Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
April 20, 2009

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on Monday, April 20, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

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

Absent:
Richard Petro

Also present:
Judy Adamson, secretary
Jim Mahood, Zoning Inspector
Van-Note Black, Asst. Zoning Inspector

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

Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rob Swauger made a motion to approve the March 16, 2009 Zoning Commission minutes as presented. Helen Vari seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, gave a short report on the recent Zoning Seminar hosted by the prosecutor’s office. He thought it was a good event and the participants received worthwhile information pertinent to current zoning scenarios.

Another upcoming seminar is being held at Maplewood Career Center on Thursday, April 23, 2009 and it includes information about changing fence laws.

Mr. Mahood also reported that business is picking up a bit with permits for accessory buildings, etc.

He also distributed information from Trustee Armentrout for the consideration by the group as they work on the goals and objectives for the upcoming months and a copy of an adjacent township’s regulations regarding landscaping, seeding, etc. for review as that area is re-visited for potential amendments.

Each and every point of the letter from Trustee Armentrout was discussed at length. The Zoning Commission will consider them further as time permits and as requests arrive pertinent to those areas. The Zoning Commission agrees that being proactive, going green, and improving regulations to provide financial savings for the township are among the top priorities for the upcoming months.

Next on the agenda was the discussion of the tabled landscape and seeding deadline issue that was disapproved by the trustees. A written reply was received as to more specific details for consideration in amending these requirements for yard and landscaping for residential homes. The additional information provided as well as comparing ODNR and adjacent township’s current rules only seemed to give more things to decipher and consider. Beginning dates but no ending dates, basing deadlines on the date of the building permit purchase, etc. soil & sediment control issues, rough grading and final grading, seeding or sodding, were basically more vague and less specific regulations than what our township currently has.

Adding a definition for seeding was also discussed at length; however, a definition for “landscaping area” already is in the resolution and it covers grass, trees, shrubs, or other plant material.

After much discussion on each point of the previously submitted proposed amendment and narrowing the deadlines for the months that prevent germination, rough grading, soil stabilization and seeding or sod were all considered without making it more complicated.

Rob Swauger made a motion to propose an amendment in Section 310.05 as follows (proposed text in bold):

SECTION 310.05 YARD REQUIREMENTS FOR O-C, R-1, R-2, R-0, AND R-V DISTRICTS.

Principal buildings shall be located on a lot in a manner that maintains the minimum required yards set forth in this section for the district in which the lot is located, except as otherwise regulated in Chapter 320 for planned residential developments. Every part of a required yard shall be unobstructed and open to the sky, grading shall be completed within 90 days of final inspection and/or occupancy and grass seeding and/or sod completed within 150 days, except as otherwise specifically permitted in this Chapter.

Paul Galido seconded the motion and vote was as follows: Vari, YES; Tishma, YES; Swauger, YES; Galido, YES; and Mullenix, YES. Passed 5/0 This will be forwarded to Portage County Regional Planning Commission and also to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office for their recommendation and input prior to re-submitting to the trustees.

Next, to be consistent, the landscaping and screening requirements chapter needs to be amended similarly.

Rob Swauger made a motion to amend Section 430.06 as follows (proposed text in bold):

SECTION 430.06 LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE OF YARDS.

Required yards and all other portions of the lot not covered by permitted structures shall be landscaped with grass, trees, shrubbery and/or other appropriate ground cover or landscaping material, which at all times shall be maintained in good and healthy condition. The grading shall be completed within 90 days of final inspection and/or occupancy and grass seeding and/or sod completed within 150 days.

Ann Marie Mullenix seconded the motion and voting was as follows: Swauger, YES; Galido, YES; Vari, YES; Tishma, YES; and Mullenix, YES. Passed 5/0 This will be forwarded to Portage County Regional Planning Commission and the prosecutor’s office for input and recommendation.

The next regularly scheduled Zoning Commission is May 18, 2009.

Helen Vari made a motion to adjourn. Paul Galido seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

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Ann Marie Mullenix, Chairperson
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary