Twinsburg FD to set up training area at firehouse

TWINSBURG – A structure for firefighter training is coming to the city’s main fire station property, while Paul Mitchell the School Cleveland is preparing for relocation.

The planning commission paved the way for those developments to occur at its Sept. 19 meeting. A site plan for the FD structure was OK’d, as was the new school site in an industrially-zoned district.

Fire Chief Tim Morgan explained the FD will locate two shipping container boxes – one on top of the other – beside the main fire station for training purposes.

“We hope to enhance them as time goes on,” he said. “We’re looking at permanent options at other possible sites in the future, but this will satisfy our needs for now.”

Morgan said the containers will allow training involving hose movement, search and rescue exercises, repelling and bailout procedures, with mazes made out of pallets and possible occasional use of a smoke machine. No fires will be set there.

“The training structure will be more convenient for our firefighters since they will not have to travel to facilities that are 45 minutes to an hour away,” Morgan said.

He noted the structure and training should not be a burden for nearby residents, with the containers being 72 feet from the Arbor Glenn apartments complex property line to the south.

Planning panelist David Kleinman suggested in the future the city should look into establishing a regional training facility with other communities to reduce overall costs.

Meanwhile, Paul Mitchell the School Cleveland is looking forward to moving from its current site at Twinsburg Plaza on Ravenna Road to 2300 Edson Road in the city’s southern industrial district.

Necole Cumberlander said the school, which trains students in the areas of cosmetology, aesthetics and nails, needs more space, and the new location will afford that.

An industrial use designation allows commercial ventures and post-secondary trade/technical schools to occupy space in an industrial zoning district.

OTHER BUSINESS

Conditional use permits were granted for the Church in Cleveland to occupy a unit at 2057 E. Aurora Road and Mark Nicastro to engage in firearms sales at his home on Pine Bark Place. He operates Rawhide Farms LLC.

Yenchih Lin told panelists the church will utilize the space primarily for Sunday services, for which he said an estimated attendance of 50 people is expected. He said there is plenty of available parking since nearby businesses do not operate on Sundays.

Nicastro explained the use of his home will be for sale of firearms only, and there will be few weapons kept on site, with no ammunition being sold and no shooting occurring there.

“People will come and pick up the weapons they have chosen to buy,” he said. “There would be one customer at a time coming mostly during a couple of hours on weekday evenings and occasionally on weekends.

“I am really big on safety. I advise customers on gun safety, but there is no shooting range or anything like that on the premises.”

Nicastro said he and a partner own a gun shop in Mineral City (Tuscarawas County), which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms as a federal firearms dealer.

The panel also approved a site plan for an accessory structure at October Sun Studio and Art Gallery at 2633 E. Aurora Road.

Owner Jeanne Henderson explained she plans to locate an art garden and area for art instruction in her backyard with no paved area. She noted there probably would not be more than 25 people for classes on the premises at any one time.

Access to the property is off Route 82, and she said there is space for three to four cars to park in her driveway, and additional parking is available nearby at Greenbridge Teahouse and the Township Square.

Henderson said she has heard no negative feedback about her proposal from neighbors, and added one nearby business owner was happy that her endeavor would attract people to the area.

Scott Barr, who is City Council’s representative to the planning panel, said Henderson’s plans must be reviewed by the building department and architectural review board.

Contact the newspaper at twinsburgbulletin@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Twinsburg FD to set up training area at firehouse