The Stark County Planning and Zoning Commission on June 26 voted to recommend rezoning approximately 67.71 acres from rural residential to estate residential and approved a preliminary subdivision plat that would create 29 residential lots for the Michael property northeast of Gladstone.

The actions are significant because the rezoning would allow smaller lot sizes (including lots as small as about 2 acres) and the preliminary plat lays out roads, access easements and lot sizes for a project that will return for final plat approval and a section-line road vacation to the County Commission.

Andrew Schrank of Highlands Engineering, representing the applicants, described the rezoning request and the subdivision. He said the north portion of the property is proposed for estate residential zoning to allow 29 lots, with lot sizes ranging from about 2 to 7 acres and most under 5 acres. "It'll be a residential subdivision that they're proposing of 29 lots," Schrank said.

On access, Schrank said Lot 2 would be reached by a private access easement and that the owners agreed to sell half an acre to a neighboring property owner, Mr. Hendrickson, to resolve a building that straddles a section line. Todd Miller, road operations specialist and interim road department administrator, confirmed the road plan questions should be addressed with the applicant's engineer.

County planner Steve Josephson recommended approval of both the rezoning and the preliminary plat with conditions. Staff noted that the county's updated comprehensive plan identifies the property within a priority growth area and recommends minimum lot sizes no larger than 2 acres, and that the proposed rezoning aligns with that plan. Josephson said engineering review comments must be addressed prior to final plat, the developer must provide a county weed officer inspection report and implement a weed control plan if required, and that portions of the property lie in the special flood hazard area; buildings in that area would need to meet federal and county standards, typically one foot above base flood elevation.

Schrank told commissioners the developer expects to complete road construction before final plat recording and that A Hundred and Second Avenue Southwest is roughly 75 percent improved at the time of the hearing. Josephson also said staff had contacted consulting engineers and sent technical comments to the applicant for reply.

The rezoning motion (RZ-05-25) and the preliminary subdivision plat (PSP-125) both passed on roll-call votes with all commissioners present voting aye. Josephson said the final plat and the section-line vacation will be scheduled together for County Commission consideration; the vacation goes directly to the County Commission and will not return to planning and zoning.

During the hearing, staff said there were no written public comments received on the proposals. The planning commission recorded technical review items and standard preconditions for final plat approval to be satisfied before recording.