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Planning Commission –August 8, 2023

Meeting: The Geauga Planning Commission met in regular session on August 8, 2023 at 7:30 AM at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH 44024.  This meeting was in person with no virtual option. The agenda was available online one week prior to the meeting.

Public Comment Policy:  no formal policy but in practice, public comment could be permitted at the Chair’s prerogative.

Board Attendance: Present were Chair John Oros, Commissioner James Dvorak (arrival at 7:54 am), as well as members Dennis Bergansky, Caterina Cocca-Fulton, Jim McCaskey, Dan Miller, Gary Neola and Nick Gorris.  Walter (Skip) Claypool was absent as well as Commissioners Lennon and Spidalieri.

Staff Attendance:  Linda Crombie, Planning Director, Allyson Kobus, Planner II, and Pamela Irizarry, Administrative Assistant.

Minutes: The minutes from the July 11, 2023 meeting were approved.  As of August 15, 2023  minutes are available online through July 11, 2023.

Financial Report and Approval of Expenses

General fund balance year to date is $84,734.51. Also there was a report that revenue for the year ($9,610)was  mostly from lot splits.

Expenses this month were for mileage, supplies and a webinar. - $240.93

Director’s Report- Discussion is included as noted.

1. New Building Lots  

Sixteen (16) new building lot proposals were submitted in July: Middlefield (4), Montville (1), Auburn (1), Troy (3), Burton (5), Chester (1), Parkman (1).  

2. Claridon Township Land Use

Ms. Kobus and the Director met with the members of the Claridon Township Land Use Committee on July 26 to review the scope of their land use plan update. Staff  provided an overview of how townships derive their zoning authority, the difference between zoning and land use, why a land use plan is important, various demographic and housing statistics, as well as their 1994 plan.  A powerpoint was presented regarding the process for developing or updating a Land use Plan that they will be able to use for future townships undergoing major changes to their land use plans.  The next meeting for Claridon is scheduled for August 16 and the staff will be facilitating a SWOT analysis (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) and the group will begin discussion on the questions to ask in their community questionnaire. 

3. Recovery from Disaster Training

Ms. Kobus attended the four-day training Recovery from Disaster—The Local Community Role hosted by the Lake County Emergency Management Agency.  Training was provided by representatives from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the main takeaways were the importance of having a pre disaster plan (prepared in anticipation of a disaster) and post disaster plan (prepared after a disaster has occurred) and how the Planning Commission could be involved in both.  Geauga doesn’t have a pre-disaster plan but Geauga does have a mitigation plan.  The Director said that the Planning Commission has only a small role in this. 

Discussion: Mr. Neola asked about going forward.  Ms. Kobus said she has spoken with the Geauga Emergency Management team and they are going to work on a plan in a few years.  She said there is something in place in case of a disaster at Perry Nuclear Plant.  Director offered to follow up with Emergency Management.

4. Subdivision Regulations

Edits were made to Article II (Definitions) and Article III (Procedure for Subdivision Review) and a draft will be presented at an upcoming meeting.

5. Interoffice assistance

• Geauga Public Health (GPH) requested a map for their internal use of the parcels impacted by contamination from the salt storage facility in Parkman Township. Ms. Kobus prepared the map for GPH.

• Ms. Kobus also prepared a map for the Geauga County Township Association to be used at the County Fair.  The map of the county illustrates the townships, major roads, parks, and other features. 

• Ms. Kobus assisted Water Resources with a GIS question.

6. Conservation Easement

One (1) conservation easement was received in July located in Burton Township on Ravenna Road and it encompasses 33.4709 acres of Veteran’s Legacy Wood owned by the Geauga Park District.   The easement is in association with the Ohio EPA for cold water stream restoration. This will enable the Park District to apply for grant funding.

7. Construction Activity, Non-Residential, July 2023 

Three new principal buildings were issued building permits in July including Pop Shelf (arts/crafts home goods, etc.) in the City of Chardon, Dollar General in Newbury, and Trinity Vet Hospital in Montville.   No permits were issued for building additions or demolitions and commercial alterations were minor in nature.  

8. Work Summary, July 2023 

a.

