Council discusses impact-fee adjustment tied to land donation and first reading on notice-of-violation process
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Summary
Council members reviewed a second-reading ordinance that would lower impact fees for Omni Development tied to a 37-acre donation and heard a first reading of Ordinance 2025-8, which clarifies how notice of code violations must be served and which parties should receive them.
Orange Village councilors discussed two separate proposed amendments to the village’s codified ordinances during the April 2, 2025 meeting: an amendment to Section 1133.07 concerning impact fees (on second reading) and Ordinance 2025-8, a first reading that would change the process for serving notice of code violations.
Mayor and council members said the impact-fee adjustment reflects a substantial land donation from the Omni Development project — council members described the donation as 37 acres being made available to the village through the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. A council member said the proposed fee reduction “lowers them, but it's kind of an acknowledgement that they're donating a significant amount of land.” The mayor said the developer “provided an opportunity for us to acquire that land” through the conservancy.
Separately, the first reading of Ordinance 2025-8 was described by staff as a procedural amendment that clarifies how alleged violators are served. Attorney and staff input — including work by Bob McLaughlin and the village prosecutors, council members were told — revised the code language to allow certified in-person service, mailing, or hand delivery to a property when a current address for the responsible party is not available. The change would require service on an entity or person with authority to act for the property (for example, an owner rather than a renter) and aligns the village’s process with what the court expects for service in such cases.
Council members asked procedural questions about the changes. Staff said the building department identifies the responsible party, and that many enforcement actions are complaint-driven: either a building department observation or a neighbor complaint starts the enforcement process. Council discussion noted that the amendment does not change substantive code requirements but clarifies how notices are delivered and who must receive them.
The council did not vote on either item at the April 2 meeting. The impact-fee amendment was on second reading and scheduled for a vote the following week; Ordinance 2025-8 was introduced on its first reading and may be enacted on an expedited basis because it does not require referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
