Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission
December 20, 2010

The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission held a public hearing on Monday, December 20, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at Rootstown Town Hall.

Present:
Karen Henry
Amanda Lewis
AnneMarie Mullenix
George Tishma
Helen Vari

Absent:

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

Chair, AnneMarie Mullenix, called the meeting to order.

Everyone stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood, gave the group an update on Rootstown Township’s zoning issues and concerns, etc. There has been an increase in home building permits recently, including two commercial permits. General Aluminum (FSI) is planning an expansion and adding more jobs. Their business has been increasing and they are doing more on-site work rather than farming out part of the operation as had been done in the past.

First on the agenda, a proposed amendment to Section 310.09, had been submitted to Portage County Regional Planning Commission and also to the County Prosecutor for recommendations and approval. The submitted amendment pertained to the part in Section I. Swimming Pools – pertaining to fencing. Regional Planning approved the proposed amendment, stating it would clarify height and make the regulations more user friendly by eliminating cross referencing to other sections of the code. The township’s legal counsel approved the proposed change as it is considered a reasonable requirement.

Karen Henry made a motion to approve the proposed amendment regarding fencing in conjunction to swimming pools, and Amanda Lewis seconded the motion as follows (shown in bold):

SECTION 310.09 ACCESSORY USE REGULATIONS FOR O-C, R-1, R-2, AND R-V DISTRICTS

A – H – (no change)

I.

Swimming Pools. Residential swimming pools may be located in any R Residential District provided they comply with the location and coverage requirements of Schedules 310.09B and 310.09C and the following supplemental regulations: Every pool defined as a structure shall be completely surrounded by a fence or wall not less than 4 feet in height which shall not exceed 6 feet in height above the natural grade. 2-4 (no change)

Voting as follows: Tishma, YES; Lewis, YES; Vari, YES; Henry, YES; and Mullenix, YES --- Passed 5/0. This will now be forwarded to the trustees for their approval at a public hearing.

Second, the next proposed amendment was up for discussion and approval. In reviewing the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Addendum recommendations, it was suggested the distance of building new duplexes where there are existing duplexes be changed. The existing code called for a distance of 300 feet. The CLUP limited duplexes to V-C and R-V zones and stated they should blend into the existing setting in terms of size, bulk, and design. The zoning commission recommended the removal of the limitation to coincide with the CLUP addendum of 2004. Portage County Regional Planning Commission approved the recommendation as submitted and Chris Meduri, Assistant Prosecutor, also approved the proposed text change.

George Tishma made a motion to approve the proposed amendment and Amanda Lewis seconded the motion to change the distance as follows: (shown in bold):

SECTION 390.06 – CONDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS

A-V (no changes)

W. Two-family Dwelling Units shall comply with the following:

1. Two-family units may be approved in locations where the proposed site is within 300 feet 150 feet of an existing two-family dwelling, or a non-single-family residential district.

The voting was as follows: Lewis, YES; Henry, YES; Tishma, YES; Vari, YES; and Mullenix, YES. Passed 5/0. This will now be forwarded to the trustees for their approval at a public hearing.

Helen Vari made a motion to accept the November 2010 Zoning Commission meeting minutes as presented. Karen Henry seconded the motion and all ayes were heard.

General discussion followed on a few issues which may be coming up in the future and goals and objectives for the zoning commission.

The next regularly scheduled zoning commission is January 17, 2011.

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

__________________________________
Ann Marie Mullenix, Chair
Rootstown Township Zoning Commission

Judy Adamson, secretary