Wednesday, February 24, 2021 • Vol. 14 No. 20 • FREE
Middlefield Village
Ohmans Present Senior Duplex Plans to P&Z
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
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By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
A preliminary proposal by the owners of Briar Hill Health Care Residence in Middlefield Village to create 28 independent senior rental units was discussed at the virtual village planning and zoning meeting Feb. 9. The development is planned for a 4.2-acre parcel that resulted from consolidating four long, narrow parcels on the southwest corner of the intersection of North State Street and Tare Creek Parkway. The consolidation was approved at a recent village planning commission meeting. The parcel, currently zoned for commercial development, needs to be rezoned to allow new construction of the 20 duplex homes. Eight units already exist in the buildings on the property. Chairman Scott Klein said the last time the commission met on the matter, the idea was to rezone the parcel as a residential planned urban development. When he asked why they are now discussing rezoning it for a senior residential community, village Zoning Inspector John Boksansky said he received the drawings of the development Feb. 8 and saw the density would be a problem for the village
Glimpse of Yesteryear page 3
Faith Matters page 5
Obituaries SUBMITTED
The preliminary site plan for 10 duplexes at the corner of South State Street and Tare Creek Parkway in Middlefield was presented by the owners of Briar Hill Health Care Residence at the Feb. 9 village planning and zoning meeting.
PUD description. A residential PUD limits density to four units an acre and the regulations include a requirement of a number of studies for development, he said. Senior residential community zoning has fewer regulations, he said. Village Administrator Leslie Gambosi-McCoy said Ohman and the architect also are concerned about the number of permitted units and zoning the parcel as a senior residential community would take care of that problem.
“You can do a custom PUD but, if we already have a code established to make it happen, my recommendation is to use what you have,” she said. Village Solicitor Tom Lee warned against making the zoning on the parcel too flexible. “When you start rezoning, you want to be careful you don’t open too many possibilities. You might produce the exact opposite result you want,” he said in support of an RPUD. “Residential zoning is more consistent with what you want. The
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Classifieds start on page 10
units you are proposing are kind of residential use, anyway.” Commission member Dave Dietrich recommended rezoning the parcel as a RPUD although, in the village zoning regulations, an RPUD requires a 20-acre site. “There is a way to work with the village solicitor on the more technical matters,” he said. Lee said the acreage requirement would be at the discretion of village council. See Ohmans • Page 9
East Geauga Kiwanis Gives the Gift of Reading
SUBMITTED
East Geauga Kiwanis Club recently gave first- and second-graders from Jordak Elementary, Burton Elementary and Ledgemont Elementary schools a literature book. The club wants to emphasize the importance of reading. Pictured are first-graders from Jordak Elementary in Middlefield Village.
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