by To the Members of the North Olmsted Building & Zoning Appeals Board,
Thank you for your service to North Olmsted.
We are writing you today to express concern over item 21-18351; Sheetz listed on the agenda for March 1st, 2021.
As listed 24400 Lorain Road, known commonly to residents as the site of Buckeye Lanes, has been the site of family fun, bowling leagues and many fond memories for at least two generations. Our entire city will miss this cultural amenity greatly. While many residents will lament the loss of our only bowling alley and prefer that new owners maintain the property as such, we recognize that it is the current owner’s prerogative to sell their property and close the business as they see fit.
As to the future of the property, we have significant concerns as to the variances requested. While hundreds have gathered at Buckeye lanes on evenings and weekends for decades, there have been few traffic, sound, or lighting issues. Each of the requested variances are very substantial changes from our code. Some of our specific concerns include, but are not limited to:
• Residential neighbors and our historic Coe Cemetery have benefitted from significant setbacks from Buckeye Lanes. This appears to no longer be the case for the future.
• Excessive lighting is ill suited for a residential area.
• Maintaining full lighting 24 hours a day suggests the business intends to operate 24 hours a day or into the 11 pm-7
am time frame.
• Adding a car wash next to residential areas has proven to be problematic. The residential neighbors of the nearby
new Blue Falls Car Wash greatly resent the noise and light from that facility.
• Walter road, a residential street, is not designed for a vastly higher churn of traffic.
• The traffic lights on Lorain road at Columbia road and Walter road are very close together. The turning lanes from
both directions at Walter are not well suited to accommodate a high-volume business coexisting in the traffic pattern.
Finally, we are concerned about the collateral impact of allowing these variances to go forward. Sheetz is a well-run company that offers a great product to its customers. We welcome the possibility of their joining the North Olmsted community. However, existing demand for gas stations has not been able to support the supply of current gas station sites we already have. Redevelopment of abandoned gas station sites have proven very challenging. Other types of businesses have no purpose for underground gasoline tanks, nor likely the funds to remove them to prevent environmental problems. If our city cannot support the additional level of business for gas stations, we will likely be functionally trading a proper site for a gas station for an ill-suited location.
On behalf of the residents in this area and for the benefit of our community, we respectfully request that you deny the variances for this plan.
Sincerely,
Chris Glassburn, City Council Ward 2 Patrick Kelly, Council At-Large Angela Williamson, Council At-Large
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Buckeye Lanes will always bring back fond memories of fun times there while growing up in North Olmsted. I moved out of state over 40 years ago, but seeing Buckeye Lanes still there when I visit reminds me of great times bowling with family and friends.
Thank you for providing so many years of wonderful experiences for people of the area.
Bowled my only 300 in competition there.
Saddest news I’ve heard yet !! Why ? And why another gas station ???
Best place to bring your kids on a snow day, or holiday, kids treasure an outing – bowling was such a treat to many of us. Progress- putting in a gas station is not progress- it’s robbing all of our memories past and present…
This breaks my heart 😢 so many memories, Years ago , I used to work there as one of the lane girls , worked many pro bowling tournaments with Mike the bartender. We also did a couples bowling league and girls bowling league . Wonderful, wonderful memories!! Buckeye lanes holds a special place in my heart ❤️
The bowling alley that started it all for me Sad about the news, why another gas station i can think of many diffrent places for it. Can we sign a petition to boycott this sale from happening
Before Covid my lady and I were there every other weekend shooting pool. Many times our adult kids joined us. Bowled there often in the past. Very sad.
This is such a mess. Maybe the city should only let it be sold to someone keeping it a bowling alley. The owners should just fork out the money to keep the place up to par instead of selling to a gas station. Pathetic.
We need a Sheetz there like we need a hole in the head! I’ve been bowling at Buckeye for decades and have bought all my bowling balls from Phil in the pro shop. I do not want to see this happen. If there’s any way to stop them!!!
Shedding a tear at the loss of innocence with the closing of Buckeyes Lanes. Forever has been a shining example of family fun passed from generation to generation. My heart actually hurt when I heard the news. Is nothing sacred anymore? Who really needs another gas station? My North Olmsted no longer the home of Amy Joy and just the strip mall both provided hours of fun. Long live Frankies!
Was there with my dad incredible lanes great place will be missed
My Grand father Carl Soros . Had a team called The Cleveland Wood Turners in the 1960’s . It was televised from Buckeye Lanes North Olmsted OH. His company was, ( Cleveland Wood Products Co. on W 150th St Cleveland OH.) Would any one have any history on them?
They are actually going to remain open as they got pressure from the city.
I’m not Happy at all about it. Great memories, some date nights. Friends and Family bowling. Retro video games, Unique bar. Pool Room. Roar of the pins and ball. No. North Olmsted does not need a another car wash, gas station. Smelly dumpster pits by he homes homeef up there. N.O. Residents fght this.
One more thing:
Light pollution . Sleep eyeshades/ masks and ear plugs. That would be the future of all those homes n the street backing up hat property. LED bright White lights. Diesel fumes. Trucks. Etc. Not mention late night Riff Raff with the Sheetz sandwich rot gut munchies. N.O. stand up. Property values well plummet on the that street. Nuff said.