Zoning boards reviewing language in regulations

March 14, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Trustees and township zoning boards plan to meet quarterly or semiannually.

MINERAL RIDGE — Two township zoning boards came away from a roundtable discussion with trustees with two projects to work on this year.

The zoning commission will be working on incorporating language from the Ohio attorney general’s office into township zoning regulations, which prohibits sexually oriented businesses from coming into the township.

Although the township’s current laws prohibit such businesses, the attorney general’s office informed the township in late 2007 that if it uses the state’s language for zoning law on the issue, which is more detailed, the AG’s office will represent the township in any possible lawsuits over sexually oriented businesses.

The board of zoning appeals will review the language now in place on parking of motor homes in driveways. Trustee Fred Bobovnyk said appeals board members believe the wording in current law is unclear. The wording would be clarified in case anyone wants to go to that board and request a variance.

The township trustees Wednesday resumed an old practice of having a work session with all members of both the township zoning commission and zoning appeals board.

Bobovnyk said the roundtable discussion had taken place in previous years, but not recently, and the groups all agreed they should continue to meet either quarterly or every six months to discuss township issues.

Trustees showed the groups copies of the comprehensive plan for the township, which was done for the township by the Trumbull County Planning Commission about five years ago.

The study maps out township land use and reviewed all changes in the township up until the time the study was done.

Bobovnyk said the previous study was done in 1992, and the township commissioned this latest study, which should be good for another five to 10 years. He said it is usually recommended that a comprehensive plan be done at least every 15 to 20 years.

Four new zoning commission members were introduced at the meeting. They are Jim Price, a former township trustee, and Steven Gerberry; and alternates, June Lucas and Chuck Pierce.