Drive-through passes for coffee shop

Plans for a potential coffee shop with a drivethrough in the former Half Price Books store made some progress at the last Mentor Planning Commission meeting.

The Commission on Feb. 8 approved a conditionaluse permit for the drivethrough portion, but tabled the architectural review and outdoor dining/ drinking aspects — the latter at the applicant’s request.

The permit approval was obtained after the applicant modified the drivethrough in answer to the commission’s concerns at a December meeting.

Changes included reduction in length of the drivethrough bypass lane, extension of a landscape aisle at the entrance, pavement markings directing traffic and adding a “No Left Turn” sign at the Route 20 access to the site.

The project involves creating three to four tenants in the 8,000-square-foot building, fronting Heisley Pointe Plaza at the southeast corner of Heisley Road and Route 20. The prospective coffee shop would occupy 2,200 square feet at

“We feel the proposed improvements are a significant upgrade to what currently exists.” — Property Manager Robyn Liberatore

the western end.

“We are talking to a number of tenants,” Property Manager Robyn Liberatore said.

The exterior is getting a makeover as well, consisting of an overall earth-tone

color scheme, and materials including faux stone and tile with a wood-grain look.

“We feel the proposed improvements are a significant upgrade to what currently exists,” Liberatore said.

The facade changes appeared to be generally wellreceived by the commission.

“I think what you’re doing in the front is a very

reasonable thing to do for an existing building, to upgrade the appearance,” member Geoffrey Varga said.

Liberatore has said that the project is intended to attract a tenant that would generate more traffic — and tenants — for the rest of the plaza.

The proposed hours of the anchor tenant would be from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; and from 5 a.m. to midnight, Saturdays and Sundays. The store would have four to six employees per shift.

She said the intention is to open some of the new tenant stores by the end of 2018.

In other action, the commission granted architectural review approval for the Menards project at 9600 Diamond Centre Drive.