LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSION
Organization/Regular Meeting and
Continuation of Public Hearing on Zoning Map Amendment
Submitted by Stanley D. Scheetz, Attorney for Granite Golf Properties et al
6357 Lafayette Road, Medina, Ohio
January 14, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m.
Chair Karen Schoonover called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call indicated five members of the Zoning
Commission were present: Karen Schoonover, Dianne Wenslow, Sherri Meinke, Mike Biskup and Russ Green. Peggy
Folk (alternate) was absent.
Others who were present included: Zoning Inspector Alliss Strogin, Paul Calvo (6815 Lafayette Road), Larry Cray
(7811 Lafayette Road-guest), Dorothy Lichty (6565 Lake Road), Matt Lichty (6645 Lake Road), Mike Cavey (Medina
Country Club, 5588 Wedgewood), Sandra Cotman (980 Shorewood/95 Euclid), Val Cotman, Deanne Baker (7240
Ballash Road) and Attorney Stanley D. Scheetz.
Board Organization
Nominations for the office of chair for 2008 were opened. Russ Green nominated Karen Schoonover as Chair for
2008, seconded by Sherri Meinke. The vote was unanimous and Karen Schoonover will be Chair for 2008.
Nominations for the office of vice chair for 2008 were opened. Dianne Wenslow nominated Sherri Meinke as Vice Chair
for 2008, seconded by Mike Biskup. The vote was unanimous and Sherri Meinke will be Vice Chair for 2008.
The Lafayette Township Public Body Rule Establishing the Lafayette Township Zoning Commission 2008 Meeting
Schedule and Rules of Procedure was reviewed. After discussion it was determined that the regular Zoning
Commission meeting date for 2008 will be the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Lafayette Township hall,
6776 Wedgewood Road, Medina, Ohio. Sherri Meinke made a motion to approve the same as discussed. Karen
Schoonover seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the Lafayette Township Zoning Commission 2008
Meeting Schedule and Rules of Procedure was adopted (see attachment).
Minutes
Upon motion by Karen Schoonover, duly seconded by Sherri Meinke, the following minutes were unanimously approved
as submitted:
- November 12, 2007, workshop
- November 15, 2007, regular meeting and public hearing
- December 4, 2007, public hearing
- December 11, 2007, workshop
- December 12, 2007, regular meeting and public hearing
Continuation of Public Hearing – Map Amendment submitted by Stanley D. Scheetz, Attorney for Granite Golf
Properties, Medina County Club, Gaultine Cahill
Chair Schoonover reconvened the continued public hearing for the application for zoning map amendment regarding
rezoning of approximately 140 acres to the Lafayette Township Transitional District. Attorney Stanley D. Scheetz was
asked to provide an overview of the map amendment for the board and the audience.
Attorney Scheetz – I am an attorney here representing a combination of Granite Golf, Medina Country Club and
Gaultine Cahill (whose property may be incorporated within this PUD), as well as Greenhaven Development who owns a
portion of the land that would be part of this potential development. I’m also the attorney that worked with Greenhaven
Development when we did the current subdivision on Ryan Road where the cluster homes are located. That area is
zoned Medina City Buffer Zone (MCBZ), which was area directly contiguous to the city and set up as a means to stop
annexation between the city and the township. That was zoned at a density of two units/acre where sewer and water
are available and with 30% open space. Approximately three-four years ago a new district called the Lafayette
Township Transitional District (LTTD) was created to allow one unit/acre where sewer and water are available and with
a minimum of 40% open space. It was designed specifically to cater to two lift stations – Brookview and Deerview
because they are the areas that have water and sewer now available in the township. Medina Country Club wants to
create a golf course community and they are looking to redesign their Red 9 by moving three holes across the street to
the north along with the swimming pool, the driving range etc. and reconfiguring within the current golf course up to a
maximum of 50 cluster homes. On the north side there would be a maximum of 60 single-family homes but most likely
the number of lots will go down as they plan to design larger homes. The area is bordered by the bike rail trail on the
west, by the Bowers farm on the east, by basically the service area on the south, and then on the north by Wedgewood
Road and then the Greenhaven Development property of Dover Highlands. We are asking for the map amendment for
rezoning from Rural Residential (RR) to LTTD. The area in question is comprised of five separate parcels that total
140.84 acres. After the map amendment is approved, we would need to come forward in the future with a Planned Unit
Development (PUD) site plan for review. We have the recommendation from the Medina County Planning Commission
for approval.
Briefly, audience and board members questions/comments/concerns related to:
- establishment of a PUD;
- the underlying zoning district (RR) and the need for a zoning district change;
- where the cluster homes would be located;
- that only 20 acres of the Cahill property is incorporated into this request;
- the number of cluster homes and the number of single-family homes;
- that the traffic on Wedgewood Road (SR 162) is heavy and concern about the increase in traffic;
- the reasoning behind relocating 3 holes of the golf course;
- which sewer lift station would accommodate the potential development.
In response Attorney Scheetz pointed out on the concept map the various properties involved in this amendment, the
location of the cluster homes/single-family homes and the reconfiguration of the golf course and related facilities. The
map amendment must be done first and then the actual PUD would come in at the time of the site plan review. The
underlying zoning in the RR district only allows one unit per two acres. Each of the zoning code sections, the RR,
MCBZ and LTTD has a subsection as a conditionally permitted use to allow a PUD but it is to allow a PUD based on the
density in that district and that is the reason the district must be established first. The LTTD provides for one unit per
acre where sewer and water are available and that is what is being requested by this map amendment. As explained
another way by the zoning inspector, the PUD is a conditional use option in the MCBZ and in the LTTD but it is not an
option in the RR so to exercise that option, the property needs to be transitioned over into the LTTD.
Attorney Scheetz further indicated that the cluster homes would be adjacent to the current country club on the south
side of Wedgewood Road and on the easterly most part of the property over towards the Bowers property; everything
would be on the east side toward Ryan Road. The only reconfiguration is the Red 9, which is the family 9. To the
people who are avid golfers having a golf course community adjacent to where they live is a premium so it would be
creating an environment where people would want to live and be members. Furthermore any improvements that are
required would be done by the developer – that includes turn lanes and/or any traffic signalization that the county or
state may require. It is not a township expense. Water is already available and sewer is available either from the
Brookview lift station or the Deerview lift station with the county sanitary engineer making the final determination.
Mike Cavey indicated that they would like to put a corporate headquarters for Granite Golf in the clubhouse area. They
are very limited in space without interfering with the rest of the golf course. They looked at property that would allow
them a chance to expand the clubhouse facility. They are the largest taxpayer in the township and this would allow
them to expand the facilities, employ more people and create space around the clubhouse. Hopefully it would also
create customers living around here and they could expand the restaurant operations and operate year around. They
plan to have a new fitness center there and all the people in this development will be at least social members.
Chair Karen Schoonover indicated that the Board had been waiting on a response from the Prosecutor’s Office and
she had recently talked with Assistant Prosecutor William L. Thorne relative to this map amendment. A letter has been
received from A.P. Thorne basically saying that he has no legal opposition to the map amendment as it is presented.
Russ Green made a motion to recommend to the trustees approval of the map amendment as presented. Mike Biskup
seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Mike Biskup - yes
Russ Green - yes
Dianne Wenslow - yes
Sherri Meinke - yes
Karen Schoonover - yes
MOTION CARRIED.
New Business
Chair Schoonover announced that she had attended the recent Board of Zoning Appeals meeting and it appeared that
they were all working off of old zoning maps. The zoning inspector indicated that the map provided to her was also two-
three years old. It was indicated that a 9x11 township zoning map could be printed off of the Medina County
Department of Planning Services website by going to www.planning.co.medina.oh.us (you would need a color printer to
show the different zones). The BZA members and the Zoning Commission members all would like current zoning maps,
larger than 9x11, but it was decided to put a hold on this request to MCDPS because of the current zoning change
matters pending at this time.
The Zoning Commission trustee liaison for 2008 is Lynda Bowers.
A new Lafayette Township roster will be distributed to the zoning board members at such time as the township trustees
complete the appointments or reappointments to the zoning boards.
Correspondence
(1) A flyer announcing the Innovative Alliance classes/workshops/seminars had been received by Chair
Schoonover. The Board members reviewed the flyer to see if there were any zoning seminars that might be of interest
to them in attending. The trustees normally allocate funds for zoning board members to attend workshops and if any
member is interested please contact the Fiscal Officer Shirley Bailey. The Lorain County Community College and The
University of Akron are the sponsors listed on this particular flyer and some of the seminars would be at the new
Medina County University Center.
(2) The Balanced Growth Initiative Information Meeting sponsored by the Medina County Soil & Water
Conservation District has a date change from 1/31/08 to a new date of Wednesday, February 6, 2008, to be held at 6:
30 p.m. at the Medina County Administration Building, 144 North Court Street, Medina (Choral Room, 2nd floor, east
entrance). Sherri Meinke volunteered to attend on behalf of the Zoning Commission.
(3) A flyer listing the MCDPS workshops and activities schedule for 2008 for the Department of Planning Services
was distributed to the Board. The first workshop is Wednesday, January 26, 2008, at 6:30 p.m.
(4) The Draft Update 1/11/08 (as revised by MCDPS) pertaining to the zoning amendment for the Chippewa Resort
Overlay District (which matter had been previously tabled) had been picked up by Chair Schoonover this date. A copy
was distributed to the Board for review.
It was decided that the Board would review the revision and a Workshop would be held on Monday, January 28, 2008,
at 7:00 p.m. at the township hall to discuss this draft language.
Other Business
Dianne Wenslow indicated that she had received inquires relative to the permit issued to Cycles R’ Us on Lake Road
relative to the fencing, possible junk and for rent signs on a part of the building. The zoning inspector will review the
permit and check the site for possible violations.
Dianne Wenslow also indicated that she had received inquiries relative to materials (and/or junk) being stored or left on
the property being used by Habitat for Humanity on Lake Road. The zoning inspector will check the site for possible
violations.
Mike Biskup indicated that he had received an inquiry relative to the old abandoned house at Lance Road/Egypt Road.
The zoning inspector indicated that she had previously checked on this property at 5600 Lance Road but there’s not a
lot zoning can do. She had been in contact with the Medina County Health Department for their review as to whether it
was a health hazard and the Health Department had written a letter to the owner. She will follow-up with the Health
Department to ascertain the status of abandoned house.
The Board discussed utilizing the Lafayette Township website for announcing their meeting nights (as well as for BZA
meeting nights). The secretary was requested to follow-up with Trustee Bowers to see if the meeting nights could be
listed on the website. The Board also suggested adding to the website approved zoning board minutes and the zoning
map or a link to the zoning map, which is on the MCDPS website.
Sherri Meinke indicated she would check with Fiscal Officer Shirley Bailey to see if additional supplies had been
ordered for zoning in order for any volunteer board members to continue helping organize the zoning inspector files.
She will check to see if a working date can be set up for this project.
Announcements
- A Lafayette Township Zoning Commission workshop is scheduled for Monday, January 28, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at
the township hall, 6776 Wedgewood Road, Medina (review of the 1/11/08 CR draft update).
- The next Lafayette Township Zoning Commission regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 5, 2008, at
7:00 p.m. at the township hall, 6776 Wedgewood Road, Medina.
Adjournment
Upon motion by Karen Schoonover, duly seconded by Dianne Wenslow, it was unanimous that the meeting be
adjourned. Adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Marlene L. Oiler, Certified PP, PLS
Lafayette Township Zoning Commission Secretary
(Note: Minutes approved on 3/10/08.)