July was unusually high in terms of the volume of lot splits as well as splits and consolidations, resulting in a much higher total than usual. 

b. Comprehensive Planning Efforts

General Plan:  the staff referred to the County General Plan three (3) times in July (Land Use and Natural Resources chapters) regarding groundwater, land use in Claridon) and referred the Claridon Township Land Use committee to the plan as well.  

c. Continuing Education

2023 ESRI User Conference: Through the County’s ArcOnline license, county employees were able to attend the national ESRI user conference virtually at no charge.  Staff time was limited due to prior commitments and regular office duties, but sessions were viewed on ArcGIS Workflow Manager, Electrify America (site selection criteria used in determining location of new electric vehicle charging stations), ArcGIS Field Map (use of SmartForms to perform inspections) and Story Maps.

County GIS User Group: On July 27, various county and township employees viewed a presentation by the County Auditor’s Office on the tools available in nearmap, the online imagery website.  The tools include measuring and annotating, split view and mirror view, and saving projects.

It was also announced that there is a NOACA Climate Change Meeting to get citizen input in Geauga County on August 22nd @ 5:30 - 7 pm at the Federated Church in Bainbridge.  This is on the NOACA website here.

Other Business - none

Major Subdivisions - none

Township Zoning Amendments to be reviewed -Chester - Approved

Text Amendment Z 2023-1, Initiated July 19, 2023 by the Zoning Commission

Correspondence - none

Old Business - Subdivision Regulation Update, Article 1 General Provisions

1. Subdivision Regulations Update (Article 1 - General Provisions)

At a prior meeting Ms. Crombie stated that last year they had talked about updating these regulations which haven’t been updated since 2010.   These include the Major Thoroughfare Plan which hasn’t been updated since 1989.  Here is a link to the current Subdivision Regulations.  The current Thoroughfare Plan lists roads by category of arterial, collector and local.  Staff has added buggy lanes and will print a full size map and bring it to the next meeting.  They are considering recommending adding the Buckeye Trail, which follows roads and is partially on the Maple Highlands trail (which will be on the map).  Buckeye Trail is 1400 miles long and Mr. Oros said that many people who are hiking the trail camp at Big Creek Park.  

There will be inset maps for villages and City of Chardon as well as ODOT and township facilities.  

It was stated that the Parkman salt dome is down and that there is a new facility in Middlefield.  

New Business

Census Data Update - The Director reported that the census has released an update on age and  housing.  Median age is oldest in Russell, Bainbridge and Newbury and youngest in Parkman, Middlefield and Huntsburg.  The Median Age for Geauga County is 45.8.  Total population is 95,397.   See more information on the Planning Commission Census page.

Model Zoning Update - Small Solar Facilities

HB 501, effective April, 2023 permits local zoning to have control over small solar (under 50 megawatts).  The Director and Ms. Cocca-Fulton are working on an amendment to the Model Zoning.  Once they finish their work it will be sent to the Prosecutor’s office.  One change  added was to allow a permitted accessory use for solar panels on a roof.  The Ohio Township Association has come out with model language.  Another aspect that staff and Ms. Cocca-Fulton want to address is decommissioning, especially of large solar installations.  There was a question about whether there would be a bond posted and what would happen in various situations.  Mr. Oros asked if any townships needed immediate guidance and the Director said that she had gotten one call about a location in Middlefield but nothing more concrete.  Middlefield Township doesn‘t have zoning so this would not apply to them.

Townships could enact changes on their own, but the Planning Commission is working to provide more guidance.  Director noted that this was for 50 megawatts.  Another bill, SB 52, regulates those over 50 megawatts.  It was explained that it takes 300 acres even for those under 50 megawatts as it takes 6 acres to produce 1 megawatt. 

There was additional conversation about what happens to farming if a large solar facility goes up.  The Director said that certain crops can still be grown.

Townships can regulate noise and height even for large installations.

Director noted that there is existing language regarding Alternate energy now (wind turbines are a conditional use).

Meeting adjourned at 9:23 am

Public Comment -  not on the Agenda, none solicited or given.

Next meeting:  September 12, 2023 at 7:30 am.

More Information about the Geauga Planning Commission is available online.

Name of Observer:  Gail Roussey

Reviewer: Shelly Lewis

Submitted: 8/14/2023

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