The League of Women Voters of Licking County | The Reporting Project
OBSERVER REPORT
Government Body Observed: Licking County Planning Commission
Meeting Date: 02/26/2024
Meeting Details:
Attendance:
- Voting Member Attendance: 8
- Staff Attendance: 3
- Public Attendance (number of people): 25-30
Public Comment: Kristy Hawthorn of the SWCD shared a public notice from the EPA about a draft permit, “designed to allow the discharge of wastewater from sewage treatments in Central Ohio on an interim basis in order to facilitate rapid growth.” This permits the installation of small, temporary systems currently lacking regional wastewater and treatment facilities. Commissioner Bubb said that the Commissioners were aware of this program and had concerns about the removal and cleanup after the temporary use.
Old Business: None
New Business: All these were approved by unanimous votes:
SDR-24-1. Under a consent agenda, to replat farm lots 2B and 3A of Pleasant Chapel Acres in Madison Township.
Under a list of variances, zoning amendments, subdivision reviews and recommendations:
V-24-5. This and the next item were both submitted by Ohio Machinery for a property currently in use by Holmes Lumber located north of I-70 along the National Road. A request to allow for reducing the landscape buffer requirements from the Licking County 25-feet to the Etna Township 10-feet minimum. The plan is to subdivide the lot and to include functions of storing and shipping large equipment.
V-24-8. Request not to require sidewalks along Crum Drive and National Road SW in this part of Etna Twp.
V-24-12. Request to install a driveway to an existing lot of record that does not have access and fails to meet driveway spacing rules along a major collector roadway (8821 York Rd SW). Etna Twp.
V-24-14. Request to install a driveway as part of a lot split that fails to meet AASHTO safe stopping sight distance for a minor collector roadway (intersection of Techniglass and Purity Rd). Mary Ann Twp.
Z-23-28. A non-binding request to amend the Harrison Twp Zoning Resolution by proposed additions about small solar facilities and General Manufacturing Districts. Research on similar regulations for small solar facilities elsewhere provided a model. Discussion ensued about regulating large solar installations which come under state (not county) regulations. Exclusionary zones for such installations can be requested. Some townships want an exclusionary zone, others do not.
Z-24-1. Request for a non-binding recommendation regarding amending the Union Twp zoning map to rezone 3.498 acres located at 3141 Ridgely Tract Road from Agricultural District to General Business District.
Z-24-2. Request for a non-binding recommendation about the proposal by the Granville Township Zoning Commission to add an article about an Economic Overlay District along route 16. This extensive proposal drew numerous comments and suggestions from the planners, none of which they regarded as serious impediments. In fact, planners and others commended the Granville Zoning Commission for this work, especially for incorporating ideas from the Framework planning process. Approved with conditions.
SDP-22-8. Discussion of the Licking County Subdivision Regulations as applied to preliminary planning for a 51-house subdivision, the Reserve at Turtle Pond. This is at the former Indian Hills golf course along Rt. 16. Although the plan conforms with all regulations, and planners recommended approval without conditions, 15-20 residents of the adjacent Cherokee Trails subdivision spoke against approval.
Primary concerns are about limiting entry to the new subdivision to a road in Cherokee Trails which serves 110 houses that were built decades ago. This road is only 20 ft wide and has no curb or sidewalks. Residents are unhappy about safety along this road as it is, arguing that the additional houses will seriously strain the traffic. Two speakers also expressed concerns about the additional storm runoff from all the new impervious surfaces, reporting their current struggles with flooding on their property.
Commissioners and others in the room were sympathetic to these arguments. Discussion ensued about the need to revise the regulations around subdivisions. Commissioner Bubb said that similar situations are happening throughout the county as new subdivisions are placed along township roads that were never designed to cope with the density and traffic that will come with anticipated growth and development.
Next Meeting: March 25, 2024
Related documents, websites: Meeting Agenda and Packet
Observer: Rita Kipp
Submission Date: 02/27/2024
Reviewer: Karen Semer