Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
December 15, 2008The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission held a public hearing on Monday, December 15, 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, alternateAbsent:
Also present:
Jim Mahood, Zoning Inspector
Van-Note Black, Asst. Zoning Inspector
Judy Adamson, secretaryChair, Paul Galido, called the meeting to order. Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Helen Vari made a motion to accept the November 17, 2008 Zoning Commission minutes as presented. Rich Petro seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
The first item on the agenda was a proposed amendment to the zoning resolution for setting deadlines for grading and seeding completion after new construction. Both Portage County Regional Planning Commission and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office were contacted for input and recommendations on this proposal. Regional Planning responded with a detailed multi-step report with recommendations for many potential changes. However, our legal counsel Chris Meduri, Assistant County Prosecutor, did not have time to respond to our request prior to the meeting. Therefore a discussion on the whole matter will have to be completed after receiving his comments at a later time. Also, the Soil & Water Conservation department may need to be considered into the equation on this type of deadline requirement due to new guidelines.
A written request was sent to Regional Planning Commission to help give the township some regulations to control logging operations, their clean up and/or the debris left behind. The response received basically indicated that the Ohio Revised Code does not allow townships the authority to regulate the production of timber from a site.
Rich Petro made a motion to table the logging operations regulations and the proposed amendment for landscaping completion deadlines until such time we receive the Prosecuting Attorney’s input and other information needed to make the changes. Rob Swauger seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Swauger, YES; Petro, YES; Vari, YES; Mullenix, YES; and Galido, YES.
Zoning Inspector Mahood reported that he has received complaints regarding vacant homes, high grass, garbage, etc. With foreclosures and out-of-state mortgage companies owning some the dwellings, it’s nearly impossible to get responses from nuisance complaints even if there is an address to which to mail the complaint. Health Department forms are submitted and many times no follow-up action is taken. Previously, persons who may need to complete community service were used for similar clean-up efforts, but more recently this has not been allowed by the courts because of the cost of supervision and many other factors.
The local Giant Eagle store will be beginning a remodel project soon. They are moving the current mall tenants to the end where the vacant restaurant is located. The zoning inspector also reported that new construction is very slow, but some permits for decks and remodeling have been applied for.
With a recent trustee meeting reporting on the confusion of development roads being plowed for snow, the zoning inspector gave a brief overview of how the process works. The county first accepts the development roads and then they are dedicated to the township for maintaining. In the Marsh Creek Development, only parts of some of the roads have not been officially dedicated to the township. If they are not officially dedicated, the township cannot plow them. If plowed by the township, they would bill the owner until such time as the conditions are met for the county acceptance.
The review of the chapter on signs was next on the agenda. This had been tabled from last month because it was received late and was rather lengthy. The zoning commission had submitted a request to Regional Planning for adding text to the sign chapter to incorporate the newer digital-type signs, including up-to-date definitions, etc.
A very lengthy discussion followed on the many points of the recommendations of Regional Planning, including whether our current definitions are specific enough, whether to add billboard regulation language to match the Ohio Revised Code, and should additional requirements for changeable signs be added, etc.
We currently have some wording regarding changeable signs, but with new “digital” factors being considered, the interpretation of the regulations may be helped with some changes. With the older type of signs being changed manually by flipping letters & numbers into grooves in the actual sign and the newer types of signs being changed by using a keyboard to add or remove copy electronically – is quite a difference. Reviewing the definition chapter, the types of signs are alphabetically incorporated and referenced to the specific place where located. The group decided the best place to add the newer text would be in the section where it classifies the physical design and function of signs. So as to not create confusion when referring to the definitions, the group felt the definition should also include “digital” in alphabetical order.
Helen Vari made a motion to add digital/electronic sign in Section 420.02.A.4 and move the remaining numbers down one notch. The added text will be (shown in bold): …4. Digital/Electronic Message Board: Any sign that uses alphabetic, pictographic, or symbolic informational content to form a sign message or messages wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change are electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. The definition will be added as well and it will include “See Section 420.02.A.4”. Rich Petro seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Vari, YES; Mullenix, YES; Petro, YES; Swauger, YES; and Galido YES. This will be a proposed amendment to the zoning resolution and submitted to Regional Planning and the Prosecuting Attorney’s office for their review and recommendation.
Next, the section of this chapter regarding non-conforming signs was reviewed and compared to the suggestions submitted by Regional Planning. Mr. Harris suggested deleting the alteration and removal of nonconforming signs part because they are already regulated in our zoning resolution in Chapter 450.
Ann Marie Mullenix made a motion to accept Bob Harris’ recommendation to delete the paragraph regarding the alteration and removal of non-conforming signs and instead, put the following reference statement in it’s place: i.e., “See Section 450”. Rob Swauger seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Mullenix, YES; Petro, YES; Vari, YES; Swauger, YES; and Galido, YES. This will be forwarded to Regional Planning as a proposed amendment to the zoning resolution and the prosecuting attorney’s office will also be contacted to provide input prior to the proposed change.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be January 19th, 2009. At that time the remaining chapter on signs including billboards will be reviewed and further discussed for possible changes.
Rich Petro made a motion to adjourn. Helen Vari seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.
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Paul Galido, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning CommissionJudy Adamson, secretary