Zoning administrator reports 2024 revenues, denied variances and new enforcement actions; zoning commission meeting set for Feb. 5

Dale, Morgan Township’s zoning administrator, told trustees on Jan. 27 that the township recorded $10,166 in zoning revenue in 2024 from 65 zoning transactions and that three new certificates had been approved since the new year.

“You have there have been 3 new certificates approved since the New Year,” Dale said, adding that zoning revenue for 2024 was "$10,166" and that accessory-structure certificates accounted for the largest share.

Dale reported two area-variance requests heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 9 were denied. One denial concerned a lot split that would have taken a 3-acre parcel into two 1.5-acre parcels; the township’s minimum lot size is 3 acres. The other denial related to a setback reduction where an existing detached garage had been expanded without the proper certificate, reducing the side-yard setback from 30 to 15 feet.

A new application for an area variance at 2266 California Road has been scheduled for a Feb. 20 hearing, Dale said. Notices will be published legally and posted on the township Facebook page and web calendar.

Dale also discussed two enforcement matters. A property at 6410 Censy Brook Mill Road (described as near a site with tractor trailers) is being handled by the prosecutor’s office; an official complaint is expected to be filed the week after the meeting. Separately, a Bell Road case appears headed to a default judgment after the property owner did not respond to a complaint; if the judgment is entered, the matter will return to the trustees to determine cleanup and cost recovery options.

Dale said the zoning commission will meet Feb. 5; topics will include driveway placement and shared-drive approaches for large-parcel subdivisions, group-home definitions and placement, and a review of business-district regulations (B-1, B-2, B-3) to balance rural character with development opportunities. He noted at least two recent inquiries about group homes; one inquiry lacked property specifics, and a second involved a facility offering therapy and classes that could require conditional-use review or Board of Zoning Appeals action.

Two BZA hearings on Jan. 9 resulted in denials and certified appeal rights were mailed to the applicants, Dale said. He also reported that he will attend the Ohio Township Association conference on Jan. 29–31.

Dale asked trustees for an executive session later in the meeting for matters required to be kept confidential; the request was granted by the trustees.

Background: the zoning administrator’s report, scheduled hearings and enforcement referrals outline the next procedural steps for applicants and enforcement actions. The Feb. 5 Zoning Commission meeting and the Feb. 20 BZA hearing are the next public opportunities for review and comment.