6/7/2012 - West Side Leader
     

The Bath Township trustees approved rezoning of a property along Medina Road from Single-Family Residential to Restricted Business (B-4).

Trustees approved the unusual change at the regular June 4 meeting. Trustee Elaina Goodrich said it was only the second time she could remember trustees approving a change in zoning for a single property. The first, she said, was the change from Residential to B-4 of the parcel just to the east of the one now approved for a change.

The 4.8-acre parcel at 4655 Medina Road is just east of Hametown Road and borders residential property to the north. The original rezoning request included the entire parcel, but a modification excluded a strip along the northern boundary of the property that will remain Single-Family Residential and provide a buffer between the residential and business properties, trustees said.

Trustee Jim Nelson noted a previous request to rezone the property was denied. The same concerns did not exist with the second request, he said.

“We’ve looked into each of the concerns expressed, and we feel this is the best use for the property and can see no reason not [to approve the change],” Nelson said.

Goodrich also noted the last two comprehensive land-use plans recommended the property be zoned for business use. In addition, the modified request was recommended for approval by the township Zoning Commission and approved by Summit County Planning.

In other zoning news, Zoning Inspector William Funk reported to trustees the Appearance Review Commission has recommended approval of new signs for JoAnn Fabrics and D’Agnese Bistro Restaurant, 1925 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road. In addition, the Board of Zoning Appeals approved a deck for Gasoline Alley, an outdoor farmers’ market to operate June through August at the Akron General Health and Wellness Center, an oversized accessory structure at 2802 Boltz Road and a variance to allow a portion of the building at 700 Ghent Road to be used as offices for personal services, Funk said.

Trustees also made two appointments to the township External Audit Committee. Bath resident Timothy Corman, chief financial officer of Weltman, Weinberg and Reis Co. LPA, was appointed to a five-year term through March 21, 2017. Laura Whitfield will fill the remainder of a term left vacant by the resignation of Kevin Crum, serving through March 31, 2013. Goodrich voted no on Whitfield’s appointment. Although Whitfield was a qualified candidate, she works for the same firm as Corman, Goodrich said.

Trustees approved payment of $162,811 to Horton Emergency Vehicles for a new ambulance. Fire Chief Walter Hower said members of the fire department will travel to Horton to inspect the new vehicle before he will authorize payment.

Park Director Michael Rorar reported park personnel, after much searching, have been unable to find a suspected coyote den along a Bath Nature Preserve trail. Park personnel have been searching for coyotes and the suspected den since a May 18 attack on a leashed dog. The dog, trailing 12 feet behind its owner on the trail, suffered one puncture wound on its rear, Rorar said. The dog’s owner reported the animal is “recovering nicely” from its injury. Rorar again asked Nature Preserve visitors to be aware of their surroundings and shorten dog leashes to no more than eight feet, as coyotes and wild dogs fear humans.

In other business, trustees:

• approved payment of $157,391 in requisitions and purchase orders;

• noted the Everett Road bridge over Interstate 77 will close June 15 for 75 days for bridge deck replacement and widening;

• removed Matt Sandmann from the fire department roster effective June 4; and

• set the 2013 budget hearing and special meeting for July 9 at 9:30 a.m.

The Bath trustees next will meet June 18 at 4 p.m. in the trustees’ meeting room on the lower level of the Bath Administration Building, 3864 W. Bath Road.

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