2530 Fort Amanda Road Lima, Ohio 45804 (419) 991-8706
Board Members: Ottis
Newland, Mildred
Stewart, Brenda
Kattman, Lewis Neff
Shawnee Township Zoning Commission
Meeting of June 25, 2009
Vice Chairman Ottis
Newland called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
Members present:
Brenda Kattman
Ottis Newland
Lewis Neff
Mildred Stewart
Also Present: Ben Kenny, Development Coordinator,
WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc., Fremont, Ohio
Chris Seddelmeyer, Shawnee Township Trustee
Chris Seddelmeyer
was asked to explain how the Shawnee Township Comprehensive Land Use Plan came
to be commissioned by the Trustees.
She explained that the Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission director,
Thomas Mazur had urged Shawnee, as well as other townships, to create a
Comprehensive Plan in order to take advantage of various grants and programs.
When such funds become available, the Township must have a plan in place which
shows how such funds will be used in order to qualify.
A general discussion followed with many
questions fielded by Ben Kenny. Ben
was the principle author/drafter of the Comprehensive Plan. He spent many hours gathering information
and talking with area leaders. He
also guided the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee.
Lewis Neff asked if farms are supposed
to be a minimum of ten acres in the new Plan.
Ben indicated that this might be one way to preserve a low density
population in rural areas. While
there could be residences in rural areas, they would have to be on ten acre
lots. Lewis pointed
out
that this might be OK now, but down the road, we might regret having taking that
residential land out of production as farm land. Ben said that this was exactly the type
of discussion the Plan encourages.
Generally, the Plan does not make specific recommendations, but, rather,
suggests areas for consideration.
Brenda Kattman
asked who prioritizes the various items of the Plan. This would be the Trustees.
Zoning Inspector, John Gosnell, noted that the Zoning Resolution could be a vital
tool in implementing goals of the Plan in the future. Ben has agreed to work with the Zoning
Commission, within any limits set by the
Trustees, in recommending specific Zoning text to help implement parts of the
Plan.
Ottis Newland noted that, in a letter dated June 24, 2009, the
Developmental Controls Committee of the Lima-Allen County Regional Planning
Commission recommended that the Zoning Commission approve the Comprehensive
Plan. The Letter was signed by
Thomas M. Mazur, Executive Director.
A motion was made by Brenda Kattman to approve the Comprehensive Plan for recommendation
to the Board of Trustees.
Motion was seconded by Lewis Neff.
Vote was unanimous: 4 - 0.
Motion to adjourn was made by Brenda Kattman, seconded by Mildred Stewart. Vote was unanimous: 4 - 0.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
John R. Gosnell
Zoning Inspector
Shawnee Township
ZC03