Planning commission backs temporary suspension of by‑right cluster subdivisions

The North Ridgeville Regional Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend Ordinance 2025‑154, which would suspend by‑right cluster subdivisions in the R‑1 Residence District while the city completes a revision of its zoning code.

Planning and Development Director Lieber told the commission the change is intended as an interim measure while staff finishes a near‑complete code rewrite. Lieber said cluster provisions, originally adopted to encourage usable open space, have increasingly resulted in developments in which the required 20% "open space" consists largely of wetlands, narrow detention strips and stormwater features rather than functional recreation areas. Requiring cluster‑style projects to move through a planned unit development/rezoning process would give the city and the commission greater control over density, housing types and amenity quality, he said.

Lieber emphasized that the ordinance would not alter previously approved cluster projects or make existing clusters nonconforming; it would preserve existing approvals while preventing new by‑right cluster approvals until the new code is adopted. A commissioner who supported the measure called it "overdue," and another commissioner noted that passive open space (wetlands and ponds) is valuable but that it should not be the only type of amenity used to meet open‑space requirements.

The commission voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance to City Council; the measure will proceed through the council legislative process for final action.