Planning Commission – April 9, 2024
Meeting: The Geauga Planning Commission met in Regular Session on April 9, 2024 at 7:30 am at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in person with no virtual attendance option. The agenda is normally available online prior to the meeting. A copy is also available at the meeting. Observer Note: The website presents the minutes and meeting dates, and the agenda is included in that section.
Public Comment Policy: No formal policy, but in practice, public comment could be permitted at the Chair’s prerogative. However, this does not happen. No public comment is solicited or offered except in cases of matters where an applicant or zoning inspector is present to answer questions regarding an item on the agenda.
Board Attendance: Present were Chair Nick Gorris, as well as Members Dennis Bergansky (Vice-Chair), Walter (Skip) Claypool, Matt Johnson, Jim McCaskey, Dan Miller, and Gary Neola (Secretary/Treasurer). Caterina Cocca-Fulton was absent. Commissioners James Dvorak, Ralph Spidalieri, and Tim Lennon were absent.
Staff Attendance: Linda Crombie, Planning Director, Allyson Kobus, Planner II, and Pamela Irizarry, Administrative Assistant.
Others Attending: This Observer. No members of the press were present.
Minutes - Minutes are available online here. Scroll down until the section on Minutes and Agendas.
Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call
Approval of Minutes - Minutes for the March 12, 2024 meeting were approved.
Approval of Agenda/Addendum Items - Approved with no changes.
Financial Report and Approval of Expenses - Approved
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Expenses - $50,858.45
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Balance remaining as of date of the meeting: $192,851.55
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Fees received year to date: $2,519
Director’s Report
1. New Building Lots - Four (4) new building lot proposals were submitted in March for Thompson, Middlefield, Burton, and Parkman Townships. Monthly and year-to-date lot split activity information is available here.
There was commercial construction in Middlefield (warehouse addition) and Munson (a new auto body shop, owned by Junction Auto Sales Inc.).
2. Claridon Township Land Use Plan
The Claridon Township Land Use Committee
Staff spent 41 hours in March on the Claridon Township Land Use Plan. They presented at the April 4th public forum in Claridon using six stations and a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). Citizens went to the stations, which included “What is a Land Use Plan,” Census Data, SWOT analysis, and Survey Results. Now Claridon Township will start to write the Plan, with assistance from Planning Commission staff. Mr. McCaskey said that he attended the public forum in Claridon and that the Planning Commission staff did a great job. Ms. Crombie said that when the Planning Commission had public hearings, there was no discussion at any of the four public meetings, but that Clairdon wanted public discussion to be available.
3. Interoffice Assistance
Ms. Kobus prepared maps for the Russell Township Police Department for officer training/testing regarding the location and names of the township streets.
4. Commercial Construction Activity, March 2024
There were two more significant construction projects in March:
Middlefied Village - W. and R. Schrock, warehouse building (25,000 square feet)
Munson Township - E. Babcock, auto body shop (10,807 square feet)
5. Senate Select Committee on Housing
The Ohio Senate Select Committee on Housing held several public hearings across the state to research barriers to affordable housing. Ms. Crombie said that the Senate Select Committee has not issued any reports or recommended any actions; however, The Building Industry Association of Central Ohio (BIA) has suggested alterations to zoning law. As reported in the Mount Vernon News, the changes include the elimination of referendums on township zoning decisions and the centralization of zoning authority at the state level.
Ms. Crombie said that the Ohio Township Association (OTA) spoke at some of the hearings in regard to protecting local zoning. Since then, the OTA produced a two-page document titled: Talking Points, Zoning Rights, Importance of Township Zoning. This was made available to Board members. Reviewer Note: These talking points appear to be available on the OTA website linked above, but they are behind a paywall. Ms. Crombie also reported that the Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission sent a letter to the Ohio House and Senate stating their opposition to changing or eliminating township zoning. This letter was available to Board members.
There was considerable discussion on this topic. Mr. Claypool made a motion to work with the County Commissioners and the Townships to formulate a response to the suggestions made by the Building Industry Association.
Mr. McCaskey stated that, although he is all in favor of local zoning, as a business owner, it is sometimes difficult with so many different requirements. He felt that it would be best if townships would adhere to the Model Zoning.
It was also decided that Ms. Crombie would reach out to Senator Sandra O’Brien to see if she could attend the Planning Commission meeting next month.
6. LAEPP Application (Agricultural Easement)
Carmella Shale, Director of the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, is completing a LAEPP application (Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program) to preserve a 129-acre farm in Thompson Township. The application contains questions regarding whether there is an up-to-date land use plan (within the last 10 years) in the area where the subject property is located. Ms. Crombie told Ms. Shale that, although Thompson Township does not have an updated Land Use Plan, the County has an updated one..
7. Directory of Public Officials
Ms. Irizarry updated the Directory of Public Officials, and it was posted to the Planning Commission website. Ms. Crombie said that they will make changes throughout the upcoming year when they are made aware of them, along with a revision date.
8. Zoning Inspectors Contact List
The staff has always provided a list of zoning inspector names, phone numbers, and mailing addresses. Ms.
Irizarry and Ms. Kobus updated the list to include email addresses, and it is also posted on the website. As many zoning inspectors work part time, including the email address is helpful to residents, surveyors, and any others who have questions or need to submit documentation regarding their inquiry, lot split, etc.
