PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 1 GEAUGA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2016 In the absence of Chairman Christine Peace and Vice Chairman David Short, Secretary/ Treasurer Blake Rear was Acting Chairman. He called the November 8, 2016 regular meeting of the Geauga County Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. at 470 Center Street, Building 1- C, City of Chardon. Following the pledge of allegiance, the roll was called and the following members were present. A quorum was obtained. Roll Call Members Present: Blake Rear, Cathy Cotman, Walter Claypool, Charles Stevens, Marge Hrabak, and Thomas Jones. Members Absent: Christine Peace, David Short, Ralph Spidalieri, Tracy Engle, and Chester Miller. Staff Present: David C. Dietrich (Planning Director) and Karen Baptie (Planning Technician). Others Present: Diane Jones and Brett Dawson (Payne & Payne Builders). Approval of Minutes Mr. Claypool made a motion to approve the October 11, 2016 meeting minutes. Mrs. Hrabak seconded the motion, and upon a call for the vote, the motion carried. Mr. Rear abstained due to absence. Financial Report and Approval of Expenses Mrs. Baptie presented the financial report and the summary of expenses. Mr. Stevens made a motion to approve the financial report for November 8, 2016 and the summary of expenses marked Exhibit “A” totaling $1,007.10. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and upon a call for the vote, the motion carried unanimously. Director’s Report Mr. Dietrich presented the following. Bainbridge Township: Future phase of Canyon Lakes Burton Township: Loading/unloading space requirements Chardon Township: Cemetery regulations Middlefield Township: Junk vehicles Parkman Township: Building floor area Troy Township: Setback minimums
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PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 1
GEAUGA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
In the absence of Chairman Christine Peace and Vice Chairman David Short, Secretary/
Treasurer Blake Rear was Acting Chairman. He called the November 8, 2016 regular meeting of
the Geauga County Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. at 470 Center Street, Building 1-
C, City of Chardon. Following the pledge of allegiance, the roll was called and the following
members were present. A quorum was obtained.
Roll Call
Members Present: Blake Rear, Cathy Cotman, Walter Claypool, Charles Stevens, Marge
Hrabak, and Thomas Jones.
Members Absent: Christine Peace, David Short, Ralph Spidalieri, Tracy Engle, and Chester
Miller.
Staff Present: David C. Dietrich (Planning Director) and Karen Baptie (Planning Technician).
Others Present: Diane Jones and Brett Dawson (Payne & Payne Builders).
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Claypool made a motion to approve the October 11, 2016 meeting minutes. Mrs. Hrabak
seconded the motion, and upon a call for the vote, the motion carried. Mr. Rear abstained due to
absence.
Financial Report and Approval of Expenses
Mrs. Baptie presented the financial report and the summary of expenses.
Mr. Stevens made a motion to approve the financial report for November 8, 2016 and the
summary of expenses marked Exhibit “A” totaling $1,007.10. Mr. Jones seconded the motion,
and upon a call for the vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Director’s Report
Mr. Dietrich presented the following.
Bainbridge Township: Future phase of Canyon Lakes
Burton Township: Loading/unloading space requirements
Chardon Township: Cemetery regulations
Middlefield Township: Junk vehicles
Parkman Township: Building floor area
Troy Township: Setback minimums
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 2
Other Business
There was none.
Major Subdivisions to be Reviewed
A. The Villas of Gates Landing
Bainbridge Township
Final Plat
Mr. Dietrich presented the following staff review.
Prepared For: EDDM, LLC
Prepared By: Neff & Associates (Jeremy Ousley)
Location: North side of Flintlock Ridge approximately 1,000 feet east from Chagrin River
Road.
Subdivision Tabulation:
Total Area: 12.7610 acres
Area in Sublots: 8.7793 acres
Villa Ridge (Block “F”): 1.2739 acres
Open Space (Blocks “B-2” & “G”): 2.7078 acres
Sublots:
Number: 29 (sublots 32-60)
Size: 0.1694 – 0.5478 acres
New Roads:
Number: 1
Name: Villa Ridge
Length: 934.26 linear feet
Township Zoning:
The zoning criteria for the subdivision have been set forth in the agreed judgment entry
signed by the developer and Bainbridge Township case no. 97M000585 dated July 9,
1999.
Minimum Lot Area: None per entry.
Minimum Lot Frontage: None per entry.
Minimum Setbacks:
o Front: 15’ or 25’ from edge of pavement, whichever is greater.
o Side: 7.5’ (15’ between dwellings).
o Rear: 50’ outer boundary; 25’ for internal sublots or easement boundary per plat.
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 3
Utilities:
Underground telephone, cable TV, electric and natural gas
Central water and sanitary sewers
REVIEW
County Engineer:
Plat is approved. Surveyor is showing that pins and monuments will be set (email dated
October 26, 2016 from Nicholas J. Gorris, PE).
Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District:
The revised WMSC Plan was approved on February 3, 2016 (email dated October 26,
2016 from Carmella Shale).
County Tax Map Department:
Plat is approved (email dated November 7, 2016 by Michael Bender).
County Water Resources Department:
No comments on the plat. The Water Resources Department interests are covered under
the dedication language (email dated October 26, 2016 by Gerard Morgan). The BOCC
approved the improvement plans for sewer and water on May 10, 2016 (email dated
October 26, 2016 by Gerard Morgan).
Bainbridge Township Zoning Inspector:
The plat complies with applicable zoning (signed by Karen Endres, Zoning Inspector, on
November 1, 2016).
County Planning Commission Staff:
The final plat is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the County Subdivision
Regulations.
The Board of County Commissioners approved an amended judgment entry with regard
to Canyon Lake Colony Subdivision in 1999. A supplemental judgment entry was filed
in 2007.
The proposed roadway, Villa Ridge, is a private road right-of-way (50') that is being
granted to the Villas of Gates Landing Homeowners Association, Inc. for maintenance.
A storm sewer easement, a storm water management easement, a landscape easement,
and a conservation easement are being granted to the Villas of Gates Landing
Homeowners Association, Inc. A conservation easement is also being granted to the
Canyon Lakes Colony Master Association, Inc.
Open space Blocks “B-2” and “G” will be granted to the Villas of Gates Landing
Homeowners Association, Inc.
Sewer and water main easements are granted to the Board of County Commissioners.
The declaration of covenants, conditions, easements, and restrictions is to be recorded
prior to the plat and the volume and page number from the Geauga County Deed Records
added to the plat.
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 4
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the final plat of Villas of Gates Landing Subdivision.
Mrs. Cotman: Explain the differences between a public and private road.
Mr. Dietrich: The construction specifications are the same. A private road must be maintained by
the HOA.
Mr. Dietrich: Are all of the road, sewer, water and storm water improvements installed?
Mr. Dawson: Yes, they are completed.
Mrs. Hrabak made a motion to approve the final plat for the Villas of Gates Landing Subdivision.
Mr. Claypool seconded the motion, and upon a call for the vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Township Zoning Amendments to be Reviewed
A. Newbury Township Amendment No. 2016-1
Initiated October 24, 2016
Mr. Dietrich presented the following.
INITIATED BY: Newbury Township Zoning Commission
PROPOSED AMENDMENT: To amend the text of the zoning resolution Section 5.07(B)(2),
Special Maximum Heights and Article XXIV, Alternative Energy.
REVIEW: The proposed amendment text follows: [Note: Deleted text is highlighted with
strikethrough and new text is highlighted in bold italics and underlined]:
Article V R-1 – Residential District
Section 5.07 Maximum Height
B. Special maximum heights
2. Radio antenna and/or television antennas and flat roof mounted solar
panels shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height above the roof line if
attached to a building or structure, or forty-five (45) feet if mounted in the
ground. Antenna structures which are used exclusively in the Amateur
Radio Service by an amateur radio; operator licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission are exempt from this height requirement.
ARTICLE XXIV ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Section 24.00 Solar Panels
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 5
Section 24.01 Definitions
A. “Freestanding solar panel” means a solar panel or an array of solar panels
that is not attached to a building and is mounted on a structure attached to
the ground.
B. “Roof mounted solar panel” means a solar panel or an array of solar panels
attached to the roof of a principal or accessory building.
C. “Solar panel” means a photovoltaic module or collector device, including
any accessory equipment and mounting structures or hardware, which
relies upon solar radiation as an energy source for the generation of
electricity or heating.
D. “Solar panel array” means an integrated assembly of solar panels with a
support structure or foundation and other components.
Section 24.02 Permitted Accessory Use
A solar panel or a solar panel array, whether freestanding or roof mounted,
shall be classified as a permitted accessory use in the R-1, B-1, M-1, and P-O
zoning districts. Within the R-1, residential district, energy production may not
exceed 125% of historical energy use, and within all districts shall be subject to
the following regulations:
A. Roof mounted solar panels and solar panel arrays
1. Roof line: Shall not extend beyond the roof line in any direction
including the peak.
2. Roof projection: Shall not reflect any apparent change in relief or
projection of any roof elevation.
3. Roof height projection: On a flat roof, (less than 17 degrees or 2/12
pitch), panels and/or arrays shall not project vertically more than 10 feet
from the surface of the roof.
4. Glare: Shall not be positioned so as to create glare on to adjacent roads
or buildings on adjacent lots.
5. Other codes: Shall be installed in accordance with all applicable
building and electrical codes.
6. Signage: Shall not have any signage attached except any owner’s,
manufacturer’s and installer’s identification and appropriate warning
signage. The sign face of such signage shall not exceed 1 square foot.
