DEVELOPMENT Zone change sought for farm

This is the second zone change request for the property in two years.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- One of the last remaining stretches of undeveloped land in the township may soon be peppered with homes if a zone change request is granted to a local developer.
Orvets Sod Farm LLC sits at the corner of Tippecanoe Road and West Western Reserve Road on more than 310 acres of undeveloped land. Zoning Inspector Darren Crivelli said the area is the largest tract of undeveloped land remaining in the township.
The land is zoned for agricultural use, but MOS Development of Boardman is seeking to have the property rezoned for residential use. In a letter to the zoning department, MOS said it intends to develop the area with single-family homes.
The request must be reviewed and approved by the county planning commission, township zoning commission and township trustees before a zone change is approved.
Previous request
This is the second time in the last two years that a zone change has been requested on the property.
In late 2003, a developer sought to have the land rezoned to one residential and three business districts. The developer, calling the area the township's next growth area, said he wanted to put retail and office buildings where the farm now sits.
The township zoning commission denied that request. Crivelli, however, said there are distinct differences between the earlier request and the one set to go before officials now.
According to Crivelli, the main difference is that the previous request had a business and commercial component, whereas the more recent request seeks residential only. Crivelli said township officials planned for housing development in that area several years ago.
"When we adjusted the land use plan four years ago, we designated this area for low-density housing," he said. "If it were to be developed, we didn't want to see it developed with anything more than single-family homes."
The residential zoning designation would allow for single family homes only, no multiple-family units.
Flooding concerns
Township Trustee Kathy Miller said officials must be careful to make sure that any new development does not cause flooding. The township has been studying flood and water issues after some residents experienced flooding in their homes. Some of those affected by flooding have laid the blame on development in the township.
"Whatever we do it must be done right to minimize any potential flooding in Angeline Estates," she said. "You love to see people able to build new homes in the area, but at the same time we must recognize our responsibility to the residents who already live here."
Crivelli said a portion of the land in question is in a flood plain, but township, county and state officials will look at the issue of drainage and flooding before any zone changes or permits are issued. The area is also home to scattered wetlands, he said.
According to Crivelli, MOS could construct homes on the property without a zone change. He said agriculturally zoned areas permit single-family housing, but the lot size requirements in residentially zoned areas is smaller, meaning more homes can be built on the land if it is rezoned residential.
jgoodwin@vindy.com