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Council Minutes of 8-1-2017 <br />AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION <br />Benjamin Lamb Jr. <br />23112 Summerland Ave. <br />Mr. Lamb stated when his home was purchased 40 years ago it had a gravel driveway <br />consisting of large size gravel. He brought a piece to show everyone. In 1989, <br />Summerland Avenue was changed from an asphalt small street to a reconstructed street <br />that was revamped with concrete sidewalks, street and curbs. He stated he asked the <br />project supervisor if he could have the broken up sidewalk pieces laid in the front of his <br />driveway. He stated the supervisor agreed and they have been there for almost 27 years <br />now while the rest of the driveway remained gravel. He said over time he let the rest of <br />the heavy gravel be covered with grass and used it as a green space. He said his driveway <br />is unique. He said he maintained and cut this grass. Mr. Lamb stated in April of this year <br />six residents on Summerland received notices of driveway code violations. The solution <br />was to get rid of the grass. He felt this was absurd. He said he has observed driving <br />around North Olmsted lots of streets where residents have grass in their driveways. Mr. <br />Lamb stated the Building Department would not allow him to bring this up, because he <br />can only talk about his particular situation and he was told to get the information he <br />needed from the library. He stated he talked to the inspector who inspected his property <br />and was told gravel driveways are not allowed in North Olmsted so he cannot continue to <br />use gravel. <br />Councilman Schumann made a motion to extend Mr. Lamb's time to three minutes. The <br />motion was seconded by Councilman Limpert and passed unanimously. Mr. Lamb's time <br />extended an additional three minutes by a vote of 7-0. <br />Mr. Lamb continued saying he had a driveway for 40 years and never had a comment on <br />it until recently. He stated he could not find anything in the Code dealing specifically <br />with gravel driveways. He said he asked three questions to the inspector. The first <br />question was, are the Code violations new. He stated the inspector replied, "No, they <br />have been around for years." Second, how many violations for this issue are throughout <br />the City of North Olmsted. He stated the inspector responded, "hundreds." Third, he <br />asked about grandfathering any of these situations in. He stated the inspector responded, <br />"his does not qualify because it is not maintained. Mr. Lamb stated he would have <br />maintained it, if he had known it was not being maintained. Mr. Lamb stated if there isn't <br />a specific Code, one should be adopted and it should allow existing homes to maintain <br />them. He believes his serviceable driveway should be allowed even if it does not look <br />like the rest of the driveways. <br />LEGISLATION <br />Resolution 2017-48 was introduced and placed on first reading by Mayor Kennedy. A <br />Resolution proclaiming September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the City of <br />North Olmsted, Ohio, and declaring an emergency. <br />E <br />