Boardman zoning office has open house

Boardman zoning office has open house

BOARDMAN

Boardman residents were invited to the township zoning office to discuss different projects submitted for approval, township demolition, rezoning and plans for a property recently obtained by Boardman.

A Wednesday open house was for “community outreach, because we have a lot of projects going on in the township and I need community support,” said Sarah Gartland, township zoning inspector.

This is the first year the zoning department had the open house for residents. There will also be another open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Bob Testa of Boardman went to the open house just to “hear what’s going on in the township.”

“I have an investment and I just want to make sure things are taken care of,” he said.

Testa’s concern is to make sure everyone maintains their property.

“If I see things, I call,” Testa said.

The township continues to demolish homes and now has 12 homes down and more to go.

In addition, there have been multiple areas rezoned in the township to prevent duplexes and multiplexes from being built in residential neighborhoods.

The township has four projects being presented to them by businesses. Chick-Fil-A on U.S. Route 224 would like to move across the street in place of McDonald’s, and McDonald’s will then move further down Tiffany Plaza.

A new, used car dealership plans to move into an empty lot on the corner of 224 and Southern Boulevard. Also, Staley Communication will relocate to Southern Boulevard where a limousine company used to be.

The township, in collaboration with Boardman Park, recently applied for $1.8 million grant from the state to go toward new property the township obtained in October. The land is off of Washington Boulevard, and was given by Clarence Smith Sr. The goal is to develop a museum with the historic property site.

Residents Ronald and Mary Jane Green were both impressed with the plans the zoning department has and with what has already been done to improve the township.

They also received some guidance at the meeting from Gartland regarding their property.

“They were very helpful,” Mary Jane said.