Echo Hills' Public Hearing Brings Debate

Before the Planning Commission meeting commenced, the committee held a public hearing to approve an Echo Hills pavilion. About 35 people attended and some voiced their opinions on having an improved pavilion with a roof. Safety and lighting concerns were the focus.

“My main concern is, as you know Mayor, we’ve had many problems with children gathering at evening time unsupervised,” said neighborhood resident Albert J. Tusek, who lives close to the lake.

The new structure, near the lake, will keep the current tables, have switch lights, an outlet and be built by volunteers.

Tusek raised the safety concern of kids gathering near the lake in the improved pavilion. 

“The kids will congregate anytime anywhere,” said neighbor Laura Mikut. “It’s up to the parents to supervise their own kids.”

The construction representative and neighborhood member, Tony Szpak, said the lighting would not be intrusive. It would be under the pavilion roof, point down and be motion sensitive.

The mayor broke up the discussion by saying the planning commission’s purpose was to approve the pavilion’s adherence to Brecksville building code. The common ground of Echo Hills is private property, and should therefore have issues settled within the neighborhood’s club committee.

Therefore, based on building code, Planning Commission approved the building of the pavilion.

Other items on the agenda:

Signs approved include Ostendorf-Morris, Oaks of Brecksville and Brecksville Town Center.

A Hillbrook Estates Deck Installation was part of the work session following the regular meeting.  The deck would provide better accessibility for an elderly homeowner.

Many residents of the neighborhood have asked for decks, though decks are not permitted in the neighborhood, Mayor Jerry N. Hruby said.

Phillip Badalamenti said it could not be approved “before exhausting all other possibilities.”

Because of unworkable deviations from the code, the committee did not approve the structure, but suggested a public hearing.