WEATHERSFIELD Commission approves change in zoning law

MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield Township Zoning Commission approved an amendment to zoning laws requiring that zoning complaints be signed by the person or persons lodging the complaint.
The amendment removes the words verbally and anonymous from old zoning regulations for complaints. The amendment now goes to the township trustees for their approval.
If, after a public hearing, trustees approve the change, it will become law in 30 days, said Sherri Craver, zoning inspector.
The Trumbull County Planning Commission also recommended the change at its meeting Wednesday.
The old procedure permitted complaints to be lodged verbally or in writing and also allowed complaints to be made anonymously.
The zoning inspector is required to investigate complaints of possible violations and then compile a report of his observations, which is kept on file in the zoning inspector's office.
The resolution includes checking into possible violations of zoning law that are dangerous, unsanitary, unsightly or are creating a nuisance of any type.
The new procedure also says that if the zoning inspector finds conditions that are not necessarily a violation of the township's zoning resolution, but do create a nuisance or other problems, to report those observations to the township trustees, the Trumbull County Board of Health, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the township fire and police departments, county Children Services Board or any other appropriate enforcement agency.