Findlay staff proposes permit, setbacks and size limits for clothing‑donation bins; committee asks for size, fee and exemptions

Planning staff presented a draft ordinance and zoning changes for the committee’s review and the committee voted to continue developing the measures.

Staff said an intern’s inventory found many donation bins across the city — “I believe there were 30 donation bins on Tiffin Avenue,” staff said — and presented a proposed code section numbered in the transcript as 1161.16 that would regulate donation‑bin placement, identification, maintenance and permitting. “We would require a letter of permission from the property owner,” planning staff said, describing the application requirements.

Key elements staff proposed or the committee discussed include: - A letter of permission from the property owner before a bin may be sited on a parcel; no more than two donation bins per parcel; bins must meet property setbacks and not interfere with drive aisles. - Bins shall not be located between the primary building and the roadway and must be located no further than 20 feet from the primary building, a placement rule staff said would keep bins to the side or rear of a building. - Existing donation bins would be required to obtain a permit within 90 days of the ordinance’s effective…