9. NE Ohio Planning and Zoning Workshop
Ms. Crombie talked about this Workshop, which is the local one and was hosted by Geauga County last year. This year, the program will be held at the Willoughby Hills Community Center on June 28, 2024. The program is currently being compiled. The Lake County Planning Director sent a call for speakers request regarding the potential session topics. Next year this Workshop will be in Ashtabula. Mr. Claypool asked whether there will be a discussion regarding MPAs (Metropolitan Planning Agency). Observer Note: Geauga County is part of NOACA (The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency), and that is our MPA. In order to receive federal highway funding, every County must belong to a regional planning agency such as NOACA. This is currently the only such regional planning agency in our area. See this link for more information.
10. Info Sheet Update
Ms. Crombie said that staff have created a draft of the Agriculture Info Sheet as well as the one for Roles of Township in Zoning. These will be presented at an upcoming meeting.
11. New Commercial Construction, 1st Quarter 2024 - There were five shown on a County map for the first quarter.
12. New Housing Starts, 1st Quarter 2024
Ms. Crombie said that for the 1st quarter there were 52 new housing starts, which is double last year at this time. They are scattered everywhere except Thompson.
13. Legislative Updates: Ms. Crombie said that the most important legislative update had to do with the Senate Select Committee on Housing and the proposal to eliminate local township zoning. This was already discussed above.
Work Summary for the Month
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Re-plat 0
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Major Subdivision 0
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Minor Subdivisions (5 acres and less) 1
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Large Lot Subdivisions (Between 5-20 acres) 2
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Exempt Lots (Transfer to Adjacent Owner) 9
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Exempt Lots (Over 20 acres) 1
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Lot consolidations 12
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Easements 5
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Informal zoning amendment 0
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Formal zoning amendment 0
Total 30
Comprehensive Planning Efforts
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General Plan: The staff referred to the General Plan two (2) times in March
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Claridon Township land use plan meeting - Discussed above
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Thompson Township land use plan meeting preparation - Just getting started
Other Business
None
Major subdivisions to be Reviewed:
None
Township Zoning Amendments to be Reviewed
This Amendment regards a new section on Parks and various regulations that would be part of a Park District.
There were two recommendations from the Planning Commission Staff:
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Change the Active Public Park District to Township-Owned Park District.
Discussion involved whether the Township had any authority to try to enforce regulations, such as no horseback riding and no paint ball games, on the Geauga County Park District. Several members suggested that they had no legal authority, but it could create issues since the Park District tries to accommodate township zoning.
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Take out the section Bainbridge wanted to add regarding permitted accessories in a Passive Park District. It was recommended to first add the Passive Park District and then the permitted accessories section.
Mr. Claypool asked about what was in the Model Zoning for Active and Passive Parks, and he suggested that the Planning Commission look into this, as he believed that Townships did not have the authority to impose their park rules in the guise of zoning on private property owners who might have parks, or the Geauga Park District. Ms. Crombie said that looking at Model Zoning was in their five-year plan.
Ms. Crombie stated that with their current staff of three, it will be challenging to do some of the things that are listed. She said that adding another planner would be helpful.
Correspondence - none
Phone call - Ms. Crombie did note that she received a phone call from a resident of Troy Township with a question about setbacks and other items. He was instructed to prepare a written request for next month’s meeting.
Old Business
None
New Business
GIS-Planning Intern Position - Ms. Crombie made a recommendation to hire one of the three individuals who applied for this intern position. She said she had notified the other two that they were not selected, but, because they were also excellent candidates, she told them that she would keep their resumes on file. The Board unanimously approved sending the applicant a job offer.
2025-2029 Five-Year Goal Timeline
Ms. Crombie pointed out that the first eight items on the five-year goal timeline were required of the office. These would include those listed in their mission statement as follows: “Enforcement of the Geauga County Subdivision Regulations, provide advice and recommendations to townships regarding zoning amendments, prepare the county land use plan, and census data analysis. Per Ohio Revised Code 713.23 the Commission can also prepare plans, studies, maps, recommendations, and reports on various topics including but not limited to land use, transportation, farmland, utilities, and natural resources.”
The next group of items were those that are completed yearly or on a schedule:
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Directory of Public Officials - yearly
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Subdivision Regulations - working on the revision of these regulations this year
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By-laws -no specific timeline mentioned
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County Land Use Plan Update (2027 for the five-year update)
The next group of four are those items that are bigger, but are on their radar or already started:
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Model Zoning - There is a section on solar that they are currently working on.
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Farmland Preservation Plan - This will be a 2025 project as the census date on agriculture has just been released.
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Updating the Policy and Personnel Manual - ongoing
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County General Land Use Plan - In October 2026, County General Land Use Plan will be five years old, and it will need a significant update by the end of 2026.
Ms. Crombie also mentioned work that they will continue doing, including:
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Assisting townships to update their Land use Plan and answer other questions: They are assisting Claridon and Thompson now and will be assisting Burton, Chester and potentially Munson after that. Mr. Neola noted that all the work they have done with Claridon should help other townships with their updates.
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Info-Sheets
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Host the Planning and Zoning Workshop - 2028
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SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) - Staff will continue to put this together with anticipated completion in 2025.
Executive Session: 2025 Budget Request: Pursuant to ORC 121.22 (G) and (H) regarding compensation of an employee. Ms. Crombie said that if they were to hire additional staff, it would be included in the Budget for 2025, which is why they were going into Executive Session.
Community Analyst Demo Observer Note: This Observer was not present for this last item on the Agenda, which followed the Executive Session.
Next meeting: May 14, 2024 at 7:30 am.
More Information about the Geauga Planning Commission is available online.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Submitted: 4/14/2024
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