7/12/2012 - West Side Leader
     

Following a lengthy process involving several public hearings, the Granger Township Board of Trustees decided to allow 50 acres of land to be rezoned into a Planned Development Overlay District (PDD).

The land, owned by Gino and Barbara Faciana, of FEI Properties Inc., is located on the north side of state Route 18 between Ridge and State roads and had been zoned R-1 (Residential) and C-2 (General Commercial).

In May, the township’s zoning commission recommended approval of the new district following a public hearing held by that group. Trustees held a public hearing June 13, which was continued twice, and trustees made their decision to allow the PDD during the conclusion of the hearing held July 5.

Trustees approved the PDD as proposed, with the addition of a deed restriction, said Trustee Richard Pace.

The constraint involves restricting development on the 5 acres nearest neighboring residences, he said, except to allow a connector road in the southeast quadrant between Akron-Medina Corporate Park and the western portion of the PDD.

The restriction should help to screen residents from the new development, he added, adding more than 600 feet of buffering.

During their regular meeting July 9, trustees moved quickly through the mostly routine items on their agenda, including:

• Medina County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Pries reported that June was a relatively busy month for policing in the township. One incident involved road signs being shot with paintballs, he noted. Also, a trespasser at the township’s maintenance garage on Stony Hill Road was reported. In both cases, the offenders were caught, he added.

• Service Director Mark Novak said this year’s road paving project is complete. Ditching is almost done, excluding a section of Beach Road, which should be done by the end of this week, he said. Also, roadside mowing is continuing, he added.

• Fiscal Officer Barbara Beach noted that she heard a couple of complaints from residents that they were not informed ahead of time that road paving would take place. Trustees said that they would work to see that signs are posted in advance of roadwork to be done by the township in the future.

• Fire Chief Jim Paulett reported his department responded to 11 fire calls and 26 EMS calls in June.

• Trustee Richard Pace noted funds for the Moving Ohio Forward Demolition Grant Program to remove blighted or abandoned structures are expected to last a second round. While up to this point, the township has not secured any funds from the program, he advised that trustees will make efforts to do so if they become aware of any interest in the township.

• Trustees approved renewing property and liability insurance at a cost of $26,001.

• Trustees approved spending $45 to allow Beach to attend an Ohio Township Association summer session in Rootstown.

The next trustees’ meeting, normally held the fourth Monday of the month, is instead scheduled for Thursday, July 26, at 4 p.m. in the Township Administration Building, located at 3717 Ridge Road.

• Akron mayor addresses ‘hacking’ attack
• Parades, services planned for Memorial Day
• APS drops Digital Academy sponsorship
• County Council committee moves ADM levy forward
• Four men honored for bravery following April car crash
• Bath applying for grant to fund police officer position
• Blighted Copley property razed; six others to follow
• Sharon preparing for Memorial Day events
• Akron Planning Commission OKs plans for new grocery
• West Side News & Notes