Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
July 17, 2006The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission held its regular meeting on July 17, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.
Present:
Bob Baumgardner
William Billock
David Benedict
Paul Galido
Robert SwaugerAbsent:
Dorothy FilingAlso present:
Jim Mahood, Zoning Inspector
Van-Note Black, Assistant Zoning Inspector
Judy Adamson, secretaryVice Chair, Bob Baumgardner, called the meeting to order. Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Bill Billock made a motion to accept the June 19, 2006 Zoning Commission minutes as presented. Bob Baumgardner seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
Zoning Inspector Report – Jim Mahood said that things have been relatively quiet. He brought to the attention of the group the need to review Section 350 regarding permitted uses. Since the re-zoning of Lynn Road east of S.R. 44 there have been a few instances where businesses have needed to contact the Zoning Board of Appeals because the schedule of permitted uses was not updated to include current businesses. Even though they are technically legal they must apply for variances because it’s a non-conforming use the way the schedule is now. Mr. Mahood feels the zoning commission should look into making the schedule’s permitted use column match the businesses that are currently in place.
Bill Billock made a motion to review Schedule 350.03 in its entirety for permitted and non-permitted uses at the August 2006 regular meeting. Dave Benedict seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
Next, the discussion of S.R. 44 re-zoning was on the table. The tentative change portion was meant to include S.R. 44/Prospect Street from Lynn Road to the Ravenna Township border. Mr. Bob Harris of Regional Planning Commission submitted an informal review as we requested. However, it was felt by the members that the entire area mentioned was not considered since property owners Mr. & Mrs. Conwell had initiated the process and basically their land was the focal point of his summary.
Rob Swauger asked if a potential change to C-2 from General Industrial would make any difference in the current businesses located there. He would not want a change to affect any permitted use there currently. If it wouldn’t affect them it would be okay.
Much discussion followed regarding the current businesses, what zoning district they are in, if a change could affect their conformity, etc. etc. etc. The maps used were a combination of plat maps, zoning district maps, etc. and it was difficult to get a good perspective of the exact portions which were being considered because each one did not have all the information to clarify boundaries. A few parcels in question may not have the exact boundaries showing up and it caused confusion regarding divisions of the zoning districts.
Bill Billock made a motion to table the issue of the re-zoning discussion until we can get a more specific report back from Regional Planning concerning the whole area of S.R. 44/Prospect Street from Lynn Road to the Ravenna Township border. Paul Galido seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
Rob Swauger made a motion to draft a letter to Bob Harris of Regional Planning Commission to expand on the July information he provided. The specific request is regarding re-zoning the corridor along S.R. 44 both east and west sides from Lynn Road to the Ravenna Township line, at varied depths possibly conforming to property lines. Bob Baumgardner seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Billock, YES; Galido, YES; Benedict, YES; Swauger, YES; and Baumgardner, YES. Passed 5/0
The next regularly scheduled Zoning Commission meeting will be August 21, 2006.
Paul Galido made a motion to adjourn. Bill Billock seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
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Dorothy Filing, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning CommissionJudy Adamson, secretary