Trustees overturned two zoning amendments, sending them back to the zoning commission.

September 11, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township trustees have approved two of four proposed zoning amendments from the township zoning commission.

Trustees rejected the other two, sending them back to the commission for further review. All four amendments were approved by the commission in August.

The amendments approved Tuesday involve green-space buffering and lighting requirements, which require that any pedestrian walkway that exists before construction at a commercial business must be restored.

In addition, all access to parking areas must be no more than 20 feet wide unless otherwise approved, and the location and number of entrances to township roadways must be approved by the zoning office and road department.

Trustees also agreed that all driveways must be entered from approved frontage on approved roadway. On a corner lot, either roadway can be used as an entrance as long as frontage requirements are met, which is 100 feet for agricultural properties and 70 feet for residential properties.

Trustee William Miller expressed concern the section also required driveways and off-street parking be on asphalt, concrete, brick or gravel and would hamper farms, but township Administrator David Pugh said the laws apply to agricultural properties, but not to farms.

One of the amendments rejected by trustees involve outbuildings, private garages and accessory outbuildings. The zoning commission proposal required any outbuildings, private garages and accessory buildings be built only on property with an existing residence. Trustees, however, noted some lots in the township are only 25 or 50 feet wide, and the new law would require the properties be replatted for a homeowner to construct an outbuilding on an adjoining lot.

The second amendment rejected governs motor recreational vehicles. Trustees Miller and James Stoddard said two sections were contradictory, one saying the recreational vehicles had to be parked or stored in the side or rear yard, and the other saying such vehicles could be parked or stored in the driveway, rear or side yard, provided they were 10 feet from the edge of the roadway surface, and no closer than 2 feet to the side or rear property line.

A revised regulation that allows the vehicle to be used as a temporary living quarters only during reconstruction of a residence was called to task by Stoddard, who wondered what happens if a “rich uncle” drives in from out-of-town in his RV and wants to stay in it while he visits.

Currently a temporary zoning permit is required to inhabit the RV while a structure is being repaired.