Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
September 21, 2009

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on Monday, September 21, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

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

Absent:
Note: Rich Petro submitted his resignation

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

Chair, Ann Marie Mullenix, called the meeting to order everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jim Mahood, Zoning Inspector, reminded the zoning commission members of the Zoning Workshop coming up in November in Westlake and the importance of attending. The agenda lists several interesting sessions, lunch is provided, and he will submit the names of those wanting to attend to the clerk so the registration fees are processed. He suggested carpooling from a central point and arriving early to learn all the new laws regarding pertinent issues for zoning.

The ongoing wind turbine interest is a topic of importance for many of our neighboring townships, as well as Rootstown Township. Our Zoning Board of Appeals denied an application for a variance for one because of height and because there are no current regulations for these units.

Due to the public’s increased interest and concern for having these wind turbines in our township, the group feels the issues should be reviewed and get some tentative regulations ready for submission for approval by the county and accepted by the trustees as soon as possible. Therefore, the group’s consensus was to put the fencing regulations review on the back burner until the wind energy issue is completed for submission.

Paul Galido made a motion to table the fencing regulations review until such time as the wind energy issue is completed. Karen Henry seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Helen Vari made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2009 Zoning Commission meeting as submitted. Karen Henry seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

To continue the line of discussion on the wind energy regulations and to improve the timeline, the group has been given permission to have extra work sessions to begin the process. Mr. Mahood mentioned that the township’s legal counsel, Chris Meduri, has reviewed some of the neighboring township’s approved regulations and feels they could have been done with more detail and perhaps they rushed to get them done but will have to re-vamp them in the near future as issues arise. The zoning commission members wish to do a thorough job and not rush things through.

The several drafts already given the zoning commission, as well as many sample ordinances taken from the internet and other sources has amounted to volumes to be read, sorted, and categorized as important, pertinent, does/doesn’t apply to our township’s plan, etc. With multiple zoning districts in our township, this will need to be considered.

Chair, Ann Marie Mullenix, asked each member for their most important concerns regarding the wind turbines. The concerns will be gone over one by one and each topic will then be included with stipulations if needed.

First and foremost is a definition, then height requirements or limits, commercial versus residential placement, maximum kilowatts, free-standing or building mounted, amount of noise produced from the units, safety concerns, timelines for installation or removal, visual affects, FAA concerns, connected to grids, location on property, setback lines, liability, lot size, and permitted or conditionally permitted and many more. The potential regulations will probably be placed in a new chapter of the resolution.

Further discussion ensued about the noise emitted by wind turbines and how the decibels could be measured for inclusion in our potential regulations. This will need to be researched as well.

The next regularly scheduled Zoning Commission is October 19, 2009.

Karen Henry made a motion to adjourn. Helen Vari seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

__________________________________
Ann Marie Mullenix, Chairperson
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary