Meeting Details: November 8, 2022 at 7:30 am Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in person with no virtual option.
Attendance: Present were Commissioner Dvorak, Walter (Skip) Claypool, Caterina Cocca-Fulton (chair), Nicholas Gorris, James McCaskey, Gary Neola and John Oros. Absent were Commissioners Lennon and Spidalieri, Dennis Bergansky and Dan Miller. Quorum declared with 7 of 11 members present.
Staff members in attendance: Linda Crombie, Planning Director, Allyson Kobus, Planner II and Pamela Irizarry, Administrative Assistant.
- Mr. McClasky left the meeting at 8:30 a.m. following review of township amendments. Observer note: Quorum maintained, with 6 of 11 members present.
- Mr. Dvorak left the meeting at 8:41 a.m.during item 8A discussion about NOACA/CEDS. Observer note: Meeting ended at this point due to a lack of quorum.
Minutes: The October 13, 2022 meeting minutes were approved as presented.
Financial Report - There is a balance of $49,593.09; Expenses were approved. In response to a prior month inquiry about procuring office supplies from local businesses, staff reported they examined various local options and determined that Staples was still the least expensive option.
Director’s Report
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Ms. Crombie and Ms. Kobus attended the Geauga County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual meeting.
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Staff completed required annual cybersecurity training.
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Completed CORSA training covering various human resource issues.
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Engagement included 21 lot splits, 6 reviews, 67 inquiries and 2 easements.
Mr. Claypool requested information from staff about development activity he is seeing in the county. Ms. Crombie noted they are “not a review body.” Suggestions were made to follow up with both the Building and the Economic Development Departments to see whether they have information to share.
Proposed Township Amendments:
Chester Township (Text Amendment No. ZC 2022-04) - Approved
This proposed amendment changes current accessory building size restrictions from a maximum of 1,280 sq. ft. with a maximum height of 15 feet to 500 sq. ft. of accessory buildings per acre of land, with a combined maximum of 2,500 sq. ft. and maximum height of 20 feet.
- Director Crombie recommended that the 20 ft. height should be applied to garages, but not necessarily other types of accessory buildings, such as gazebos and storage sheds.
- Mr. McClasky stated that in his opinion, the 20 feet height restriction was short.
- Director Crombie noted that “an accessory building should be subordinate to the main structure.”
- Mr. Claypool (paraphrasing) “says who?”
Chester Township (Text Amendment No. ZC 2022-05) - Approved
This proposed amendment adds language to the prohibited uses section of the Chester Twp Zoning Resolution to allow property owners to submit a use variance to the Chester Twp Board of Zoning Appeals. The updated language brings the township zoning resolution into compliance with ORC 519.12 and aligns with Sec. 401.0, “Prohibited Uses in All Zoning Districts” of the County Model Township Zoning Resolution. Anthony Nastasi from the Chester Twp Zoning Commission and an unidentified woman were present to answer questions.
- Mr. Claypool stated there is an “opportunity to challenge” this issue to the Ohio Supreme Court. It was unclear to this Observer who would be making such a challenge.
- Mrs. Jones, an Auburn Twp resident, stated that the court case referenced by Mr. Claypool was about Mr. and Mrs. Jones’s property. Paraphrasing Mrs. Jones, she stated the court legislated from the bench and took away property rights.
- Mrs. Coca-Fulton said the Commission would examine this section of the County Model Resolution more closely.
Claridon Township (Text Amendment No. ZC 2022-01) - Withdrawn
Hambden Township (Text Amendment No. ZC 2022-02) - Approved with Modifications
This proposed amendment defines the meaning of “shipping container” and then prohibits their use in residential, commercial and industrial settings. Richard “RJ” Acquaviva, Hambden Twp Zoning Inspector, was present to answer questions.
- Director Crombie recommended allowing shipping containers in industrial settings
- Mr. Gorris raised concerns about the amendment applying to “temporary” storage pods that homeowners sometimes use when moving.
- Mr. Neola pointed out inconsistent use of “shall be prohibited” language.
- Several members noted the possibility of shipping containers being used as a building material and it was recommended that the amendment consider the potential impact when a cargo container is used in this manner.
Observer Note: The Planning Commission is authorized by the ORC to recommend approval, approval with modifications or denial of any proposed zoning amendments Township/Village Zoning Commissions ultimately determine their zoning regulations, subject to Township Trustee/Village Council approval.
Chardon Township (Text Amendment No. ZC 2022-2) - Approved
This proposed amendment strikes the term “industrialized unit” and defines the term “modular home.” No discussion.
Correspondence: members reviewed a letter from a Realtor concerning septic evaluations for large lots. No action taken.
Old Business
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NOACA/CEDS - Mrs. Coca-Fulton presented a draft memorandum from the Planning Commission to the County Commissioners that she asked Mr. Claypol to prepare. The document had been previously shared with some members but not all. A copy was not provided during the meeting. Mrs. Coca-Fulton/Mr. Claypool summarized the main points as follows (paraphrasing)
- NOACA/CEDS is dominated by Cuyahoga interests and is in conflict with Geauga values,
- NOACA has inappropriately expanded its influence beyond transportation issues,
- Geauga’s planning needs are different, and
- data used by NOACA is “suspect at best.”
Mr. Neola commented that this is the first step toward removing Geauga away from NOACA and toward adjacent counties.
Mr. Gorris requested that the document be shared with all members of the Commission and noted that half of the members were not present for this discussion. He also noted that the recently completed Geauga County General Plan was full of references to NOACA that would have to be removed.
Observer Note: At this point, Commissioner Dvorak exited the meeting without comment at 8:41a.m., which resulted in adjournment due to the lack of a quorum.
Next meeting will be December 13, 2022 at 7:30 am.
More Information: https://www.co.geauga.oh.us/Departments/Planning-Commission
Minutes here: https://www.co.geauga.oh.us/Departments/Planning-Commission/Minutes
Name of Observer: Shelly Lewis
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