[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6221839,"mediaKeyId","3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce","parentId",3611145,"title","Residents press Elyria staff on sanitary sewers, traffic and a Meijer rumor during zoning forum","audioSeconds",694,"startMs",1956000,"endMs",2650000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce&start=1956&end=2650","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce/thumbnail_1956000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221839/Elyria/Lorain-County/Ohio/Residents-press-Elyria-staff-on-sanitary-sewers-traffic-and-a-Meijer-rumor-during-zoning-forum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221839-6d8b3eade9cd3a20c018a6d33a1f45d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139128&Signature=cMsBTQDYF9~A8o9f9rJJla~4OqV0ZgPotbi1-7UfURDp~o~CTjxo8cZ6bmJVbszEq1OZfGJhuQ5soMIBvetXGjEKzznZFWpiTcwvSpCmNwaT74Vb018XZqBH7dcrwTUntY1mrDI3aSi8L2bqH0ya1U6GkEfqowMBJMxDjpwVycs3R4K7oiYVx2DLNP0Q1GWiqKuwmxy74dgoNpdzqAmjtwPjqyih4QrmGNmasWpvG4KxVzrhpghTTvrrENawhP9VbzK6893NGp4FJn7qZeGcy4FftAEXLza9D3ZZ1rGNPSzhZFQKoiZFZ-ay9bOLI1zldElPmxWAs5j-QDFfaFh2Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Elyria, OH ","date","2025-05-30T11:24:58Z","article","Residents at the Elyria zoning forum pressed staff about infrastructure the draft zoning changes could trigger, focusing on sanitary sewers, traffic at the Chestnut Commons/Chestnut Ridge area and reports of a potential Meijer store.

A resident asked whether sewer capacity south of downtown would support increased density. John Schneider, the city’s chief engineer, replied that utilities are not regulated by the zoning ordinance and that infrastructure adequacy is verified through the planning commission review when development plans are submitted. “In in regards to utilities, the zoning ordinances aren't really governing the utilities, that's something that will have to come with a plan to planning commission,” Schneider said. He added that the city conducts checks for adequate sanitary sewer capacity and flow metering as part of the plan review.

On traffic at the Chestnut Ridge/State Route 57 intersection, staff said much of the corridor is outside city jurisdiction and that Elyria coordinates with the Ohio Department of Transportation for any limited‑access highway connections. The city also maintains the local traffic signal at Chestnut Commons and has installed vehicle detection and remote timing adjustments to improve flow. “The city has taken over the traffic light from ODOT, so we can coordinate better with the traffic light at Chesnut Commons,” Schneider said, while noting some improvements depend on ODOT and on equipment communications.

A forum participant asked whether plans exist for a Meijer store. A staff speaker said there is no plan submitted to the City of Elyria and no conversations with Meijer had resulted in an application. That statement was delivered by a city staff member during the Q&A and was not presented as a final development commitment.

Staff also noted that enforcement work on property maintenance and residential complaints is ongoing; the building department has active investigations in some neighborhoods. Residents were encouraged to provide contact information at the meeting or email planning staff for updates and to receive notices when the draft moves to planning commission and council for formal review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Zoning Code Update Public Meeting 05/29/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a public forum on the zoning draft, residents raised concerns about sanitary sewer capacity, traffic at Chestnut Ridge/Route 57 and a rumored Meijer development; city engineers and staff outlined limits of zoning authority and said no Meijer plans have been submitted to the city.","taxTitle","Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio","taxId",4371,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221844,"Draft would add accessory dwelling units, backyard hens and beekeeping; daycare rules to follow state classifications",44,851000,895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce&start=851&end=895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce/thumbnail_851000.jpg","/articles/6221844/Elyria/Lorain-County/Ohio/Draft-would-add-accessory-dwelling-units-backyard-hens-and-beekeeping-daycare-rules-to-follow-state-classifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221844-5a4138092244c3136f64201019e558b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139128&Signature=mQEjMOweFSodrSAEh1i2jLqXIeOt3HCBxjjSYQjr9d~ZelQMJC9C3bpJRLWqIQr8L0R1TpjAYwNwUDW9v6EoNjy7Kpiz7IQM-1U2-A9V0wW7BR2vXR14rUDZ6b2ivQOg5pgApocU5ZfL5Inqv4MHRVZ-KiPIuIks-pnXQ2NH4fP72lctJtRlBdc5qjOFE1HLnZ5LzKiQmPL7MtYVe1Hg1~umohMmSSDbdPNN-auQxIhqqLq1o4b1ZtTOQsRJxxVvWqnzXiqF02rvXFdoe1Zf4r7P1W1Brdz6elIN1jcQdq3r9Yz8miMltNbsbBei1Ts~9x5rS4Qsks9PhPF8etOlyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Planner Chris Schonick told residents the draft zoning code explicitly lists a number of accessory uses the city has not regulated previously, including accessory dwelling units, daycare homes, backyard hens and beekeeping.

“Some of these are, they need to meet a certain distance from other uses of the same, vernacular. Requirements such as fencing or screening, setbacks from other property lines, are some of these requirements that are listed for these uses that I’ve mentioned here today,” Schonick said.

Schonick described accessory dwelling units — commonly called mother‑in‑law suites — as a tool to address housing costs by allowing a second dwelling unit on a lot. The draft also addresses daycare homes using Ohio’s state categories: Schonick said “a type B home can be allowed in any residential area, cannot be restricted by zoning, and that is defined as 1 to 6 children being in the home taken care of. Anything that exceeds that amount is 7 to 12 children.” The city plans to permit larger home daycares with use‑specific restrictions such as parking and limits on concentration near incompatible uses.

