Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2023 Issue #34

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Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Welcome our new subscribers. We are so excited that you have decided to join us! To our regular subscribers, thank you for continuing to read the Council's Legislative Spotlight.

We hope that you are enjoying the wealth of information being shared with you each week.

We share highlights from the Council's legislative agenda from the previous Monday's Committee and Council meetings. Definitions and information about commonly used terms and council-related facts are also featured.

Please stay connected and abreast of the legislative agenda of Akron City Council.

The information shared in each week's Legislative Spotlight will continue to educate, empower, and liberate you to become increasingly engaged with your City Council in making Akron a better place for all its residents.

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, November 6, 2023

ORDINANCE NO. 328-2023 enacting Title 15 “Land Usage,” to enact Chapter 155 “Riparian Setbacks” in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Akron to protect the benefits of riparian areas by providing reasonable controls governing structures and uses in riparian setbacks; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 11, Nays: 0 (Baylor & Omobien absent) The City released a draft ordinance in August and received feedback until September 8, 2023. The finalized legislation was introduced at the October 2, 2023 Council meeting. Read more here .

ORDINANCE NO. 335-2023 approving the sale of City-owned land to Habitat for Humanity of Summit County to construct single family homes and the dedication of the western portion of the block as a city park; determining said property is not needed for public use; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 11, Nays: 0. (Baylor & Omobien absent) The Planning Commission approved this sale at its meeting on June 9, 2023. Read more about the Planning Commission here.

Council voted unanimously (Ayes: 11, Nays: 0 (Baylor & Omobien absent) for an Adverse Report on the Ordinance amending The Zoning Map by changing the Single-Family Residence Use District (U1, H1, A1) on property on Dillon Drive and property on the west and east sides of Sackett Hills Drive to a Conservation Neighborhood (CN) District; and declaring an emergency. The public hearing was held on October 23, 2023. This Ordinance was Filed.

The Planning & Economic Development Committee recommended that the following Ordinances regarding the establishment of the City of Akron Form Based Zoning Code and Rezoning the Merriman Valley be placed on the Consent Agenda. This public hearing was held on October 23, 2023.

ORDINANCE amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code”, Article 2 “Districts and Maps” and Article 5 “Accessory Uses in Residence Districts” by adding a Form-Based Zoning Code; and declaring an emergency. (Substitute was offered as an amendment 10/23/2023)

ORDINANCE amending the Zoning Map by changing the Limited Business Use District (ULB, H1, A1) Classification on property on the west side of Merriman Road, south of Smith Road; the UPD-23 District Classifications on property located on the northeast side of Akron-Peninsula Road (aka Timberland Village), on property on the north side of W. Portage Trail (aka Timber Top Apartments), on property on the north side of W. Portage Trail west of Northampton Road, and property on the south side of W. Portage Trail to a Conservation Neighborhood (CN) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending The Zoning Map by changing the UPD-22 District Classification on property located south of Akron-Peninsula Road (former Riverwoods Golf) and property on the south side of W. Portage Trail; the UPD-23 District Classification on property on the south side of W. Portage Trail (Cascade Falls Apartments) and property on the west side of Northampton Road; and the UPD-29 District Classification on property on the northeast side of Akron-Peninsula Road (aka Hampton Knoll Apartments and Pheasant Run Apartments) to a Neighborhood 2.5 (N2.5) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending The Zoning Map by changing the Retail Business Use District (U3, H1, A1) Classification on property at the northern terminus of Weathervane Lane and the Apartment House Use District (U2, H1, A2) Classification on property at the southern terminus of Weathervane Lane (aka Cedarwood Village Apartments) to a Neighborhood Flex (N-F3) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending The Zoning Map by changing the Apartment House Use District Classification (U2, H1, A2) on property on the north side of Barcelona Drive; by changing the Retail Business Use District Classification (U3, H1, A1) on property located on the west side of N. Portage Path; by changing the Retail Business Use District Classification (U3, H1, A2) and Single Family Residential Use District Classification (U1, H1, A1) on property on the west side of N. Portage Path; by changing the Retail Business Use District Classification (U3, H1, A1) of property on the north side of Merriman Road and south and northeast of Weathervane Lane; and by changing the UPD-22 District Classification on property south of W. Portage Trail to a Mixed Use 3 (MX3) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending The Zoning Map by changing the Retail Business Use District (U3, H1, A1) Classification on property on the north and south side of Merriman Road, and property on the west side of N. Portage Path and Akron-Peninsula Road to a Mixed Use-Shopfront 3 (MX-S3) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending The Zoning Map by changing the UPD-22 District Classification on property located on the west and southwest side of Akron-Peninsula Road; and the UPD-23 District Classification on property on the south side of W. Portage Trail to a Mixed-Use Flex (MX-F) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending The Zoning Map by changing the Retail Business Use District Classification (U3, H1, A2) on property located on the east side of N. Portage Path north of Merriman Road, by changing the Retail Business Use District Classification (U3, H1, A1) on property located on the south sides of Merriman Road and Riverview Road; by changing the UPD-22 District Classification on property located on the north sides of Merriman Road and Riverview Road; by changing the UPD-23 District Classification on property on the west side of Cuyahoga Street (aka Cascade Valley Metro Park-Schumacher Valley); and by changing the UPD-28 District Classification on property on the south side of Riverview Road to an Open Space Conservation (OC) District; and declaring an emergency.

ORDINANCE amending the Zoning Map by adding a Scenic Buffer Overlay (SB) in the Merriman Valley; and declaring an emergency.

Remember...

You can see all the legislation discussed during the meeting at: https://onlinedocs.akronohio.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/

Veterans Day

All Municipal offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, 2023 in observance of Veterans Day.

Trash/recycle collections will continue as usual. To get reminders and alerts about your household's curb service schedule, please download the Akron Recycles app free on Android or Apple devices.

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

If you have a specific city issue that you'd like to see resolved (a pothole, water leak, tree down, missed trash collection, etc.), you can enter it in the online system or call 311.

Upcoming Open Comment Public Hearings

Up for Public Hearing November 13, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an outdoor advertising display on the east side of Sumner Street, south of I-76.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a Type A daycare business center at 493 S. Canton Road.

Up for Public Hearing November 20, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an oversized detached garage with a home office at 2280 Tinkham Road.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to vary the required side yard setback to construct an addition at 2259 Cross Creek Trail.

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Notices are posted on our website at least 15 days before the meeting.

Suppose the Ordinance is a Conditional Use (Zoning measure). In that case, a notice is also mailed to the owners and residents of property within, contiguous to, and directly across the street from the property involved in the Ordinance (per Charter Section 34). Notices are also published in the Akron Beacon Journal.

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