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Residents urge trustees to preserve Zoning Board independence; planning staff outlines developments including Tallmadge proposal
Summary
During public comment at the Brimfield Board of Trustees meeting, speakers argued the Board of Zoning Appeals should remain independent of trustee vetting. Zoning staff reported several local development updates, including a possible 126-home Tallmadge project under regional planning review and the opening of Woodland Reserve.
At the start of public comment at the Oct. 1 Brimfield Board of Trustees meeting, Thomas Johnson, who identified himself as a candidate for township trustee and chair of the zoning board, urged trustees not to require that Zoning Board of Appeals (BZA) applicants be interviewed by trustees to ensure they “share your values.” Johnson said the ZBA is an independent body that conducts public hearings and forwards recommendations to trustees for action.
“I’m strictly opposed to that,” Johnson said, arguing that vetting new BZA members to match trustees’ values would produce “a committee of yes people” and reduce independent community input. His remarks were followed by Bill Anderson, a resident who said zoning was the primary issue at a well-attended candidate forum the night before and that the township previously solicited resident input via a mailed questionnaire. Anderson said the township received only about two dozen responses to that mailing and reiterated support for an independent zoning board.
Zoning staff provided updates during the meeting. Highlights included: - Meyer electric vehicle charging station: construction under way. - Menard’s electric vehicle charging station: on the agenda for the Board of Zoning Appeals. - Drug Mart: scheduled to open in mid-November (exact date to follow). - Woodland Reserve: grand opening scheduled for Oct. 14 at noon; food trucks and marketing to follow. - Housing activity: 11 new single-family homes and 11 new condos reported so far this year (22 total for the year). Staff also said the proposed Tallmadge development under regional planning would include about 126 homes if approved; the zoning official noted that project is still under regional planning review and would require approvals for conditional use in R-3 and R-4 districts.
Trustees did not take formal action on citizens’ requests during the public-comment period. The remarks are now part of the record as the township considers zoning appointments, zoning appeals and pending development applications.
Zoning staff asked the board to clarify future appointment and review processes for BZA candidates; the staff and several residents said public hearings are the appropriate venue for community input. The board did not adopt any new policy on BZA interviews at this meeting.
