Milton works to enforce zoning laws at lakefront

Trustees want to make sure neighbors’ views of the lake aren’t blocked.

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

LAKE MILTON — In light of higher population, property values and property taxes on and near the lake, Milton Township trustees are making a concerted effort to more vigorously enforce zoning regulations and draw up rules specific to those who own lakefront property.

To those ends, township officials called a special meeting Friday with Atty. Mark Finamore to address what they say are problems associated with certain retaining walls that a few homeowners have built near the edge of their property along the lake.

A couple of the barriers are too high and obstruct neighbors’ views of the water, trustee Sue Lemmon noted.

Finamore, who represents the township, pointed out that trustees can draw up any resolution related to that and other zoning issues, as long as it’s not “capricious, arbitrary or against the law.”

Finamore pointed out that such retaining walls are structures, as opposed to fences, meaning that the property owner has to get a zoning permit.

Otherwise, a stop-work order can be issued until the structure is in compliance with height and other regulations, noted Leni Schulz, township fiscal officer.

Ordinace planned

Schulz also noted that officials plan to pass an ordinance that would define as the front of a homeowner’s property the portion that abuts the lake. Since local zoning rules say structures can be built only on the back of property, the move would prohibit those residents from building anything that would block their neighbors’ views of Lake Milton, she said.

Other suggestions Finamore made included hiring a private planning company or the Mahoning County Planning Commission; consulting with other lake communities to see how they handle similar matters; and forming a site review committee.

An applicant for a zoning permit would be required to bring a topographical image, such as an aerial view of the property to the committee, to show what will be done during and after construction, Finamore suggested.

Changes applicants plan to make to their land would need to be done so as not to allow runoff onto their neighbors’ property, Schulz and Lemmon explained.