Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
August 18, 2008

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on Monday, August 18, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

Present:
Paul Galido
Ann Marie Mullenix
Richard Petro
Rob Swauger

Absent:
Helen Vari
Karen Henry

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

Chair, Paul Galido, called the meeting to order. Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rob Swauger made a motion to approve the May 19, 2008 Zoning Commission meeting minutes as presented. Ann Marie Mullenix seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

The July 21, 2008 meeting minutes will be held until those members which were there are present to make the motion. Rob Swauger made a motion to this effect, Rich Petro seconded it, and all ayes were heard.

Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, reported there was nothing formal to bring to the group for action at this time. He shared with the group a sampling of the phone calls he receives regarding the many types of questions ranging from rezoning to how many trespassing signs can a landowner post. Also after a change in re-zoning a district from residential to commercial several years ago a homeowner was having trouble refinancing and expected the zoning inspector to solve the problem. He had suggested the homeowner attend a meeting and request a change, but no one showed up.

Rumors are abundant about many potential business changes, but the zoning inspector has nothing formal on them until papers are filed for variances, etc.

Chair, Paul Galido, asked a gentleman in the audience if he had business to discuss with the commission. Guy King, of Sandy Lake Road, has lived in Rootstown Township since 1988 and has a concern about a manure bin on his neighbor’s property that is within 80 feet of his residence. He brought a proposal for the zoning commission members to consider regarding extending the distance for such containers to be placed from residences. The county health department’s regulation is 100 feet. Mr. King stated the neighbor is running a commercial horse business and takes the horses to Thistledown Racetrack. The dumpster is commercial size and is emptied about once a month and he feels it could be located elsewhere since that parcel is several acres in size and has several other outbuildings. The zoning inspector will send a nuisance letter to the dumpster leaser which speaks of odor control and the interference with adjacent neighbors’ enjoyment of their property.

In the meantime, the zoning inspector explained the procedure and timeline for taking Mr. King’s proposal under consideration. Reading the agricultural regulations, a barn or outbuilding which could be used for manure storage can be located closer than the dumpster, so that needs to be considered as well. A check of other townships’ regulations might also give an insight as to how they may regulate such bins.

A review on the chapter on signage was next. The current regulations are quite specific, according to the zoning inspector’s opinion; however, the review will include the newer electronic, LED, digital signs & billboards, moving displays, etc. Mr. Galido feels other districts’ legal defendable sign regulations can be used as a guide. Also, constitutional limitations on signs may be helpful before making any changes. A few sample pages of this information will be distributed before the next meeting to give some ideas.

After a lengthy discussion on sign wordage, size, charge for sign permits, colors, illumination, electronics, prohibited signs, etc. Mr. Galido feels a specific definition might help clarify a few gray areas regarding digital and electronically-programmed advertisements and message signs. Each zoning commission member should be prepared to discuss more specifics for a definition for electronic signs & billboards.

A discussion followed as to whether the township needs to add any regulations for proper clean up after timbering of areas. A recent job resulted in leftover branches, limbs, and brush which littered a space near a newer residential development and the homeowners are concerned about health issues, animal & mosquito infestation etc. Perhaps having timber companies register with the township and post a bond to be returned when clean up is satisfactory would help.

Rich Petro made a motion to adjourn. Ann Marie Mullenix seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be September 15, 2008.

_____________________________
Paul Galido, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary