Texas Roadhouse, Sheetz developer walks away after county nixes site plan 

by Laura Bednar

Nov. 25 township trustees meeting

The Summit County Engineer’s office announced that the developer of the Texas Roadhouse and Sheetz gas station on Medina Road walked away from the project after a discrepancy about the driveway location on Springside Drive.

During the county’s year-in-review presentation, Deputy Director of Engineering Joe Paradise said the developer’s plan for a driveway from the site onto Springside “would have added a northbound lane on Springside, impacting the True North drives and the Barnes & Noble drive, required storm sewers to be relocated, required the traffic signal poles to be replaced, [and] required drivers exiting the business on the east side of Springside to cross three to five lanes of traffic.”

The driveway configuration violated the county’s Traffic Access Management manual, according to Paradise.

He added that the county would be responsible for any potential traffic accidents with the configuration. Paradise said county engineer staff met with the developers multiple times and offered to move the driveway 150 feet north on the property, but the developer refused the change.

“It took three years for this project to go through. [The driveway] not coming up until the county’s last meeting is unprofessional,” said Trustee President Sean Gaffney. 

Paradise said the county was not involved three years ago, to which Bath legal counsel Bob Konstand said the township shared all the information with the county. Konstand added that the developer was willing to move the drive but not as far as the county wanted.

“If it doesn’t fit safely, it doesn’t fit,” said Paradise.

He said the county would have approved a left turn lane on Springside Drive North. Trustee Elaina Goodrich asked if the lanes would still be widened and fixed based on the Ohio Department of Transportation recommendation. Paradise said the street doesn’t need widening without new construction there.

Konstand asked if the driveway location would be an issue with any potential development there. Said Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker, “It depends on the traffic, but yes.”

Resident Jeff Kerr said it seemed the property was undevelopable, and added that modern development doesn’t allow for curb cuts.

Paradise said it could be developed if there is a different driveway location. “Could you help the township understand what development could do that?” asked Kerr. Paradise said yes.

“I take issue with the fact that we are faced with an aged building, which by nature can attract nefarious activity,” said Trustee Sharon Troike, referencing potential human trafficking in the vacant Holiday Inn. She said the property owner does not have the money to tear down the building.

Paradise said the township could take legal action against the property owner if it is concerned about the empty building.

Resident and Bath Zoning Commission Chair Richard Bradner said after the collaborative work among the township, developer and community, the developer being told it does not meet requirements at the last minute is not acceptable.

County updates

Brubaker also mentioned the vacated portion of Everett Road back to greenery. Gaffney said there should be multiple access points on the vacated portion to connect to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Brubaker said the parks department would make that decision. County crews removed the Everett roadway from the east line of Farmstead Road to the city of Cuyahoga Falls.

Three bridge projects were undertaken in 2024: N. Revere Road bridge over Revere Run, Granger Road Bridge over Yellow Creek and Ira Road Bridge over N. Fork of Yellow Creek. A future bridge project is the Yellow Creek Road Bridge over Yellow Creek, which would cost $2.17 million.

The Cleveland-Massillon Road sidewalk project will continue in spring of 2025 with the construction of sidewalk from state Route 18 to Springside Drive.

The new Surface Water Management District fees will commence in January. David Koontz, SWMD engineer, said residential customers’ annual rate will range from $18 to $100, based on the parcel area and appraised value of permanent improvements.

Phase II of the surface water management project on Wye Road is underway with an estimated completion date of August 2025. Another project in the works is constructing bankfull wetlands alongside Idle Brook, Yellow Creek and West Fork to provide floodplain storage.

The county engineer’s operating expenditures were projected to be almost $12.4 million in 2024 and tax revenue was projected to be $18 million.

Park plan

Bath trustees approved a $21,420 contract with Environmental Design Group for the creation of a master plan for the Bath Community Park. Goodrich said the group “showed insight into what Bath needs.” She added that the last master plan for the park was drawn up in 1998. Troike added that the group had interesting takes on park changes that the trustees had not considered. 

Police

Trustees approved Police Chief/Township Administrator Vito Sinopoli’s request to hire Crystal Pramik as a full-time dispatcher at the hourly wage rate of $29.31. The job includes a one-year probationary period.

“She has considerable experience, although she is not familiar with our CAD [computer aided dispatch] system, Sundance,” Sinopoli said, adding that he is interviewing other prospective dispatchers.

Snow ban

Sinopoli reminded the public of the township’s snow ban policy. If there is accumulation of two inches or more of snow, the snow ban can be initiated by the service director. That means parking along roadways is banned to allow snow removal equipment to perform its function properly.

“It would be very much appreciated if the community can respect the snow ban when it is put into effect,” Sinopoli said.

Residents can check the township website or social media to learn whether a snow ban is in effect.

Grant denied

Pickleball enthusiasts have lobbied trustees for months to improve and expand the number of courts in the township. That process was to begin by resurfacing the tennis and pickleball courts at Bath Community Park.

However, the township received a setback when its request for grant funding from Ohio NatureWorks was denied on Nov. 21.

The township can re-apply for the grant in 2025.

In other action

• Trustees accepted an anonymous $25,600 donation to be used for the expansion of the service department building.
• Trustees ratified a contract with Construction and Remodeling Experts LLC for $28,224 to renovate the kitchen and repair the front door at the house on Hickory Farm Lane. The residence is part of the former Firestone estate.

Trustees approved three other expenditures: $46,800 to Classical Construction for an installment payment on the service building expansion; $12,000 to the city of Fairlawn for fire training center improvements; and $372,610 to Melway Paving for resurfacing of township roads.