Planning Commission grants final approval for Ganley auto campus

by Dan Holland

April 22 planning commission meeting

Members of the Broadview Heights Planning Commission during an April 22 meeting gave final approval to Ken Ganley Automotive Group to develop and construct a new auto dealership campus at the northwest corner of Interstate 77 and Ohio 82.

An extension of Treeworth Boulevard would provide access to the new dealership, which would span three parcels listed at 400, 500 and 600 Treeworth Blvd., covering just over 31 acres.

Phase one of the plan calls for development of the parcel and a Cadillac showroom and parking lot that would be a relocation of Central Cadillac, currently located on Carnegie Avenue in Cleveland.

Additional commercial buildings planned for later phases are expected to include a Motorsports showroom for exotic cars, including Bentley, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin, and a body shop/vehicle storage garage that will both provide consolidation from other sites.

According to a site plan, the two-floor Cadillac dealership would total 54,000 square feet, while the one-floor Cleveland Motorsports dealership would consist of 41,220 square feet. The campus would include more than 600 total parking spaces.

Denver Brooker, a principal at Vocon, a Cleveland-based design and architectural firm, spoke on behalf of the Ganley Automotive Group at meetings of the Planning Commission, Safety Committee and Service Committee.

During an April 20 meeting of the Safety Committee, and during the April 22 Planning Commission meeting, Brooker addressed concerns from residents about light pollution emanating from exterior lighting on the site affecting a neighborhood that sits 800-900 feet to the north at an elevation 25 feet higher than the site.

“On Monday night at the safety meeting, they submitted to safety [committee] a photometric plan, which passed,” said Chief Building Official Joe Mandato at the April 22 meeting. “They’re going to have a 50% reduction during off hours with motion sensors to protect their vehicles at night. They also have zero light pollution off the property line. They’re actually below what is mandated in the code lighting requirement.”

“Also, the site plan was approved by police and fire, so they have all their access points for fire engines,” he continued. “It was also noted that Cranberry Ridge Road sits 25 feet higher in elevation than the site, so they’ll be looking down on the project. Service [committee] also passed preliminary approval.”

Brooker acknowledged resident concerns voiced during the initial planning commission meeting held on March 11, during which the plan received preliminary approval.

“The site plan has been further refined in terms of safety service access, and we have a fully developed landscape package,” said Brooker at the April 22 meeting. “The Cadillac building, and the site – the phase one site – in order to do the grading and stormwater retention and photometrics, we need to do the whole site; not just around the Cadillac building.”

“When we come back with the Cleveland Motorsports building, there may be a little bit of a refinement to the perimeter of the building, but the basic pathway, parking and retaining walls – all of that will stay the same.”

Brooker reiterated that exterior lighting, which will not emanate beyond the property line, will automatically dim to 50% one hour after closing time until one hour prior to opening. Safety lighting features will also be activated on the lots after dark.

Brooker also addressed concerns regarding screening of Rooftop HVAC units, exterior material encasing a dumpster, landscaping shielding and a reduction in retaining walls along the site perimeter.

Cindy Megesi, of Cranberry Ridge Drive, who spoke at past meetings in regard to the proposed dealership, expressed concerns about light pollution and landscape buffers.

“One of My main goals here is to ensure that whatever is approved here tonight protects the quality of the residents nearby, while still allowing the property to function responsibly and safely,” said Megesi. “At our previous discussion, several ideas were raised regarding lighting and neighborhood impact.”

Brooker told Megesi that the enclosed LED exterior light fixtures will be “Dark Sky Compliant” – with zero light output beyond the edge of the parking lots.

“We will have zero trespassive light beyond our parking lot edges,” he said. “And, combined with the landscaping on the northern edge, the light is directed down to the surface. Our fixtures are 25 feet high, and they’re dark sky compliant and set to direct the light down.”

“You’re actually up above the fixture and not looking at the underside of them, so the only light you’ll see is the light directed to the parking surface, and you won’t see the light emanating from the fixtures.”

Brooker said the hope would be to open the Cadillac dealership by September 2027 and the Motorsports and body shop/garage by May 2028, as the leases for those current locations will expire at those times.