support 1 January 6, 2026 and intervention spaces are placed within the building, roof type and long-term performance considerations, and potential interior design features that bring natural light and outdoor character into the building. Commissioners also discussed exterior lighting expectations, including limiting impacts to adjacent neighborhoods, and raised questions about parking use and operations. Mr. Schmit responded that lighting would be designed with modern cut-off fixtures and time controls, and that traffic and queuing issues were being addressed through the traffic study and likely roadway improvements, such as tum-lane widening. City staff noted that the traffic study would be shared with the City and reviewed in coordination with the Engineering Department. Mr. Schmit also asked procedural questions about the site plan review process, including timing, how comments would be received through the Development Review Committee process, and whether parcel consolidation might be required. Staff explained that review comments would be issued through the established workflow once the application was processed and that additional materials could continue to be uploaded as the project advances. Staff indicated parcel consolidation was not expected to be an absolute requirement but would be reviewed further. Big M Pizza: Preliminary Discussion of Proposed Outdoor Sand Volleyball Courts Mike Liptak owner of property at 153 Lear Road, and John Teel owner of Big M Pizza introduced the concept for an outdoor sand volleyball court on a vacant lot created by the recent removal of a house adjacent to Big M Pizza on Lear Road. Staff explained that the courts were being considered as an accessory use to the existing restaurant, rather than as a stand-alone use, and that the anticipated path forward would involve pursuing variances through the Zoning Board of Appeals followed by a Planning Commission site plan review. The applicants indicated they were seeking early Planning Commission feedback before proceeding further. Mr. Liptak described the site layout and how two courts could fit between the buildings, along with associated improvements such as fencing, landscaping, and operational planning. The concept was described as organized league-style play geared toward adult and young professional participants, primarily operating in the evenings. The representative discussed operational experience managing volleyball programming and described preliminary ideas for lighting, netting, and screening to control glare, prevent balls from leaving the court area, and limit neighborhood impacts. Discussion also addressed sound expectations and the intention to avoid amplified music or disruptive activity, with an anticipated evening closing time discussed as part of the concept. Commission members discussed how the proposal could relate to the City's Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the Lear Road focus area, noting that an active outdoor amenity could contribute to revitalization and a more pedestrian-oriented atmosphere. At the same time, Commissioners identified key issues that would need to be addressed as the proposal advances, including parking demand and potential shared parking coordination with neighboring businesses, hours of operation, lighting design, and neighborhood buffering. City staff and Commissioners also discussed broader challenges in the Lear Road corridor related to traffic and streetscape conditions, as well as whether grant opportunities or other tools could support reinvestment in the area. Dr. Ma summarized the Commission's general sentiment as supportive of exploring the concept due to its potential benefit to the area, while emphasizing that the project would require careful 2 January 6, 2026 .. attention to parking, noise, lighting, buffering, and variance-related considerations as it proceeds. 2. PLANNING AND ZONING CODE AMENDMENT/ INFORMATION ONLY La Rosa noted that the Work Session packet included a reference packet of the 2025 zoning code amendments to assist with onboarding and to serve as a resource until codification is complete. There being no further business, the Work Session concluded at approximately 9:25 PM. anning Commission Chairperson Ma 3 Recording Secretary Kelly La Rosa January 6, 2026 '