Officials also debated data center rules, an unpermitted Airbnb and drainage worries tied to a 16 acre property during three meetings in late July and August
Northfield Center Township trustees and zoning officials covered a wide range of issues during a special meeting July 27, a regular meeting Aug. 3 and a Zoning Commission meeting Aug. 10. Topics ranged from a new road levy to feral cat colonies and a disputed agricultural exemption. Here is a breakdown by category.
Roads and Levies
Trustees Move to Place 2 Mill Road Levy on Ballot
Trustees voted during the July 27 special meeting to pass Resolution 26/07-27A, declaring it necessary to levy an additional 2 mills for road construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair. The levy would generate an estimated $485,000 a year. State law now requires levies to run five years instead of being continuous, trustees said, so the township could not simply renew an existing levy at an increased rate.
Officials said the money would help cover major projects, including a future rebuild of Beechwood and Cherry Lane roads that could cost around $2 million. Trustees discussed budgeting $250,000 a year for mill and fill paving and $50,000 a year for a pavement rejuvenation treatment called Reclamite if the levy passes. That combination would keep the township on solid financial footing for road maintenance for roughly a decade, trustees said.
Trustees estimated the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $92 a year. During the Aug. 3 regular meeting, trustees formally passed Resolution 26/08-03B to proceed with placing the 2 mill levy question before voters at the Nov. 3 election, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 5705.19G.
Pavement Rejuvenation Contract Cost Increases
Trustees also approved Resolution 26/08-03A during the Aug. 3 meeting, amending an earlier contract with Pavement Tech Inc. The amendment raised the cost of an asphalt rejuvenating treatment applied to a dozen streets: Brookfield Lane, Brookledge Court, Brookline Court, Brookrun Court, Brookside Lane, Brookwood Court, Country View Parkway, Pleasantview Drive, Skylane Drive, Springcreek Road, Pomona Avenue, Forestwood Lane and Timberlane Drive. The project increased from $44,937.43 to $50,285.95.
Officials said the increase stemmed from Benedetti Road, which had never received the hot recycled treatment before. The road absorbed liquid faster than expected, requiring more material. Trustees compared the rejuvenating agent to a protectant applied to vinyl seats, saying it keeps pavement pliable so it resists cracking and can extend a road’s life by three or four years.
Nuisance Complaints
Trustees Field Complaints Over Growing Feral Cat Colonies
Residents raised concerns during the Aug. 3 meeting about feral cat colonies on Lowell Road and Bayberry Road. One resident said she has counted at least 30 cats in the area, with three new litters born recently. Neighbors said the cats and accompanying raccoons have caused significant property damage, including ruined patio cushions and mulch that had to be replaced at a cost of thousands of dollars.
Trustees said the township cannot enact ordinances that cities use to address the issue because of Ohio’s Goddard’s Law, which classifies feral cats that were once domesticated as protected animals. Officials said two property owners who have been feeding the cats have received letters asking them to stop, without a response. Trustees discussed reaching out to a trap, neuter and release volunteer who charges roughly $45 per cat and said they plan to contact the Summit County health director for guidance on health and safety concerns tied to the growing raccoon population.
Zoning Officials Continue Fight Over Unpermitted Airbnb
The Zoning Commission discussed a longstanding dispute Aug. 10 involving a property owner who has operated an unpermitted short term rental for roughly five years. The listing has changed names multiple times, most recently branding itself as a cabin experience near Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Officials said the property has 22 reviews and superhost status on the booking platform.
The zoning inspector said the owner has refused to let him inspect parts of the property and has not obtained required permits for a pool, patio and shed. Officials discussed sending a letter to the booking platform to flag the missing permit but acknowledged the platform is unlikely to take action. The health department previously shut down an earlier version of the operation that included rented camping tents. Officials said the owner’s attorney has instructed the township not to make further contact.
Zoning and Land Use
Trustees and Township Attorney Debate Oversight of Disputed Agricultural Property
Several residents from the Skyhaven and Oakmont area addressed trustees Aug. 3 about a 16 acre property where an owner has claimed an agricultural exemption from zoning requirements. Residents said heavy equipment has been operating on the site for months and expressed concern the work could affect drainage in a neighborhood with a history of flooding.
Jason Dodson, the township’s attorney, said nothing observed so far contradicts the owner’s affidavit describing plans for livestock, gardens and a farm stand. He said the situation would need to be monitored closely, since the same grading and soil work that is permitted for agricultural use could also be preparation for a house or business the owner has not disclosed. One trustee pushed back strongly, saying the township lacks a documented process for verifying claims made in the agricultural affidavit.
Trustees agreed to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Ohio EPA regarding potential wetland concerns on the property, as well as Summit County Soil and Water Conservation District leadership. Dodson said any stormwater or drainage issues affecting neighboring properties fall under county and possibly federal jurisdiction, separate from the township’s zoning oversight of the agricultural designation itself.
Township Business
Historical Society Seeks Help Funding Furnace Replacement
A representative of the Palmer House Historical Society of Old Northfield asked trustees for a donation during the Aug. 3 meeting. The group is raising money to replace a furnace damaged by flooding. The project also requires an estimated $3,000 in electrical upgrades before any furnace work can begin, since the existing panel is outdated and no longer meets code. The representative said neighboring communities have increased their annual donations this year given the added expense.
Trustees Approve Legal Counsel for Workers Compensation Claim
Trustees passed Resolution 26/08-03C during the Aug. 3 meeting, retaining the law firm Roetzel & Andress as special counsel to represent the township in a workers compensation claim at an hourly rate of $300.
Zoning Commission Business
Commission Sets Hearing on Recreational Vehicle Definition
The Zoning Commission voted Aug. 10 to schedule a public hearing for Sept. 14 to establish a formal definition of a recreational vehicle after the item was previously overlooked.
Officials Weigh Response to State Data Center Legislation
The zoning inspector briefed the commission on House Bill 646, which addresses local moratoriums on data centers. He said the township’s larger open parcels sit within its joint economic development district, complicating any zoning changes since those properties cannot be rezoned under the district’s terms. He noted a typical data center employs only three to five people, limiting the financial benefit to the township even if one were built. Officials did not take action but said they plan to continue researching the issue.
Commission Reviews Property Maintenance Code Gaps
The zoning inspector told commission members he plans to review the township’s maintenance code to address gaps involving items such as dirt and gravel piles left on residential properties for extended periods. Current language addresses overgrown grass and general unsightliness but lacks the specificity used in the township’s commercial and industrial codes. He said he will bring recommendations back to the commission at a future meeting.
FAQ
When would the new 2 mill road levy appear on the ballot? Trustees passed a resolution Aug. 3 to place the levy question before voters at the Nov. 3 election.
How much would the levy cost homeowners? Trustees estimated a cost of about $92 a year for every $100,000 of a home’s value.
Why can’t the township pass laws regulating feral cats like some cities do? Officials said Ohio’s Goddard’s Law classifies feral cats as domesticated animals that have turned feral, which limits what a township can do compared to cities with their own animal ordinances.
What is the status of the 16 acre property with the agricultural exemption? Township attorney Jason Dodson said nothing observed so far contradicts the owner’s agricultural affidavit, but trustees agreed to reach out to county and federal agencies over drainage and wetland concerns.
When will the Zoning Commission hold its hearing on defining recreational vehicles? The hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 6:45 p.m., ahead of the commission’s regular meeting that evening.
