Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
January 17, 2011The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on Monday, January 17, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at Rootstown Town Hall.
Present:
Karen Henry
Amanda Lewis
AnneMarie Mullenix
George Tishma
Helen VariAbsent:
Also present:
Jim Mahood, Zoning Inspector
Van-Note Black, Assistant Zoning Inspector
Judy Adamson, secretarySecretary, Judy Adamson, called the meeting to order.
Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The secretary asked for nominations from the floor for the position of Chairperson for 2011. Karen Henry nominated AnneMarie Mullenix for Chairperson. George Tishma seconded the motion. Mrs. Mullenix accepted the nomination. VOTE as follows: Vari, YES; Lewis, YES; Henry, YES; Tishma, YES; and Mullenix, ABSTAIN.
The secretary asked for nominations from the floor for the position of Vice-Chairperson for 2011. Helen Vari nominated Karen Henry for the Vice-Chairperson position. Amanda Lewis seconded the motion. Mrs. Henry accepted the nomination. VOTE as follows: Tishma, YES; Lewis, YES; Vari, YES; Henry, ABSTAIN; Mullenix, YES.
The meeting was then turned over to the newly reappointed Chair, AnneMarie Mullenix.
Next was the formality of setting the time and day for the monthly Zoning Commission meetings. Mrs. Mullenix suggested keeping the current schedule, as it has seemed to work out well in meeting the needs of the zoning commission members and the timeline for receiving input and recommendations from Regional Planning fits as well. Although the meeting dates of the third Monday in January and February will fall on Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day, this will have no effect on the evening meetings.
Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, gave a short report on the reorganization of the Trustees. Trustee Brett Housley will be the Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals liaison, trustee Bonnie Howe will be the Road Department liaison, and trustee Diane Dillon will be the Fire Department and Parks liaison.
Recently there has been a few new home permits and they are in the process of building. A new business on Prospect Street/S.R. 44, Natural Abundance, has opened and the owners are sprucing up the property and business and hope to do well in the township. The zoning inspector will explain the signage requirements since the business has had only a temporary sign since opening.
To begin the process of setting goals for the Zoning Commission for the year, George Tishma brought up the subject of unmowed grass and the negative impact it has on the area. This past summer many unkempt properties that have been abandoned, sold at sheriff sale, or owned by out of state banks, etc. were creating a health and safety concern for nearby residents. Much discussion followed on whether the township could possibly be required to maintain a property in order to curb the economic impact of the area. This has been an ongoing problem for many townships and municipalities in the county. Some entities have set up regulations that use the “nuisance” laws to put the responsibility back on the property owners. However, the problem arises when the owners cannot be located or even determined as in the case of foreclosures and bank take-overs. Also, the liability of going onto someone else’s private property and damaging something or even breaking township equipment could be even more dangerous. Cities have more regulatory powers and can legally follow-through on cleanups.
This ongoing discussion will continue and we will gather more sample regulations and ask for Regional Planning’s input as well. Each zoning commission member is asked to submit more ideas to brainstorm for a solution and to add more goals to complete this year’s agenda as time permits.
Amanda Lewis made a motion to approve the December 2010 Zoning Commission meeting minutes as presented. Helen Vari seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
General discussion followed regarding the trustees appointing alternate members for the Zoning Commission and ZBA for this calendar year. No information has been received and with little or no communication regarding this, reappointments and annual reimbursement timelines, etc., the ZC members are feeling a bit of disconnect.
The next regularly scheduled zoning commission meeting will be February 21, 2011.
George Tishma made a motion to adjourn. Karen Henry seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
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Ann Marie Mullenix, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning CommissionJudy Adamson, secretary