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 6
7. An application and site plan for a Zoning Certificate shall be submitted
to the Zoning Inspector on forms provided by the Zoning Inspector.
8. Decommissioning: Zoning Inspector shall be notified in writing upon
discontinuance of energy production, and panels and/or arrays shall be
completely removed when practical, eg. replacement of the building roof.
9. Other Regulations: Shall be in accordance with all other applicable
regulations for the zoning district in which it is located.
B. Freestanding solar panels and solar panel arrays
1. Location: Shall not be located in front of the principal building and
shall not project past the width of the principal building.
2. Minimum setbacks: Shall be setback from all lot lines in accordance
with the minimum front, side, and rear yards for the zoning district in
which it is located.
3. Height: Maximum height shall be 25 feet measured vertically from the
finished grade level immediately adjacent to the mounting base of the
solar panel to its highest point.
4. Lot coverage: Maximum lot coverage shall be 10 percent (10%),
measured as the area of the face of the solar panels.
5. Glare: Shall not be positioned so as to create glare on to adjacent roads
or buildings on adjacent lots.
6. Other codes: Shall be installed in accordance with all applicable
building and electrical codes.
7. Signage: Shall not have any signage attached except any owner’s,
manufacturer’s and installer’s identification and appropriate warning
signage. The sign face of such signage shall not exceed 1 square foot.
8. An application and site plan for a Zoning Certificate shall be submitted
to the Zoning Inspector on forms provided by the Zoning Inspector.
9. Panels and/or Arrays having a ground storage battery shall be housed
with a secured cover.
10. All freestanding Solar Energy Panels and/or arrays shall be able to
withstand wind velocities of no less than one-hundred and ten (110)
MPH.
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 7
11. Decommissioning: Zoning Inspector shall be notified in writing upon
discontinuance of energy production, and panels and/or arrays shall be
completely removed within 9 months of discontinuance of use and the
affected area shall be fully restored to its preconstruction condition
within 3 months from the date of such removal.
12. Other regulations: Shall be in accordance with all other applicable
regulations for the zoning district in which it is located.
MODIFICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:
Section 5.07(B)(2): “……or forty-five (45) feet if such antennas are mounted in the
ground.”
Section 24.02, first paragraph: Does the township wish to allow solar panels in the A-P
(Active Park) Zone? If so, add A-P to the first sentence. Delete: “Within the R-1,
residential district, energy production may not exceed 125% of historical energy
use……” Enforcement of this provision seems problematic.
Section 24.02(A)(8) and (B)(11): Clarify that the notice is to be provided by the owner
upon permanent discontinuance.
RECOMMENDATION: Pursuant to R.C. 519.12, the County Planning Commission may
recommend approval, approval with modifications, or denial of a proposed zoning amendment.
Mrs. Cotman: What’s the authority to require the 125% per Section 24.02? We should ask our
legal counsel about that.
Mr. Claypool: Some of these regulations seem impractical.
Mrs. Cotman: What’s the authority to require decommissioning? We should ask our legal
counsel about that. Solar panels should be added to the list of permitted accessory uses in the
applicable sections of the district regulations. Can a township regulate wind velocity per Section
24.02(B)(10)? We should ask our legal counsel about this.
Mr. Claypool: This is way too complex.
Mrs. Cotman made a motion to recommend approval of proposed Newbury Township Zoning
Amendment No. 2016-1 initiated October 24, 2016 by the Zoning Commission with the
following modifications:
Section 5.07(B)(2): “….or forty-five (45) feet if such antennas are mounted in the ground.”
Add solar panels and arrays to the list of permitted accessory uses in all of the affected
zoning districts.
Consider allowing solar panels and arrays in the Active Park (A-P) District as an accessory
use.
Delete the phrase in Section 24.02 “Within the R-1, residential district, energy production
may not exceed 125% of historical energy use…..”
PC Meeting Minutes (11/8/16) 8
o Enforcement may be problematic.
o The township should obtain legal guidance from the County Prosecutor’s oOffice as to
its authority to adopt this regulation.
Section 24.02(A)(8) and (B)(11): Clarify that notice is to be provided by the owner upon
permanent discontinuance. Further, the township should obtain legal advice from the
County Prosecutor’s Office as to its authority to adopt these regulations.
Section 24.02(B)(10): The township should obtain legal advice from the County
Prosecutor’s Office as to its authority to regulate structure design for wind speed.
Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and upon a call for the vote, the motion carried unanimously.
B. Thompson Township Zoning Amendment No. 2016-1
Initiated October 26, 2016
Mr. Dietrich presented the following.
INITIATED BY: Thompson Township Zoning Commission
PROPOSED AMENDMENT: To amend the text of the Zoning Resolution Section 201.0,
Words and Terms Defined; Section 401.0, Prohibited Uses in all Zoning Districts; Section