Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Board of Appeals
July 21, 2009

The regular meeting of the ROOTSTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS was held on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

Those present:
Troy Cutright, Chairman
Eugene Mills
Patricia Saillant
Deron Boring
James Manion
Diane Esola

Those absent:
Jennifer Milnes

Also in attendance:
Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood
Assistant Zoning Inspector, Van Black
ZBA Secretary, Mary Ann Greer

Mr. Cutright called the meeting order. Mr. Cutright introduced the Board members and explained the evenings' procedures.

The first item on the agenda was an application for a variance of approximately 10 ft. from section 310.5 D, 1,B in order to construct a front porch on the home located at 4103 Reiss Road (Parcel no. 32-009-10-00-023.000 submitted by:

Cathyrn & Charles Holloway
4103 Reiss Road
Rootstown, OH 44272

Mr. Cutright swore in Mrs. Cathyrn Holloway, 4103 Reiss Road, Rootstown, Ohio 443272. Mrs. Holloway said they would like to have a front porch which would improve the looks of the home and it would be like others on the street.

Mr. Manion asked how long they had lived there. Mrs. Holloway said they had lived there about 5 years.

Mrs. Saillant asked Mrs. Holloway to explain the fencing on the property. Mrs. Holloway said there was no back exit from the house to the back yard. There is a side door that goes straight into a concrete driveway. There is a front door opening onto a stoop. She would like to somehow have an exit from her home and put a fence up so she could let the dog out. The fence would be attached to the porch and that way the dog would be able to come and go while they were away. She showed the Board where the fence would go. Mr. Mills asked if the whole backyard would be fenced in. Mrs. Holloway said it would be.

Mr. Boring asked about the distance from the road to the house. Mrs. Holloway said it was not 36 feet from the road but 36 feet from the stake.

Mr. Mills asked about the height of the fence and type of fencing. Mrs. Holloway said it would be chain link and 4 feet high. Mr. Mills asked if Mr. Mahood was aware of this. Mr. Mahood said the fence had nothing to do with the variance. That would be a separate issue and they had discussed it. Mr. Mills asked how wide the ditch was. Mrs. Holloway said she didn’t know off hand. Mr. Mills asked Mr. Mahood if he had been out there and knew the width of the ditch. Mr. Mahood said he hadn’t been out there. Mr. Mills questioned that the fenced was strictly for the dog. Mrs. Holloway said no she would be sitting on her porch. It was also to keep other things out of the yard. Once they had a pig in their yard. Mr. Mills stated that the porch was going to approximately 10 feet x 28 feet. Mrs. Holloway said that was correct. Mr. Mills asked how it was going to constructed. Mrs. Holloway said it would be with decking material (wood). Mr. Mills asked if there was a chance that later could be converted to a room. Mrs. Holloway said no.

Mr. Cutright asked if there would be a roof over it or would it be open. Mrs. Holloway said there would be what was called a shed roof. Mr. Cutright asked if her porch would stick further then the other houses on the street. Mrs. Holloway said the house next door sticks out further than theirs.

Mr. Manion asked if the 36 feet set back was the zoning code. Mr. Mahood said that took effect way before zoning. That area is similar to the Ravenna Allotment. All the homes in that area all the homes are closed than zoning code states. Mr. Manion asked what the code today was. Mr. Mahood said it was 40 feet off the right-of-way.

Mr. Cutright said the stoop sticks out further than that (approximately 4 feet).

Mr. Mills asked how close was the neighbors on the left and right. Mrs. Holloway said that should be on the map. Her house was directly in the middle of the property. Mr. Mahood said her property was 100 feet wide and the other lots 75 and 100. It was 38 feet to property line on one side and approximately the same with others. Mr. Manion asked if she had talked to the neighbors. Mrs. Holloway replied that she hadn’t.

Mr. Cutright asked the audience if there were any questions, comments, or concerns. There were none.

Resolution ZBA 2009-003. Mr. Mills made a motion to grant the variance request from Section 310.05, 1, B for a 10 feet porch. Mrs. Saillant seconded it. A vote was taken as follows: Manion - Yes Saillant - Yes Mills - Yes Boring - Yes Cutright - Yes. The motion carried unanimously (5/0).

Resolution ZBA 2009-004. Mr. Mills made a motion to accept the minutes of February 17, 2009 meeting. Mrs. Saillant seconded it. The motion carried unanimously (5/0).

Mr. Boring made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Cutright adjourned the meeting.

Troy Cutright, Chairman
ROOTSTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Mary Ann Greer, Secretary BZA
ROOTSTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS