Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
November 17, 2008

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on Monday, November 17, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

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

Absent:
None

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.

Helen Vari made a motion to approve the October 20, 2008 Zoning Commission minutes as presented. Ann Marie Mullenix seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Information was distributed to the members regarding justification for a specific re-zoning request last month, but since there no formal application was filed the information will be held to be used in the future.

Zoning Inspector Jim Mahood reported that no members of the township’s ZBA or Zoning Commission attended the zoning seminar last week in Cleveland. Also, Mr. Mahood has learned the laws for fencing have been changed in the Ohio Revised Code; therefore, the trustees would like the zoning commission to review our regulations and incorporate the new standards and make sure the township complies with those changes.

Mr. Mahood also shared with the group that FSI has officially re-opened and he attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The lieutenant governor was present. They make parts for engines and employ around 120 at this time.

The next agenda item was for a discussion on the zoning resolution chapter for signs. Portage County Regional Planning Commission had been contacted for help with reviewing the current standards and recommending changes needed to become more complete due to the new trends with digital and electronic signs and billboards, etc. The recommendations received were very lengthy and last minute; therefore, the group felt that the best route to take would be to have each member review them at their leisure and make it a priority next month.

Helen Vari made a motion to table the sign chapter review until December’s meeting. Rich Petro seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Next, the group discussed the topic of setting a completion date for grading and landscaping for new construction in both residential and commercial districts. There have been a few cases where lot owners have neglected to finish this important step and the neighborhood suffers the visual leftovers.

Much discussion followed regarding the amount of time to allow for these completions, the districts affected, etc.; however, weather and the time of year might affect the timeline and both need to be considered. The group felt that the deadline should be put the in the residential section under yard requirements for new construction. The zoning inspector feels R-O district should also be added to this (in the title of 310.05).

To keep the resolution consistent, Section 430.06 – Landscaping and Maintenance of Yards – should also have wording included that sets a deadline for the completion of grading and seeding.

Rob Swauger made a motion to propose an amendment to the Zoning Resolution to set deadlines for grading & landscaping for new construction. Helen Vari seconded the motion and voting was: Petro, YES; Swauger, YES; Vari, YES; Mullenix, YES; and Galido, YES. This will be forwarded to Regional Planning and the township’s legal counsel and the wording will be as follows (proposed changes underlined in title and bolded in the paragraph):

SECTION 310.05 YARD REQUIREMENTS FOR O-C, R-1, R-2, R-O AND R-V DISTRICTS.
Principal buildings shall be located on a lot in a manner that maintains the minimum required yards set forth in this section for the district in which the lot is located, except as otherwise regulated in Chapter 320 for planned residential developments. Every part of a required yard shall be unobstructed and open to the sky, rough grading to be completed within 90 days of final inspection and/or occupancy and seeding completed within 150 days, except as otherwise specifically permitted in this Chapter.

And….

SECTION 430.06 LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE OF YARDS.
Required yards and all other portions of the lot not covered by permitted structures shall be landscaped with grass, trees, shrubbery and/or other appropriate ground cover or landscaping material, which at all times shall be maintained in good and healthy condition. The rough grading will be completed within 90 days of final inspection and/or occupancy and seeding completed within 150 days.

Another topic for discussion due to recent complaints of unsightly conditions left after logging is to set some limitations on better clean-up deadlines, etc. Some wooded areas that border residential properties have been logged and complaints about the aftermath and leftover destruction have been brought to the attention of the zoning inspector. The leftover brush creates a visual distraction for the neighboring properties. Clearing of properties should be included as well.

To include timeline regulations for clean-up on these logging operations, the group brainstormed many details such as what section of the resolution to put them in, whether or not to require permits and performance bonds from the logging companies, and how and when to clean it up, etc.

Ann Marie Mullenix made a motion to ask Portage County Regional Planning Commission to help with preliminary wording of what we can include in the Zoning Resolution for regulations and deadlines for logging and clearing land and in which section to include this. They may be aware of the surrounding townships and counties procedures and whether they require permits and performance bonds, etc. Rich Petro seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Paul Galido, chair, reminded the group to review the information from Regional Planning regarding the sign regulations prior to the next regularly scheduled zoning commission on December 15, 2008.

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

_____________________________
Paul Galido, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary