LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

6776 Wedgewood Road, Medina, Ohio

September 1, 2009 @ 7:00 p.m.

Zoning Commission Chair Karen Schoonover called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call indicated five regular members of the Zoning Commission were present: Karen Schoonover, Dianne Wenslow, Sherri Meinke, Russ Green and Mike Biskup. Matthew Strehle (alternate) and Zoning Inspector Alliss Strogin were also present. Debbie Bican (Chippewa Lake) came at 7:30 p.m.

Minutes

Upon motion by Karen Schoonover, duly seconded by Mike Biskup, the August 4, 2009, regular meeting minutes were unanimously approved and then signed.

Correspondence

The secretary distributed the following items:

- 2009 Zoning Permit Listing through August 2009

- University of Akron/Medina County University Center flyer announcing the Planning and Zoning Classes Certification (with registration form)

- Flyer announcing the MCDPS Zoning Workshop on “Signs” scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the University Center

The University of Akron – Medina County University Center Planning and Zoning Classes scheduled for Tuesdays, October 13 through November 24, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at a cost of $119. The township trustees had this on their last meeting agenda but it got continued to their next meeting (to see if the township could sponsor all or a portion of the cost for zoning board members). Upon contact with the University, if three or more register for the class, there will be a 10% discount and if 15 or more (from whatever sources) register for the class, there will be a 25% discount.

New Business

Chair Schoonover brought up for discussion that the Medina County Park District recently put on a building on Ballash Road and zoning had received no heads up or plans relative thereto and she was wondering if we could put something in our zoning code that as a courtesy governmental agencies would contact us before proceeding with their plans. Zoning Inspector Strogin indicated that legally a governmental agency does not have to comply with local zoning but it would be a professional courtesy for those agencies to come in for a review of their plans. Chair Schoonover will draft a letter to the Park District asking that they bring in to the township any future plans to share with the board.

Old Business

Status of Comprehensive Plan Revision

Chair Schoonover, Russ Green and Mike Biskup attended the last comprehensive plan meeting. Bethany Dentler (Medina County Economic Development) talked about the recovery zones where the county can designate certain areas for improvement (generally low income areas not prone to self-improvement). Medina County has already designated a portion of the Chippewa Lake area as a recovery zone for residential and commercial development/improvement. Ms. Dentler also suggested “hot spots” for potential development in the township, i.e. Chippewa Lake Road, SR 162 and SR 42 (some of these spots have been briefly discussed by the zoning commission).

For information/review purposes, the Medina County Department of Planning Services website shows the Homer Township comprehensive plan, the Chatham Township comprehensive plan and the Village of Seville comprehensive plan (suggests a mixed-use overlay district for the downtown area).

Zoning Commission Suggested Priority Items (listed for informational purposes)

The list to date includes:

- Nonconforming Lots in Chippewa Lake Area;

- Comprehensive Plan Revision;

- Parking Regulations (Matt Strehle research/review);

- Site Plan Review Procedures;

- Abolish Rear Lots (Dianne Wenslow research/review);

- General Clean-up of Zoning Code;

- Lake Road Zoning Districts (Mike Biskup research/review);

- Allowable Uses in Local Commercial (Mike Biskup research/review);

- Conditional Uses

- Signage (Sherri Meinke research/review)

- Solar and Wind Power (Russ Green research/review);

- Transportation/Trolley.

It was the consensus of the board that until the comprehensive plan revision is complete that basically only research into our suggested priority items could be done. Signage shouldn’t be affected by the comprehensive plan so we could start looking at signage.

There was brief discussion relative to the recent Wind Turbine zoning workshop. Information was shared and updates were given of different locations in Ohio were wind turbines are located or are being installed.

Other Items

Debbie Bican inquired about the status of the Thrift Shop on Lake Road because it’s getting worse not better with mattresses, old refrigerators and other junky items stored outside the building. Zoning Inspector Strogin indicated that earlier they had complied with the Fire Department inspection, a permit was finally paid for and received by them, and that after the first group of letters from the Prosecutor’s Office there had been some clean up of the property. However it has slowly gone back to the dumpy/junky state as it was previously. Additional pictures were taken of the property because the Prosecutor’s Office wanted pictures of what stuff was left outside at night as well as in the day. Any leverage that we have is that the Prosecutor’s Office will go after the owner of the property, not the tenant/renter but the property owner should be renting to a responsible tenant. The matter is back with the Prosecutor’s Office for further action.

Mike Biskup indicated he had received a call about the Sun & Seed Landscape Sign on SR 42 that is in violation. Zoning Inspector Strogin indicated that the matter has been turned over to the Prosecutor’s Office for action.

Announcements

- Next Comprehensive Plan meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the township hall.

- Next MCDPS Zoning Workshop on “Signs” will be Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Medina County University Center.

- Next regular meeting of the Zoning Commission will be Tuesday,

October 6, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the township hall.

Adjournment

Upon motion by Mike Biskup, duly seconded by Sherri Meinke, it was unanimous that the meeting be adjourned. Adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Marlene L. Oiler, Certified PP, PLS

Lafayette Township Zoning Commission Secretary

(Note: Minutes approved on 10/6/09.)