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

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

Present:

Bob Baumgardner
Dorothy Filing
Paul Galido
Robert Swauger

Also present:

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

Absent:

William Billock

Chair, Dorothy Filing, called the meeting to order. Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Paul Galido made a motion to approve the November 20, 2006 zoning commission meeting minutes as presented. Bob Baumgardner seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

Chair, Mrs. Filing, reported that Trustee Dave Armentrout called her to say he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting, but wanted her to relay to the commission members his thanks for the year’s work and dedication. The response from the newspaper ad for new and replacement members for both the zoning commission and board of appeals got a few letters of interest. The persons selected will begin their terms in January 2007.

Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, gave a short report on what should be coming up in the next month. The Wintergreen Development near Sandy Lake and Meloy Roads will be seeking approval of their Final Development Plan for Phase II & III.

Real estate transfers in the township have declined significantly in the last few months. Recently the total number of transfers for one month’s time was six as opposed to two or three pages of the list received from the county. Other projects in the township are progressing, but slowly because of the housing market status at this time.

The public hearing for a proposed amendment to Schedule 350.03 was first on the agenda. No public attended. Mrs. Filing reported Portage County Regional Planning Commission’s (PCRPC) input and recommendations for each line item of suggested change. Chris Meduri, Assistant County Prosecutor, submitted his approval as to the legal form of the proposed changes as well.

Regional Planning suggested a small modification of the zoning commission’s suggestion for adding “laundromat” as another line item under C. Retail/Services. They suggest adding a definition for 2. (Personal services in completely enclosed building) which would then include the term “laundromat”. Much discussion followed on deciding a good definition which would meet the needs of the township. Of the three suggested PCRPC definitions the group re-arranged a few words and chose “Personal Services” – establishments providing non-medically related services, including beauty and barber shops; clothing rental; dry cleaning pick-up stores; laundromats (self-service laundries); funeral parlors, shoe repair shops; tanning salons. These uses may also include accessory retail sales of products related to the services provided.

As for the proposed addition of various conditionally permitted commercial uses in the C-2 districts, Regional Planning agreed to those listed and also agreed to adding “banquet facilities” to C8 - Restaurants. By including funeral parlors as a personal service in definitions, the parking spaces regulations listed for such a business needs to be moved from the Office/professional services category to Retail/Service uses. Also in the required parking section 410.04, banquet facilities needs to be added to Restaurant/table service if it’s added to Schedule 350.03.

Bob Baumgardner made a motion to approve the recommendation of the Regional Planning Commission for the proposed amendments to Schedule 350.03 as submitted by the Zoning Commission. This includes adding the words “banquet facilities” to C8 (Restaurants). This would also create a need to add the same words in Schedule 410.04 C 5 = Restaurant/table service/banquet facilities. RPC also agreed to adding permitted use in the C-2 column for Studios for artist, photography, etc. which may include retail sales. The conditionally permitted uses suggested were also approved by RPC in line items A4, G1, 2, 3, & 6 and to create a definition for personal services: “Personal Services – establishments providing non-medically related services, including beauty and barber shops; clothing rental; dry cleaning pick-up stores; laundromats (self-service laundries); funeral parlors, shoe repair shops; tanning salons. These uses may also include accessory retail sales of products related to the services provided”. Since the definition includes laundromat, that individual category will not need to be a separate line item. Also, because funeral homes/parlors will now be moved to the personal service instead of professional service it will need to be re-numbered to C12. Paul Galido seconded the motion and vote was as follows: Rob Swauger, YES; Bob Baumgardner, YES; Paul Galido, YES; Dorothy Filing, YES, Billock; ABSENT. Approved 4/1/0

This will now be forwarded to the Trustees for their action of approval or denial.

The next proposed amendment to Section 370.03 – Schedule of Permitted Uses in Industrial Districts submitted to Portage Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) was to add a conditionally permitted use in G-I (General-Industrial District) for B2 – Retail/Service, Limited retail associated with a principal use. Regional Planning’s review of the request indicates approval. Chris Meduri, Assistant Prosecutor and Rootstown Township’s legal counsel, submitted his approval as to the legal form of the proposed change as well.

Bob Baumgardner made a motion to follow Portage County Regional Plannings recommendation submitted by the Zoning Commission to amend Section 370.03 SCHEDULE OF PERMITTED USES - B2, Retail/Service – Limited retail associated with a principal use – a conditionally permitted use in G-I districts. Rob Swauger seconded the motion and vote was as follows: Paul Galido, YES; Bob Baumgardner, YES; Rob Swauger, YES; Dorothy Filing, YES; Bill Billock, ABSENT. Passed 4/1/0

This will now be forwarded to the Trustees for their action of approval or denial.

Mrs. Filing updated the Zoning Commission members on the Trustees’ denial of the re-zoning of two parcels on Prospect Street from G-I to C-2 submitted recently. Their feeling was to agree with Regional Plannings’ recommendation and not re-zone the two properties. It would take away from the Industrial district acreage in the township, and that area could utilize the Planned Commercial Overlay District (PCOD) regulations for such purposes as the landowners had requested. Mrs. Filing also followed up with Bob Harris of Regional Planning about his suggestion of reducing the minimum number of acreage for PCODs. The group reviewed acreage statistics on tax maps for the entire length of S.R. 44/Prospect Street and decided this may still be something to be considered in the future.

The next regularly scheduled meeting for the Zoning Commission is January 15, 2007.

Paul Galido made a motion to adjourn. Bob Baumgardner seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

____________________________
Dorothy Filing, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, Secretary