Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
September 18, 2006

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission held a public hearing on September 18, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

Present:
Bob Baumgardner
David Benedict
Paul Galido
Robert Swauger

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

Absent:
Dorothy Filing
William Billock

Vice Chair, Bob Baumgardner, called the meeting to order. Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Bob Baumgardner made a motion to approve the August 2006 Zoning Commission minutes as presented. Paul Galido seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Zoning Inspector Jim Mahood gave a quick report. The plans for the new school district bus garage have been finalized and as of today stakes have been put up already on the property to mark boundaries, etc. Discussion of places which might be changing ownership followed, but nothing formal has been submitted.

Continuing last month’s discussion of the tentative proposed rezoning of Prospect Street north of Sandy Lake Road to commercial was next. Last month’s absent members were updated on the previous considerations and Regional Planning’s policies on corridor zoning, etc. Mr. Bob Harris of Regional Planning had suggested that putting a Commercial Overlay District there would suffice instead of rezoning the whole area; however the amount of acreage required for that could be reduced because of smaller parcels in that area.

A lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of rezoning the area followed. Property owners, Mr. & Mrs. Conwell had approached the Zoning Commission a few months ago to see if changing it to a Commercial (C-2) District would be possible. They felt it would sell better as commercial rather than Industrial (G-I) as it is currently zoned.

Permitted uses were reviewed in both Industrial and Commercial districts and it was felt that Industrial would be more desirable from a business prospective. Jim Mahood suggested the township has little Commercial property and the possibility of making the Conwell’s property as well as the Navarrete property which connects to Sandy Lake Road might be a good move. Commercial and industrial districts are taxed at the same rate, per Mr. Harris of Regional Planning.

The zoning commission will be reviewing the permitted uses in all districts and expanding some to perhaps attract businesses to the industrial and commercial areas.

Paul Galido made a motion to rezone to C-2the Conwell and Navarrete properties as follows: The proposed rezoning would begin at the M.D. or L. Conwell parcel (32-019-00-00-002.000) containing 32.8 acres with 594 feet frontage on Prospect Street bordering the BJ/DJ Davis & Rootstown Industrial Park on the north - going west until it meets the western edge of the Navarrete property containing 28.930 acres (32-019-00-00-013.000), then south 1417.20 feet south (bordering AA/DJ Ludwig property) until it meets Sandy Lake Road and then east including an additional Navarrete property containing 8.646 acres (32-019-00-00-001) to where it meets the current C-2 district at another Navarrete property containing 4.74 acres (parcel 32-019-00-00-001.004). These parcel numbers and measurements are taken from Portage County Tax Maps. Bob Baumgardner seconded the motion and vote was as follows: Swauger, YES; Benedict, YES; Galido, YES; Baumgardner, YES. Passed 4/0

This proposed zoning district change to the township map will be forwarded to Regional Planning Commission and also to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office for input and their recommendations to be presented at next month’s public hearing.

Planned Residential Development (PRD) regulations review was next on the agenda. A brief overview was given of Bob Harris of Regional Planning Commission suggestions of the Zoning Commission’s latest draft from last month’s meeting. He had suggested some wording changes and places where clarification would be needed. Maximum density is still a much-discussed part of the whole section. He feels the maximum density should be based on acreage. Open space requirements could be clarified with wording which he provided. He suggested using open space to limit the number of dwellings that may be contiguous along the roadway frontage, etc. He provided wording of “restricted open space should be arranged to create isolated groupings of dwelling units and/or the buildings containing the dwelling units as opposed to an uninterrupted row of dwelling units and/or the buildings containing the dwelling units fronting along a roadway”. He also feels we could add information regarding the maximum number of dwellings which may be contiguous.

The group feels the margin notes which Mr. Harris provided need to be reviewed further. The secretary will try to incorporate the agreed-upon wording changes into a newer draft document for next month’s meeting. The review of Schedule 350.03 regarding permitted uses was next. The zoning inspectors deal with the uses on a daily basis and their recommendations were taken into account. A “P” (meaning “permitted use”) should be added to the C-2 General Commercial Column A-4. - Congregate care facility, C.9. - Studios for artist, photography, etc. which may include retail sales, G.1. - Adult day care center, G.3. - Child day care center. Also, perhaps a “C” (meaning conditional use) should be added to G.6. - Indoor theater. It is also felt that “banquet facilities” should be added to C.8. – restaurant, as retail/services and a C-10 should be added which would read “laundromat” in the V-C, C-1, and C-2 district columns as a permitted use.

Next month will be a continuation of Schedule 350.03 and also 370.03 review for permitted uses.

Jim Mahood reminded the zoning commission members to let him know if they would like to attend the October 27th zoning seminar being held in Cleveland. He will submit the names to the fiscal officer to arrange for registration payment.

Also, Section 330.01 and 330.03 will be continued at the October 16th Zoning Commission meeting.

Rob Swauger made a motion to adjourn. Paul Galido seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

________________________________
Dorothy Filing, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary