Council approves multiple zoning, budget and annexation measures; several items set for public hearings

North Canton City Council members on March 10 advanced and, in several cases, adopted a package of land‑use, fiscal and administrative measures that included first readings of two rezoning ordinances, the passage of a 2025 appropriations ordinance under suspension of rules, and final approval of an annexation and a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) continuation.

The council moved quickly through agenda items, reading titles and handling votes largely by voice. The council approved first readings for two rezoning ordinances: one to reclassify a quarter‑acre parcel near Main Street to Main Street North to align it with adjacent Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) parcels, and a second to rezone a 2.6‑acre parcel owned by Ellsworth Auto Body from residential to General Business B to allow business expansion. Both measures passed their first reading by voice vote.

Councilors set two other rezoning items for public hearings on Monday, April 14: an ordinance to vacate portions of Park Avenue Northeast and Whitworth Street Northeast (Ordinance 13‑20‑25) and a rezoning to Park and Institutional for a property the transcript identifies as school district land (Ordinance 19‑20‑25). For both items the council voted to set public hearings and to postpone further consideration until after those hearings.

On financial and administrative business, the council adopted Ordinance 22‑20‑25, authorizing appropriations for city operations for 2025; the administration said the measure included a net request of about $255,000 for several specific items, including a building department computer ($3,000), an insurance reimbursement for a police vehicle (about $10,000) and other smaller adjustments. The council passed the ordinance after suspending the three‑reading rule.

The council also adopted Ordinance 20‑20‑25 continuing the Community Reinvestment Area tax incentive agreement for 13‑03 to 13‑05 North Main Street under suspension of rules and accepted the annexation of six parcels totaling 2.79 acres owned by the city, declared as an emergency (Ordinance 21‑20‑25). Resolution 23‑20‑25 authorizing the North Canton CIC to post a request for proposals for city‑owned properties passed under suspension; Resolution 24‑20‑25 (a statement of council support for State Issue 2, the state capital improvement program renewal on the May 6 ballot) passed first reading; Resolution 25‑20‑25 supporting an administration decision to prohibit parking on Orchard Avenue Northeast in front of a neighboring facility also passed its initial reading.

Votes were conducted by voice; the transcript records the council calling for aye/ opposed responses and indicates motions carried. Where the record shows suspension of rules, the council voted to suspend the three‑reading requirement before adopting the ordinance or resolution in question.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 01‑20‑25: Rezone one parcel to Main Street North (first reading) — motion carried (voice vote). Referenced planning code: chapter 11.82 (planning and zoning code). - Ordinance 02‑20‑25: Rezone Ellsworth Auto Body parcel to General Business B (first reading) — motion carried (voice vote). - Ordinance 13‑20‑25: Vacation of portion of Park Ave NE and portion of Whitworth St NE — public hearing set for April 14; consideration postponed until after hearing. - Ordinance 19‑20‑25: Rezone parcel to Park and Institutional (school district gift property) — public hearing set for April 14; consideration postponed until after hearing; planning commission recorded one opposing vote on conditional use, per the transcript. - Ordinance 20‑20‑25: Continue Community Reinvestment Area tax incentive agreement for 13‑03–13‑05 North Main Street — adopted under suspension of rules (emergency declared). - Ordinance 21‑20‑25: Accept annexation of six city parcels (2.79 acres) in Jackson Township — adopted under suspension of rules (emergency declared). - Ordinance 22‑20‑25: 2025 appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures — adopted under suspension of rules; the administration listed a net request around $255,000 and multiple line items described at the meeting. - Resolution 23‑20‑25: Authorize North Canton CIC to post an RFP for city‑owned property — adopted under suspension of rules. - Resolution 24‑20‑25: Council support for State Issue 2 (state capital improvement program renewal) — first reading adopted; council said the city expects to pursue state funding opportunities tied to project needs. - Resolution 25‑20‑25: Support administration’s prohibition of parking on Orchard Ave NE and Charlotte St NE in front of adjacent facility — adopted on first reading.

What council said and next steps City staff told the council the rezoning to Main Street North would better position a small, quarter‑acre parcel and adjacent CIC parcels for marketing and sale, and that an RFP for all five Main Street properties is active. Jim Ellsworth, identified himself and his ownership of Ellsworth Auto Body, told council he plans to expand his business if the rezoning for his parcel is approved. Several items will return to council after public hearings on April 14.

The minutes and three‑reading suspensions mean several measures are effective sooner than a normal multi‑reading process; the administration and council signaled they will follow up with plan‑review constraints (for example, whether a vacated alley could be reopened will be addressed at plan review).

A full roll‑call tally was not recorded in the meeting transcript; votes were entered by voice and described in the minutes as carried or adopted with the council suspending formal rules where noted.