The Macedonia Planning Commission met on May 18, 2026, working through a packed agenda that included two signage approvals and a lengthy preliminary review of a proposed four-story Fairfield Inn by Marriott at 240 East Highland Road.
Members Present
Commission Chair Mr. Westbrooks called the meeting to order with members Mr. Wallenhorst, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Varhola, and Ms. Meske present. City Planner Brian Frantz, AICP, and City Engineer Joseph Gigliotti also participated.
The commission opened by approving minutes from the April 20 meeting, with Mr. Wallenhorst abstaining.
Signage
Nutec ETS Schaefer Gets New Ground Sign
The commission approved revised ground signage at 8050 Highland Pointe Parkway for Nutec ETS Schaefer, which completed its acquisition of the Macedonia-based ETS Schaefer LLC effective March 1, 2026. The company is rebranding its exterior sign to reflect the new ownership.
According to Frantz’s May 9 memo, the existing split-face concrete block surround will remain in place. A new aluminum composite panel with acrylic dimensional letters will be inserted into the existing structure. The 29.42-square-foot sign is set back 26 feet from the street and complies with the city’s size and setback requirements.
The one issue Frantz flagged was landscaping. The existing dense plantings around the sign appear to have already been removed, and no new landscaping was proposed. The commission approved the signage on the condition that the applicant submit a landscaping plan, which can be reviewed and approved administratively. Staff noted that low-lying shrubs or flowers would be appropriate.
Power Up Studio Sign Gets a Color Debate
The commission approved new wall signage for Power Up Studio, an incoming tenant at Unit 20 in Macedonia Commons, the space formerly occupied by Yoga 6. The two-line sign reads “POWERUP” on top and “STUDIO” below, totaling just under 30 square feet, within the 37.5 square feet allowed for that unit.
Before approval, the sign application required several revisions. Per Frantz’s memo, the sign had to be trimmed to exactly 36 inches in height to comply with the commons criteria for miscellaneous stores. The side returns and trim cap must be painted Akzo Wyandotte 641 Dark Bronze. The bottom of the sign must sit 15 inches from the bottom of the fascia sign band.
The sticking point was color. The sign is designed as black during the day, with illuminated white letters at night. Frantz noted that the city’s planning and zoning code limits sign colors to primary and complementary hues, and black falls into neither category.
After discussion, commissioners acknowledged the intent of the color restriction was likely to prevent unusual or clashing sign colors rather than to exclude neutral tones. The sign’s roofline alignment and the fact that it illuminates white were noted as supporting factors. The commission voted to approve the signage and formally designated black as an acceptable color for the Macedonia Commons sign package, noting it in the common sign package record for future reference. Final conformance with all items in the Frantz memo was referred to administrative review.
Fairfield Inn Proposal Continues to July
A Four-Story Hotel Returns With Questions Still Unanswered
The commission spent the bulk of the evening on a preliminary plan review for a proposed Fairfield Inn by Marriott at 240 East Highland Road, currently the site of a Knights Inn motel complex. Architect James Evans of Portal Associates and civil engineer Matthew Weber of Weber Engineering Services presented on behalf of the owner.
The proposal calls for a four-story, 75-room hotel with meeting space on the first floor and 82 parking spaces, which the applicant said comfortably meets code minimums. The owner holds the Knights Inn franchise on the eastern portion of the property and plans to keep that building operating until construction begins, at which point the western portion would be demolished to make room for the new hotel.
Site and Design Overview
The hotel footprint covers approximately 1.5 acres of an oddly shaped parcel with seven property lines. The building is designed around a Marriott prototype, but Evans said the team significantly modified the standard design to better fit Macedonia’s aesthetic. The front elevation is 40 percent brick and 60 percent siding, while the end elevations are 57 percent brick. Evans argued that when viewed in perspective, as a building is seen in real life, the overall impression is closer to a 50/50 split.
The architect provided a rendered view from Interstate 271, generated from 3D CAD at a 40-foot elevation, showing the building would not expose rooftop mechanical units from the highway.
The lot split needed to separate the hotel parcel from the Nights Inn parcel was discussed. Frantz noted the split appeared approvable when reviewed previously in 2024 and could be submitted alongside a future final development plan. He said if construction would be delayed, the city would likely require a financial guarantee to ensure demolition of the existing building occurs on schedule.
Driveway Safety Raises Red Flags
The most significant concern raised at the meeting was the location of the two proposed curb cuts onto East Highland Road. The site sits just west of a bridge, on the inside of a curve, with a jersey barrier and limited sightlines. Multiple commission members and Gigliotti expressed concern about vehicles attempting to pull out, particularly toward the left.
Frantz suggested a sight-distance analysis and a review of how the driveways align with the existing exit from the restaurant across the street. The commission also raised the possibility of cross-access between the hotel property and the Nights Inn parcel to give drivers more options. The owner confirmed he holds both properties.
The owner mentioned that Marriott has historically discouraged shared parking arrangements, but commissioners noted that cross-access is a separate issue from shared parking and encouraged the applicant to explore that option with the franchise. Frantz agreed it was worth pursuing.
Gigliotti noted that the fire department’s ladder truck has an outrigger width of 18 feet and a weight of 76,000 pounds. The underground detention system would need to support that load, which the engineer confirmed it would. The fire department had requested 26-foot drive aisles, while the code minimum is 22 feet and the current plan shows 24. Frantz recommended exploring a reduction to 22 feet to gain additional green space on what he called a tight, asphalt-heavy site.
Architecture Feedback
Commissioners asked the applicant to work more closely with the city’s architectural reviewer before returning. Feedback included a request to incorporate pitched roof elements or gables consistent with other commercial buildings in the area, additional brick on the primary elevations, more architectural detailing on blank wall sections, and a review of the cantilevered upper-floor elements that commissioners said felt visually disconnected in certain views.
The commission noted that comparable projects such as the Holiday Inn Express in Macedonia had gone through a similar process before arriving at a design with more brick and traditional detailing.
The property is located within the town center district, which allows up to six stories and 80 feet in height. The proposed building is estimated at just under 50 feet.
A decorative black wrought iron fence with columns and lighting along the Highland Road frontage was mentioned positively. Commissioners asked for a cross-section detail in the next submission.
Flood Zone and Stormwater Requirements
Gigliotti confirmed the site is located in FEMA Flood Zone AE, meaning a flood study will be required under city code before final plan review. The applicant’s stormwater plan includes an underground detention system designed to meet the city’s critical storm method requirements.
Continued to July
With the submission deadline for the June meeting just days away, the commission voted to continue the Fairfield Inn application to the July meeting to give the applicant time to address outstanding items, particularly the driveway analysis and architectural revisions.
