Zoning commission approves 2 developers' housing plans

One of the zoning members voted on his brother-in-law's development.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Two developers were able to get their housing plans approved by the township zoning commission Thursday after they were unable to do so last month.
But one of the developers had harsh words for a zoning panel member concerning a point he raised about an access road. The developer also said that panel member, Jeff Moliterno, shouldn't have voted on the other developer's plan because of a conflict of interest.
Ken Zuzik of KPZ Development had his plan approved for a planned unit development called Abbey Road. The development includes 62 homes on 18 acres between Summit and Raccoon roads south of U.S. Route 224.
Developer Chuck Whitman of CTW Development had his plan approved for Wakehurst Village, a planned unit development that includes 66 single-family homes on 21 acres in the Westford Development behind U.S. 224 between Tippecanoe and Raccoon roads. Westford is a 400-acre mixed-use development that will include a shopping center, office space, single-family homes, condos and villas, a hotel and a golf course.
Earlier meeting
At a meeting Sept. 22, zoning panel members said the Abbey Road plan needed more details on storm drainage, landscaping, a performance bond to ensure development will go forward, approval from the fire district's chief and a better-defined area for green space.
The panel had granted a continuance of the September meeting to Thursday to allow Zuzik and Whitman to better prepare their plans, and Zuzik's Abbey Road passed 5-0.
Panel member Jon Ulicney told the board that he would like to see more green space, but he voted for the plan.
Ulicney said that he would like to see the board toughen rules for PUDs so there would be more than 20 percent green space required.
"He [Zuzik] complied with our rules," Ulicney said after the meeting. "But I'm thinking our rules need to be revamped.
"He's got a nice area, but if we'd required more green space, we'd get a better-looking development."
In PUDs, developers are allowed to build more units on less land. Ulicney said he'd like to see developers "give back a little" in green space.
Whitman's Wakehurst Village had lacked details on traffic patterns, utilities, an association agreement, lighting, landscaping, performance bond information and the fire chief's approval, panel members said in September. His plan also passed 5-0 Thursday.
Concern over access road
Moliterno said he voted for the plan even though he was not happy that a short access road from Summit Drive to the development was going to be a private road. He said that when the plan received Mahoning County Planning Commission approval, the road was designated as a public one.
Moliterno said he would like to see residents on Summit Drive have access to Raccoon and Tippecanoe roads through Whitman's development, because residents have a hard time making a left turn off Summit onto Route 224.
Whitman said he intends to keep the road private, but he will allow Summit Drive residents to access it through a gate with an opening device. Whitman said, however, that he doesn't want traffic from the nearby Abbey Road development going through Wakehurst.
Whitman also asked Moliterno why he voted on Zuzik's development when he is a relative of Zuzik's.
Moliterno acknowledged he is Zuzik's brother-in-law, but said he doesn't stand to gain in any financial or personal way from the development. He said after the meeting that no business relationship exists between him and Zuzik.
He said he consulted with other zoning panel members before voting.
"I'm not a proponent or opponent of Chuck Whitman or any other developer," he said. "I try to vote my conscience."
The PUD plans now move to the township trustees, who have the final say over them.