SPECIAL TRUSTEE MEETING
JANUARY 13, 2005
The Richfield Township Special Trustee Meeting was called to order at 5.00
pm on January 13, 2005.
Roll call: Trustees present: Laurie Gilmore, Shano Cica-Mraz and David Wyatt
Township Administrator: Linda Bowmer Special Legal Counsel John Slagter
Others in attendance: Joe Migliorini, Jim Oberdorfer, Ann Pylkas, Beth Iacano -
Summit County Department of Development.
In the absence of the Clerk, Ms. Bowmer took the minutes. Ms. Mraz made a
motion to enter into executive session at 5.01pm to discuss pending legal
issues, seconded by Ms. Gilmore; motion carried unanimously.
Ms. Mraz made a motion to end the executive session at 6.30 pm, seconded by Ms.
Gilmore; motion carried unanimously.
The Special Meeting was reconvened in Council Chambers at 7.40 pm.
Roll call: Trustees present: Shano Cica-Mraz and David Wyatt
Township Administrator: Linda Bowmer, Zoning Inspector: Laurie Pinney, Special
Legal Counsel John Slagter
Board of Zoning Appeals: Bill Spann, Ken Bowmer, Mike Fremon, Tom Johnson
Zoning Commission: Gene Kulp, Jerry Ryba, Mark Salopek, Kurt Kocias, Arlene
Pepera, Dennis Skoda
John Slagter gave a presentation on House Bill 148 and Senate Bill 18 as
they relate to zoning. As way of background he outlined the roles and powers of
each township entity as follows:
· Trustees – create the law
· Zoning Commission – act as an arm of the trustees, recommending what laws
should be adopted
· BZA – quasi-judicial board which interprets the law and makes decisions on
appeals and grants variances
· Zoning Inspector – enforces the law
Mr. Slagter described HB 148, which was signed into law in November, as a way of
leveling the playing field for townships by giving them some of the same zoning
powers as cities and villages. Townships have no other authority than what is
provided by the Ohio Revised Code.
· Changes ‘purpose of promoting the public health, safety and morals’ to
‘interest of the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity or
general welfare’.
· ‘Trustees may create an architectural review board to enforce compliance with
any zoning standards it may adopt pertaining to landscaping or architectural
elements in areas zoned for residential use’.
· New requirements & procedures for consent decrees or court approved settlement
agreements.
Senate Bill 18 removes some of the powers passed in House Bill 148. It was
passed on December 8th and would become law 10 days after it is transmitted to
the Governor if signed. Mr. Slagter will keep us posted when and if the bill is
signed.
· Change to ‘in the interest of the public health and safety, the trustees may
regulate…’, removing the ‘general welfare’ provision just granted in HB148.
· Trustees ‘may establish reasonable landscaping standards and architectural
standards, excluding exterior building materials’ (removing ‘residential’
specifically)
At the conclusion of Mr. Slagter’s presentation, Ms. Mraz asked the BZA to
help identify possible procedural amendments and standards needed in the light
industrial office district area of the code for the Zoning Commission to work
on, based on their practical experience in applying the code to the Fed Ex case.
Mayor Lyons joined the meeting and there was some discussion on the possible
grant applied for by the Township and Village. Laura DeYoung, of Coastal
Management Authority, is coming to the Village Planning Commission on February
8th at 7.30pm to talk more about developing a comprehensive plan and the Mayor
invited the Township Zoning Commission and the BZA to attend the meeting.
The JEDD was briefly discussed with Mayor Lyons who had come directly from
the Village work session. Village Council was uncomfortable with the language of
an additional clause added to the agreement by Cleveland Water. John Slagter and
Chuck Riehl would discuss and report back on a possible rewording.
Ms. Mraz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9.30 pm, seconded by Mr. Wyatt;
motion carried unanimously.
Return
to Township Minutes
Last updated: 02/25/2006