Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
March 16, 2009

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on Monday, March 16, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

Present:
Paul Galido
Rob Swauger
Helen Vari
Ann Marie Mullenix
George Tishma, alternate

Absent:
Richard Petro
Karen Henry, alternate
Jim Mahood, Zoning Inspector
Van-Note Black, Asst. Z.I.

Also present:
Judy Adamson, secretary

Chairperson, Ann Marie Mullenix, called the meeting to order.

Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

A flier was distributed to all zoning commission members regarding an upcoming zoning seminar hosted by the Portage County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. It will be April 18th and RSVPs are required. Members are encouraged to attend.

Helen Vari made a motion to approve the February 16, 2009 zoning commission minutes as presented. George Tishma seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

In the area of old business, the recent proposed amendment which the trustees chose to disapprove was revisited for discussion. The issue was to set deadlines on landscaping and seeding after residential home completion to control soil erosion, etc. The trustees rejected the wording the zoning commission submitted and the timeline was also questioned. After more discussion the zoning commission members still feel the need to continue to pursue some restriction deadlines and Rob Swauger found some important information which may help with being more specific about the timeline, etc. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources guidelines may be helpful in the re-submission of this proposed amendment. Also, other nearby counties have some good regulations that may also help. This information was distributed for review.

With the zoning inspectors being unavailable to perhaps fill in the unanswered reasons for disapproval and members not being exactly clear on what specifics the trustees want for a re-submission on this proposed amendment, it was suggested to request a written reply.

Helen Vari made a motion to table further discussion to re-address the landscape and seeding deadline proposed amendment to the zoning resolution until such time a written reply is received from the trustees to clarify their reasons for disapproval and be more specific in what they want. Paul Galido seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

New business agenda items began with the general discussion of creating a list of goals to submit to the trustees for the upcoming months.

With the energy prices and shortages comes the beginning of new ways to create alternative sources. Wind generators and turbines are among the top ways being looked at to help supply power; however, there are no current local regulations or guidelines.

Solar panels are another fairly new alternative way to supply power to homes and businesses and this is also another area that needs researched and included in local regulations.

Ohio lawmakers have also revised line fence laws last summer and the zoning inspector has suggested the zoning commission look into including similar regulations for our township.

The addendum to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan list of projects to consider as priorities were again reviewed. Another issue the commission members feel important enough to add to the goals would be a bikeway path to connect the township with the county bikeway plan.

Paul Galido made a motion to send a letter to the trustees listing the short-term goals to be completed by the zoning commission:

1. Wind generator/turbine
2. Solar panels
3. Fence regulations
4. Bikeways to connect to county bikeway plan

Helen Vari seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

The next regularly scheduled zoning commission meeting is April 20, 2009.

Helen Vari made a motion to adjourn and George Tishma seconded the motion. All ayes were heard.

__________________________________
Ann Marie Mullenix, Chairperson
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary