A Trail, a Day Center and Tougher Zoning Rules
Northfield Center Township has asked Summit Metro Parks to partner on a new trail through the Conservancy District, with a long term link to the Bike & Hike Trail. The proposal topped a busy fall across four township meetings. The Board of Zoning Appeals approved an adult day center for seniors on Brandywine Road. Trustees approved a website upgrade, trimmed the holiday lights bill and began rewriting how the township enforces zoning violations. The Zoning Commission took aim at dirt piles in yards and started drafting rules for murals.
Township Trustees
Trustees Russ Mazzola, Gene Lim and Rich Reville oversee the township. Lim was absent Oct. 5, so measures that night passed 2 to 0. All three attended the Oct. 20 special meeting.
Oct. 5: Holiday Lights Trimmed to $2,838
Resolution 26/10-05 E originally called for Avery Enterprise to install Christmas lights at the Old Town Hall for $4,118. The service department offered to light the large pine tree in the township park with spotlights. That saves the $1,280 it would cost to string lights on the tree.
Trustees amended the resolution to $2,838 and approved it. Township crews will also place a tree in the gazebo, and Avery Enterprise will light the outside.
A second quote, Resolution 26/10-05 F, would have spent $1,800 on lighting for trees near the CVS. Trustees tabled it after the service department said it could do the job for far less.
The township owns its lights, and Avery Enterprise hangs, maintains and stores them. Officials are exploring permanent, color changing lights for the Old Town Hall. Outlining the building’s windows remains the biggest hurdle, they said.
Oct. 5: Leaf Disposal, Salt and Equipment
Resolution 26/10-05 A allows leaves from the 2026 pickup program to go to Neid’s Garden Center for up to $10,000. Resolution 26/10-05 B makes Sagamore Soils on Highland Road a backup site for up to $2,000. Both come from Fund 01-L-03.
Crews are gearing up for leaf collection and have enough staff for now. Holiday lights will be up before leaf work starts. Staff are preparing a postcard explaining leaf pickup rules for residents.
Trustees approved 200 tons of road salt from Cargill for up to $15,000. Officials said another 200 tons will be bought next year. They also approved a smooth 24 inch excavator bucket from Ohio Cat for up to $1,750. The service department said the smaller bucket is safer and more efficient for pipe work and sinkholes.
Trustees also authorized vouchers totaling $341,030.27 and acknowledged the September bank reconciliation.
Oct. 5: Metro Parks Trail Talks Advance
Trustees reported meeting with the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) board about a walking path behind Giant Eagle and Lowe’s. The township has worked with Summit Metro Parks on the idea for three or four years.
Mazzola presented the proposal to the Summit Metro Parks board on Oct. 13, according to a township post. The trail would run through the Conservancy District, which Macedonia and Northfield Center Township own jointly. The township asked Metro Parks to consider building and maintaining it.
The concept calls for building the trail in phases rather than all at once. Its long term goal is a connection to the existing Bike & Hike Trail. The township post says the project could benefit about 30,000 residents in the Nordonia Hills area.
Two maps show the options. The first is a loop through the Conservancy District. It has trailhead parking at The Crossing at Golden Link and trail access at Northfield Avenue. Access points would also connect to Olde 8 Road, Kathy Lane and Shady Lane. A path along the power lines would link west to the Bike & Hike Trail, which requires six easements.
The second map adds a Phase 2 extension south along Interstate 271 that rejoins the Bike & Hike Trail near All Saints Cemetery. That route would need highway right of way, a private easement and a river crossing.
The path would be a walkway, likely starting as dirt and upgraded to stone or asphalt as traffic grows. The township hopes to add fitness equipment and will seek Ohio Department of Natural Resources grants. Trustees said Macedonia’s JEDD board supports the idea.
The township expects to meet with Metro Parks again in a few weeks, after the park board reviews the proposal.
Oct. 5: Murals, Agendas and Zoning Updates
Mazzola praised a new mural painted by high school art students on the former guitar store building. The building also received tuckpointing and fresh paint. He noted the zoning book does not mention murals and asked the Zoning Commission to consider a definition.
Mazzola also drafted a procedure clarifying who prepares, approves and publishes township agendas. Director of Services Tim Black will review it.
Zoning Inspector Scott Peters said permits usually go out within about three days. About 14 were issued in September.
Trustees scheduled a public hearing for Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:45 p.m. on a zoning text change defining recreational vehicles. The regular meeting follows.
Oct. 20: Website Upgrade Approved, AI Minutes Tabled
Trustees voted 3 to 0 to accept the resignation of service department employee Dale Duttko, effective Oct. 23. They also voted to post the opening, which they expect to fill as a facilities manager.
Trustees approved Resolution 26/10-20 A, a three year Town Web contract for website upgrades and setup. The total cost is $8,560: $4,320 the first year and $2,120 in each of the next two years. The contract runs through April 1, 2029. Trustees said earlier in the month that the upgrade brings the township into ADA compliance, which is required by 2028.
Resolution 26/10-20 B would have approved the Clerk Minutes program at $99 per month, or $1,188 a year. The program uses artificial intelligence to draft meeting minutes. Staff testing it said it summarizes well but needs heavy editing. Trustees voted 3 to 0 to table it so testing can continue.
Oct. 20: Rewriting Zoning Enforcement
Most of the special meeting focused on a new zoning violation policy. Township attorney Jason Dodson of Roetzel & Andress attended with attorneys from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.
Reville wrote the first draft, and Lim and Mazzola added revisions. Dodson said the draft blends two separate processes: the zoning resolution and the property maintenance code.
Dodson said the policy missed required notice steps. If certified mail goes unclaimed, regular mail with a certificate of mailing must follow. Posting notice on a property also requires a newspaper legal notice. One official estimated each notice costs about $250. Dodson recommended matching the zoning code’s notice rules to the maintenance code.
Oct. 20: Which Court Handles What
Zoning cases have one path. Since a state law change about a year ago, injunctions and civil penalties under Section 519.99 must go to Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Property maintenance cases are different. Ohio law provides no civil penalty for those violations. A criminal minor misdemeanor carrying fines up to $150 per day is possible in Stow Municipal Court. Dodson said Section 411 of the maintenance code should be scrapped because its civil penalties cannot be enforced. The township can still recover enforcement and cleanup costs.
Dodson said common pleas injunctions are generally the more effective tool. Officials noted it is unclear who would prosecute township cases in Stow.
Oct. 20: Two Notices, 60 Days
Dodson favored 30 days to fix a violation instead of 15. Shorter windows give a judge reason to toss a case, he said. The process taking shape is a notice, 30 days, a second notice and 30 more days before referral.
The zoning inspector keeps discretion for hardships like long lead times on windows or siding. Exceptions must be documented and applied consistently. Owners can appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Dodson suggested one resolution that adopts the policy and lets the inspector refer cases without a separate vote each time. He warned that trustees do not always agree on enforcement. Trustees still favored the idea and changed “shall” refer to “may” refer.
Attorneys said photos supporting a case must be recent, since a year is too long. Photos from a neighbor’s property with permission are allowed, though that can spark disputes.
One trustee pointed to an Olde Eight Road property with two junk vehicles, a complaint dating to March 2025. The trustee called the 19 month wait “really inexcusable.” Officials cited trouble identifying the owner and staff turnover. The case is now with Roetzel & Andress.
The zoning department will issue a monthly, color coded violations report. Dodson will draft the updated policy, maintenance code revisions, a zoning code notice change and an adopting resolution.
Zoning
Sept. 24: Adult Day Center Approved
The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 5 to 0 to grant a conditional/similar use permit to Living A Dream Adult Day, LLC. Owner Tashua Fortson plans to open an adult day center for seniors, including people with dementia. The site is on Brandywine Road next to the CVS and near a school.
Members present were Chair Margaret Boeing, Lisa Clark, Vern Rudder, John Romanik and Jim Lamb. Rudder moved to approve, and Romanik seconded.
