Legislative Highlights From Monday, May 15, 2023
ORDINANCE NO. 131-2023 authorizing the Mayor to accept the Continuum of Care Planning Grant funds with assurances and certifications with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; authorizing the Director of Planning and Urban Development to enter into all necessary contracts for the operation and term of the programs; and declaring an emergency.
ORDINANCE NO. 140-2023 amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code”, Article 8 “On-Premises Exterior Signs” and Article 11 “Board of Zoning Appeals” regarding ground signs in residential areas; and declaring an emergency.
This change allows community institutions such as schools, parks, churches, and neighborhood community centers located in residential districts to install modestly sized ground signs in their front yards. Under the current Zoning Code, ground signs for non-dwelling uses in residential districts are only allowed behind the building line. Locating a ground sign behind the building line can often be impractical for a church, school, or park, for example, because it does not allow for enough visibility of the sign. As a result, these institutions often request a variance to locate the sign within the front yard setback. The text changes align the requirements for community institutions with the requirements that apply to establishments in business districts. Ground signs will still be restricted in height and located a minimum distance from the right-of-way so as not to obstruct the necessary view of traffic on the street. In addition, the text change slightly increases the allowable area for a non-dwelling sign in a residential district. The proposed change increases the allowable sign size from thirty square feet to thirty-two square feet. Thirty-two square feet is the typical four-foot by eight-foot size of many signage panel materials used by sign fabricators.
View more information about the Zoning Division here.
ORDINANCE NO. 142-2023 authorizing the Director of Finance, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with the Summit County Historical Society for the City of Akron to provide $100,000.00 in financial assistance for improvements to the John Brown House campus; and declaring an emergency. View more information about the John Brown House here.
ORDINANCE NO. 144-2023 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to file an application for and, if awarded, accept and expend grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Opportunity; and declaring an emergency. If awarded, this grant funding will be used to develop an expansive electric vehicle charging station network that provides equitable access to the benefits of such a network. View the information presented during the Public Utilities & Green Committee meeting here.
ORDINANCE NO. 146-2023 authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract or contracts with Akron Parks Collaborative for professional and supplemental services related to the improvements of certain parks in the City of Akron; and declaring an emergency. Akron Parks Collaborative will work with the City of Akron to choose 1-2 city parks per year that will be improved and activated through collaboration, community engagement and thoughtful design, reflecting the neighborhood's personality and desires.
Each of these Ordinances passed with a vote of Ayes: 10, Nays: 0
(Holland, Kammer, and Sommerville were absent)
Remember...
You can see all the legislation discussed during the meeting at: https://onlinedocs.akronohio.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/
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