BEAVER TOWNSHIP Trustees adopt plan to control land growth

Residents are questioning the zoning of Western Reserve Road.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township trustees adopted the township's comprehensive land-use plan, but agreed to ask the committee that helped develop it to take another look at what's going on along Western Reserve Road.
Several of the dozen township residents at Tuesday's special meeting said they're concerned because it appears the area along the Boardman side of the road has been unofficially earmarked for commercial growth. They speculated Boardman likely will change its zoning along a portion of the road from residential and agricultural to commercial.
The Beaver Township side of Western Reserve in question is zoned agricultural.
"Commercial is moving in there," said Bill Bieber of Beaver Township, whose family owns property along Western Reserve. He said he is looking into having the property rezoned commercial.
"We can't stop it. The township can't stop it. Before the township makes the decision to keep the area agricultural, it should look at what Boardman's doing there," he said. "That area will be commercial."
He opposed the land-use plan because he said it restricts land owners and limits what they are able to do with their land.
Anticipated growth
Trustees assured residents the new plan is a guide that will allow the township to better control growth and growth patterns in the township, keeping the township's best interest at the center of any zoning or development changes.
They said the plan was developed in response to recent and anticipated growth in the township.
A steering committee began working on the plan in March 2002. Earlier this year, the township held a meeting to allow township residents to voice their opinions on a preliminary plan.
The plan addresses, among other issues, how land in the township is to be used, how environmental resources will be managed, the best means of coordinating transportation, how facilities and services will be maintained and how the township's economic base will be maintained and increased.
"The plan allows the township to not only look at how the land is being used, but also the implications of that land use," said George Smerigian, township planning consultant. "It's provides a guide that decisions can be based on. It's not necessarily the final say, but it is a guide."