Fortson’s Twinsburg program serves adults with developmental disabilities. The new center will start with private pay clients. She plans to apply for Medicaid certification when a moratorium lifts in November.
A full time registered nurse works for the company, and staff are certified to give medications. The center will have door alarms, cameras, an AED and a room to isolate sick clients. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Two minivans and a wheelchair van will handle scheduled morning pickups, usually by 9 a.m. Fortson said traffic will be light. The fire department will set capacity.
Five people spoke in favor and no one opposed. Supporters included a Twinsburg salon owner, the company’s nurse, a Northfield Center social worker and a Macedonia woman. Fortson’s husband also spoke. Board members said the use is similar to a congregate care facility, a conditional use in that zone.
At the hearing, Fortson said she hoped to open Nov. 1 after obtaining a certificate of occupancy. A grand opening is now set for Thursday, Nov. 5, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Related Coverage: New Adult Day Program for Seniors Opens in Northfield Ohio
Sept. 24: Spitzer Parking Dispute Goes to Attorneys
Peters and Township Secretary Judy Flauto updated the board on Spitzer’s Route 82 property. A temporary gravel lot behind the new service bays must be hard surfaced, officials said.
The property is now split into two county parcels. A proposed parking expansion would extend onto the parcel with no principal building, which is not allowed. Peters said the company has not agreed to place part of the property in the JEDD. The matter is with attorneys for both sides.
Oct. 12: Dirt Piles and Building Debris
The Zoning Commission recommended adding mounds of dirt, gravel and building debris to Article V, Section 5.04, Letter D of the Exterior Maintenance Code. That section requires yards to be free of materials causing hazards or general unsightliness.
Members chose “building debris” over “building materials.” A pile of lumber waiting for a project should not count as a violation, one member said. Lisa Schade moved the recommendation, and Robert Stokes seconded. It passed 4 to 0 and now goes to trustees.
Chair Dan Schade and John Campbell also attended. Samantha Salamon was absent.
Oct. 12: Mural Rules and Unused I-2 District
Members reviewed Mazzola’s draft mural definition. It treats a mural as decorative artwork on an exterior wall. A mural with advertising or business identification would be regulated as a sign.
Campbell moved to hold a work session on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m., followed by the regular meeting. The motion passed. Members will also review a one page mural regulation from Amherst.
An audit found the zoning code lists an I-2 industrial district that does not appear on the map. Members agreed to remove every I-2 reference.
Oct. 12: South End Tavern and Enforcement Cases
A prospective buyer wants to turn the South End Tavern into a restaurant. The front acre is commercial, while the back is residential. A storage building in back may need a variance. Driveway changes may also be required when Olde Eight Road is widened.
Two cases are with township attorneys. One involves vehicles in a backyard on Olde Eight Road, and the other a condemned house on East Twinsburg Road.
A couple who recently bought an Olde Eight Road home replaced a worn asphalt driveway with gravel. Township rules require hard surfaced driveways. Peters is working with the homeowners on a timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northfield Center building a trail to the Bike & Hike Trail?
The township asked Summit Metro Parks to consider building a phased trail through the Conservancy District. The long term goal is a connection to the Bike & Hike Trail.
Where would the Northfield Center trail have parking?
The conceptual maps show trailhead parking at The Crossing at Golden Link. Access points would connect to Northfield Avenue, Olde 8 Road, Kathy Lane and Shady Lane.
What adult day center is opening in Northfield Center?
Living A Dream Adult Day, LLC won approval to open a center for seniors, including those with dementia, on Brandywine Road. The owner hopes to open Nov. 1.
How long will Northfield Center property owners have to fix zoning violations?
The proposed policy allows 30 days after a first notice and 30 days after a second notice before a case goes to attorneys.
Are dirt piles allowed in Northfield Center yards?
The Zoning Commission recommended adding dirt mounds, gravel and building debris to the maintenance code. Trustees must still approve it.
