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Boston Heights Overlook

This is a publication of Boston Heights Overlook. Not an official public document by, of or for the Village of Boston Heights OH.

*[All council members were present, as were Mayor Ray McFall, Clerk/Treasurer Carol Zeman, Engineer Steve Schreiber & Solicitor Russ Pry.]

*[Councilor Cheung noted certain corrections in the minutes.]

*[Mayor McFall noted that Pete Henderson, of the Cuyahoga Valley Communities Council, had sent out letters to area legislators, on behalf of that body, objecting to the placement of an Army Reserve Center in Boston Heights.]

*[The Mayor also gave the fall schedule: Hallowe'en Party, 26 October 1-3PM, for village children, at the Fire Station; Trick-or-Treat, 31 October 6-8PM; Santa Deliveries, 15 December after 12 noon. For deliveries by Santa Claus to village children, bring wrapped presents to the Village Hall.]

*[Mike Kaplan (President) and Pete Henderson, of the Cuyahoga Valley Communities Council, briefed the Council & citizens on the activities of this body. Our Councilor Annette Miller acts as Vice-President of the CVCC. The CVCC acts as a coordinating organization for the communities in and around the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, addressing problems that include storm water management, deer population, gypsy moths, scenic byways, and solid waste disposal concerns. In response to a question from Councilor Terry Slane, Mr. Kaplan noted that deer population control is still under study by the CVNP, and remarked that only the Cleveland Metroparks had made any progress in this area, by "harvesting" about 1350 deer so far. Mr. Kaplan also stated, in response to a question from Councilor Mike Cheung, that the CVCC may further consider the Army Reserve Center issue at its next board meeting.]

*[Vicki Soukup, president of the Hudson City Schools Board of Education, spoke in favor of the proposed sales tax increase, which will be on the ballot on 5 November.]

*[Ms. Sara Fenderbosch, of Rainbowers Gallery at 7720 Olde 8 Rd, re-read her 21 May letter objecting to the off-again on-again proposed rezoning of her commercial property to RESidential. She also expressed her unhappiness at not being promptly informed about the latest change.]

*[A trustee of the Papes Farm, at 581 Hines Hill Road, expressed her hope that the rezoning project would finally be completed, in order to expedite the sale of that property. The rezoning proposal would change the Papes Farm from R-1 (residential) to OP (office professional).]

*[Rob Robinson, part owner of the former Lucerne factory at 7600 Olde 8 Rd, also objected to off-again on-again proposed rezoning of his commercial property, in this case from I-1 (light industrial) to RESidential. Solicitor Russ Pry explained that all such changes would be subject to so-called "grandfathering" (ORC 71.315), whereby newly non-conforming uses can continue, even across sale of the property in question, so long as the use is not interrupted for a specified period of time. The Solicitor stated his opinion that, in this case, the old I-1 zoning rules would continue to apply to this property.]

*[Tony Vizmeg, a prospective buyer of the Papes Farm at 581 Hines Hills Rd, objected to what he perceived as further restrictions in proposed OP (office professional) zoning. (Note: Presumably these are the proposed changes defining and controlling accessory and conditional uses). Councilor Cheung noted that Mr. Vizmeg had been present at the previous PC/BZA meeting but had not objected during the discussion of that issue. Mr. Vizmeg agreed, but said he was objecting now. Various Papes Farm Trustees then also objected on this same score, and again called for swift passage of the zoning plan. Councilor Cheung noted that he had hoped to package the zoning plan, with proposed amendments, for consideration this evening but was unable to do so (apparently for technical legal reasons). Solicitor Pry noted that comprehensive zoning changes are complex matters, and take time; he further noted that the Papes Farm had been R-1 (residential) for decades, and that the owners could have requested a specific zoning change at any time. The Papes Trustees complained that various proposals for use of that land had not been encouraged by the village, especially the proposed Senior Citizens' Planned Development. Solicitor Pry stated that the Village had long ago rescinded any provision for multi-family or high-density residential zoning, as a matter of policy. Mayor McFall mentioned that the comprehensive zoning plan was not likely to be considered by Council before its December meeting. Councilor Terry Slane noted that the plan, with amendments, was to be re-considered by the PC/BZA committee, and probably subject to another public hearing. The Papes Trustees stated their plan to ask for a specific zoning change for their property; the Solicitor suggested that they do so promptly, since even that is subject to a lengthy process. Councilor Cheung suggested that their request would be more likely to be considered favorably if it was in accordance with the proposed zoning plan (i.e. for O-1 rather than B-1 zoning).]

ORDINANCE M-2002 [Third Reading] [Returned to PC/BZA]	AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PLAN CONTAINED IN THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS. THIRD READING [Councilor Terry Slane moved to returned this matter to the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, for further consideration. So approved by Council, with Councilor Mike Cheung abstaining.]
RESOLUTION U-2002 [passed as Resolution 22-2002]	A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE U.S. ARMY'S PROPOSED PURCHASE OF PROPERTY IN THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ARMY RESERVE TRAINING CENTER. [Councilor Cheung moved to add language to the resolution that referred to the proximity of the proposed Army Reserve Center to the National Park. This amendment was approved, with Councilor Hudson abstaining. The amended resolution was then approved by Council, with Councilor Hudson again abstaining. Click here for this Resolution.]
RESOLUTION W-2002 [passed as Resolution 23-2002]	A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR. [Courtesy of C/T Zeman, here is a brief summary of these property taxes.] Fund/Levy Date/Inside Millage $ Est.2003 General Fund Inside 1.80 $ 99,810 Fire Levy 2 Nov 1999 1.75 $ 86,248 Capital Projects Inside 0.30 $ 16,635 Road & Bridge 6 Nov 2001 3.00 $166,349

*[Councilor Cheung reported that the Planning Commission/BZA had met on 2 October 2002 and had there approved a materials variance for a motorcycle dealership building, and approved a new building in the Ledgeview Girl Scout Camp. He also stated that the PC/BZA had again proposed amendments to the proposed zoning plan.]

*[Ms. Kathryn Holsopple, of Wolcott Drive, asked for confirmation that Issue 2 money had been denied the village for water and paving projects. This was confirmed by the Council. (Note: see last month's notes for details on this matter.) Ms. Holsopple also asked about the status of the Army Reserve Center project; the Mayor stated that, to his knowledge, the Army still expected to go ahead with it. He further noted that Mr. Doug Smith had written a letter on the matter, presumably objecting to area legislators, and that a copy would be posted at the Village Hall.]