Votes at a glance: Community Development and Joint Finance committee actions, April 14, 2025

The Community Development Committee and joint Community Development/Finance meeting on April 14, 2025, considered eight community development agenda items and a series of finance actions. The committee recorded motions and took action on all items listed on the agenda. Below is a summary of each formal action as recorded in the meeting minutes and transcript.

Votes at a glance

1) Approval of minutes (Community Development, 03/31/2025) - Outcome: Approved. Motion moved and seconded; recorded as carried.

2) Public hearing and committee report: placement of 33.27 acres of farmland in an agricultural district (Gregory R. and Karen F. Schlechter) - Action: Legislation to be drawn authorizing placement of 33.27 acres in an agricultural district (property taxation matter processed in conjunction with the Lorain County Auditor under Ohio Revised Code procedures). - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried).

3) Rezoning: 620 East River Street (University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center) - Action: Legislation to be drawn authorizing rezoning from RTH residential to BG Business General. - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried). Planning Commission approved 04/01/2025 with no conditions.

4) Rezoning: 630 East River Street (University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center) - Action: Legislation to be drawn authorizing rezoning from RTH residential to BG Business General. - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried). Planning Commission approved 04/01/2025 with no conditions.

5) Rezoning: Six parcels at 131 William Street (Express Asphalt Solutions) - Action: Legislation to be drawn authorizing rezoning from residential household to light industrial (L-1). - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried). Planning Commission approved 04/01/2025 with no conditions.

6) Conditional use permit: 910 Taylor Street, Unit C (JDJ Mobile Entertainment / Jeremy Moen) - Action: Ordinance approving conditional use permit for personal services (office, recording studio, video/showcase and related activities) in the indicated industrial zoning as a conditional use. Staff noted parking as a condition of the staff report; applicant expects low on-site occupancy and appointment-based access. - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried). Planning Commission approved 04/01/2025 with no conditions.

7) Annexation: Petition for annexation of land including former Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church parcels (proponent: Attorney John D. Clark) - Action: Legislation to be drawn authorizing the mayor to enter into annexation agreements with Carlisle Township and Eaton Township for the parcels listed in the committee packet (parcel numbers quoted in the packet). - Outcome: Committee moved to draft ordinance and voted to advance (motion carried). County review and additional city approvals required.

8) Ordinance amendments: adult use marijuana facilities (city ordinance amendments) - Action: Legislation to amend city ordinances to accommodate adult use marijuana facilities, limiting such facilities to entities holding both medical and adult‑use licensure (no standalone adult‑use-only facilities). Committee report and Planning Commission recommended approval. - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried). Planning Commission approved 04/01/2025 with no conditions. The committee noted the city moratorium expires in June 2025.

Joint Community Development and Finance actions (select highlights)

9) Purchase of real estate: permanent parcel 0624010102011 (near Public Works Complex) - Action: Ordinance authorizing purchase of parcel 0624010102011; emergency clause requested to maintain project time frame. Purchase price discussed in committee as $4,000 for this parcel; other parcels were acquired previously from the land bank at no cost. - Outcome: Approved by joint committee (motion carried).

10) Easement for West Park (Columbia Gas service line) - Action: Ordinance authorizing easement for Columbia Gas to install a gas line to provide heat to the West Park maintenance building; emergency clause requested. - Outcome: Approved by joint committee (motion carried).

11) Gulf Road waterline replacement project (2025) - Action: Ordinance authorizing the mayor to advertise for bids and award contract to replace a 6‑inch water main on Gulf Road with a 12‑inch main; emergency clause requested to align with Ohio Public Works resurfacing schedule. - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried). Utilities had previously passed the project.

12) North Park roof project - Action: Ordinance authorizing the mayor to advertise for bids and award contract for roof and siding work at North Park; emergency clause requested. Estimated cost discussed in committee (approx. $408,960 as quoted by staff). Committee also discussed but did not advance an enclosure/indoor conversion option, noting much higher cost (rough rough estimate $1.0–1.5 million). - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried).

13) ODNR NatureWorks grant application (pocket park project) - Action: Ordinance authorizing the mayor to apply for and accept, if offered, a NatureWorks grant (25% local match). Staff said Lorain County allotment this cycle is $69,817 and the city would apply for that amount. - Outcome: Approved by committee (motion carried).

14) Finance items: delinquent utility accounts certification; disposition of city property; tree removal charges; bond anticipation notes; ARPA appropriation adjustments - Actions/Outcomes: Committee approved certification of delinquent utility accounts to the Lorain County Auditor; approved disposition of unfit city property (2014 Ford F-150 to be sold); approved tree removal charge certification to county; approved issuance/rollover of general obligation bond anticipation notes for Chestnut Commons Connector Road (approx. $5.2M to be rolled), a pumper truck and sanitation equipment; and approved several appropriation adjustments for ARPA-funded items and other cleanups. Motions were moved, seconded and recorded as carried.

Procedural notes - Many items advanced from Planning Commission (04/01/2025) with no conditions and were moved for drafting of ordinances by committee. In several cases the committee recorded votes as "Aye" and noted "Motion carries." Detailed roll-call tallies were not read aloud in the committee transcript.

If you need copies of the specific ordinance drafts, parcel identifiers, or the Planning Commission staff reports referenced at the meeting, those materials are part of the council packet and available from the City Clerk.