On backyard animals, Schonick said the draft focuses on allowing backyard hens with safeguards to protect public health and neighbors. “A lot of neighboring communities are permitting this,” he said, naming Cleveland Heights and Parma Heights as local examples. Beekeeping is also listed as a permitted accessory use with conditions; Schonick noted several Northeast Ohio communities permit it, but emphasized the draft includes restrictions to protect neighbors.

Cannabis dispensing facilities and other sensitive uses would remain subject to distance buffers and conditional review. Schonick said the draft carries forward a 1,000‑foot separation from schools, parks and other dispensaries as part of the use‑specific criteria for cannabis uses.

All accessory uses in the draft are described as subordinate to a principal use on the same lot; staff emphasized that accessory uses “cannot have an accessory use without a principal use.” The draft’s use‑specific criteria will be vetted through legal review and then through planning commission and council hearings where residents can comment.","City staff presented proposed accessory uses in the draft zoning code including accessory dwelling units (ADUs), two categories of daycare homes as defined by Ohio, backyard hens with safeguards, and beekeeping; use‑specific restrictions and buffers would apply.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221849,"Elyria releases draft zoning code that cuts districts from 18 to 8 and broadens permitted uses",3775,234000,4009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce&start=234&end=4009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611145-7b52f33cedc00286b78864bb9f415fce/thumbnail_234000.jpg","/articles/6221849/Elyria/Lorain-County/Ohio/Elyria-releases-draft-zoning-code-that-cuts-districts-from-18-to-8-and-broadens-permitted-uses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221849-e71bca43a180db1faecde42e3519ce8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139128&Signature=ChHADk8qlX6vCyXs3jUQvmXKbrQoXsuP8-XiW7dJPtXh-24Yd7E6ieDUasR-XPM~dMYIVLCJJGh6aQwtpyH9sZwCWbmCM-V01WdWvdOfgfwhFv2WOuz2aKo8WFeYSoh9HcADFaCjOXzHbJhKTZ493B9XRwB8cz-9tU3KV6HuaYAT7pjASmbeYxbGhzIFpQwuTPXp8NmrmeXVVoG8-W-aKPmpCo3TRfSsW620EXIDPa9kYaC9KZDOc~GjvMN3sk2~jdjsMa02cC73p5lqpWAM9plnMnNZUuUP5V6mMsNHLa-c2v3OQ0Ze6gcj56C45BA4t~JMOQSSvLFqS4efexJZMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elyria city planners on Tuesday unveiled a draft zoning code that would reduce the city’s zoning districts from 18 to eight and expand the range of uses allowed in the downtown and corridor areas.

City Planner Chris Schonick led the presentation and said the draft is an early, not-final document that will next be reviewed by the city law department and later by the planning commission and city council. “I want to emphasize that. The city will be having public meetings at a later time, formal public meetings with planning commission, city council, when this is a little more ready,” Schonick said.

The proposed rewrite condenses district categories into broader zones intended to attract local businesses and permit development on vacant parcels, officials said. Under the draft, downtown—expanded to cover from Fifth Street to the river—would allow a wider mix of uses including restaurants, brewpubs and residential units; corridor districts along major arterials such as Cleveland Street and Broad Street would be more flexible and encourage pedestrian and bicycle connections; and the commercial district would continue to serve auto‑oriented shopping centers such as Midway Mall and Chestnut Commons.

Schonick said the city is balancing greater flexibility with safeguards: some uses remain conditional and others will require use‑specific criteria. “We have gone through this considerably. There was changes compared to our February meeting where some things did become conditionally permitted,” Schonick said, adding that conditional review remains part of the process so incompatible uses can be filtered by planning commission and council.

The draft also adjusts parking requirements, generally lowering minimums in some zones to reduce what Schonick described as “red tape” for developers and to encourage redevelopment. He said the zoning update is a response to the city’s last comprehensive zoning update in 1998 and that other Northeast Ohio cities such as Medina and Cleveland Heights have implemented similar, more flexible codes.

City staff described the next steps: the legal department is reviewing the draft now; after legal signoff the draft will go to planning commission for recommendation, then to a city council committee and finally to full council for three readings and a vote. Schonick said the city is “looking at tentative approval by the end of this year, late 2025,” but cautioned that timing could change because the project has many moving parts.

Public input to date has been incorporated into the draft, Schonick said; staff encouraged residents to attend future planning commission and council meetings and to sign up for updates. The draft zoning document and an interactive map are available on the city planning web page and staff are offering address searches so property owners can see proposed zoning changes for specific parcels.

Officials emphasized the draft status and invited further feedback before any formal action. For more information residents were asked to contact the planning office or watch the legal/committee notices published prior to planning commission and council hearings.","City planner Chris Schonick presented a preliminary draft zoning code that reduces Elyria's zoning districts from 18 to 8, expands allowable uses in downtown and corridor areas, and begins a legal review before formal planning commission and city council hearings.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press Elyria staff on sanitary sewers, traffic and a Meijer rumor during zoning forum

Draft would add accessory dwelling units, backyard hens and beekeeping; daycare rules to follow state classifications

Elyria releases draft zoning code that cuts districts from 18 to 8 and broadens permitted uses