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North Canton moves property-maintenance appeals into zoning board, proposes to dissolve review board
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to repeal the Property Maintenance Review Board, fold its appeal duties into the Zoning Board of Appeals and amend related sections of the property maintenance code, citing low usage and operational efficiency.
North Canton City Council on April 28 advanced an ordinance to dissolve the city's Property Maintenance Review Board and transfer appeals authority to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA). City staff presented the ordinance and said the change aligns the appeals process with the charter and reduces redundant boards.
The ordinance would repeal Chapter 148 (Property Maintenance Review Board) and amend related sections of Part 17 (Property Maintenance Code) of the city code. The measure was introduced during council business as Ordinance 30-20-25, described in the meeting as "repealing ordinance 12-20-21 and chapter 148 property maintenance review board...in their entirety and amending various sections...for the purposes of dissolving the property maintenance review board."
City staff told council the Property Maintenance Review Board was created in 2021 but has met only four times and held substantive action at only one meeting. Liam Woodfin, the city clerk, and the staff presenter said the board has not met in 2025. "The Property Maintenance Review Board went into effect in 2021 and since then has only met 4 times, to consider appeals for property maintenance violations," the presenter said. The presenter added staff had contacted existing board members to discuss opportunities to serve on other boards.
Why it matters: dissolving the review board shifts appeal hearings to the ZBOA, creating a single appeals venue for zoning and maintenance appeals and reducing the number of advisory bodies that the city must staff and recruit for.
Council process and outcome Council received the ordinance's first reading and voted to adopt the first reading at the meeting. Staff said they had contacted board members in advance and were assisting interested members to apply for vacancies on other boards.
Discussion and context Staff framed the move as an operational efficiency step: the maintenance review board met infrequently, and folding appeals into the ZBOA better aligns with the charter and the city's existing processes. Staff also said they had not scheduled any meetings of the Property Maintenance Review Board in 2025 and expected the ZBOA to take over appeals responsibilities going forward.
Next steps Ordinance 30-20-25 was adopted on first reading at council and will follow the city's ordinance adoption process for subsequent readings and final adoption if council votes to proceed.
