Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
May 18, 2009

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission held a public hearing on Monday, May 18, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

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

Absent:

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.

Helen Vari made a motion to approve the April 20, 2009 Zoning Commission meeting minutes as presented. George Tishma seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, reported that applications for zoning certificates for decks, additions, pole buildings, etc. have picked up a bit lately. He also received and inquiry about whether variances or conditional permits are required for a certain property that was for sale recently but had not sold to the first potential buyer . Sometimes this type of inquiry is followed up with more specific detailed zoning requirements and sometimes they are just dropped, as we have seen in the past. Also, there has been interest in the former Leppo Rents property; but it remains to be seen if a potential business will locate there.

First on the agenda is the proposed amendment for grading and seeding requirements and Landscaping and Yard Requirement deadlines. The zoning commission members re-submitted this proposed amendment to Portage County Regional Planning Commission and also to the township’s legal counsel to get input from them again because the Trustees did not approve the initial submission and asked that it be revisited with more specifics.

Regional Planning’s recommendation and input agreed with minor changes and suggested to add a definition to explain final soil stabilization as well. Assistant Prosecutor Chris Meduri approved the proposed amendment as to legal form.

The biggest discussion item was the discrepancy with the actual timeline of what the zoning commission recommended and Regional Planning’s suggestion. The members considered virtually every possible aspect of the weather and months when planting grass seed or sodding is best as well as whether to begin the timeline at the day the permit is applied for, at the time of actual construction start, or after the final inspection/permit of occupancy. With adding in final grading and soil stabilization, erosion control, etc. to comply with county standards and soil & water conservation guidelines, this also needs taken into account.

The group also had researched soil stabilization, temporary seeding, permanent seeding, and general guidelines from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that they took into account prior to submitting this proposed amendment for adding deadlines.

Brainstorming this whole subject from all angles again caused more questions than agreements. Due to the importance of this landscaping deadline issue, the group wants the wording to be clear and cover all aspects of their original concerns as well as giving the Trustees the specific information they requested. The specific dates for the optimum grass-growing season and/or sodding was the big holdup in making the zoning commission’s decision for final recommendation. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) breaks down the home construction and seeding dates and soil conditions into specific months for completion. The group feels this is much more strict than what they are seeking.

Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, gave a sample of another scenario, which might be acceptable wording and provide the same guidelines for deadlines on the landscaping and seeding for homeowners.

The zoning commission members decided to continue this discussion at next month’s meeting. In addition to the actual deadline for completion of landscaping, grading, and seeding, etc. there may be need to add definitions to Chapter 150 which also make reference to soil stabilization, etc. to tie this all together.

The secretary will provide the group with more information as to potential wording as requested and they will continue this issue next month.

Paul Galido made a motion to table the proposed amendment regarding deadlines in Landscaping and Yard Requirements until next month. Rob Swauger seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is June 15, 2009.

Rich Petro made a motion to adjourn. Helen Vari seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

__________________________________
Ann Marie Mullenix, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary