09/17/2024 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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James A & Florence J Burns 3978 Dover Center Rd North Olmsted, OH 44070-1704 To: Council, Mayor, Economic Development Director From: Jim Burns (Personal) Re: Ordinance 2024-62 - Planned Development Zoning District I attended the September 30, 2024 Council committee meeting. I noted a couple of arguments for the proposal that I feel need commenting on. The Director of Economic Development stated that the proposed Planned Development Zoning District would make the process of approval more efficient. He gave an example of a development of 37 residential lots that had a total of 75 zoning code variances. He said that they would not have to go through the Board of Zoning Appeals; therefore, allowing these variances to be automatically approved. Efficiencies would be realized because Zoning Code variances would be automatically approved. I believe that the Board of Zoning Appeals should be the body that evaluates whether a variance approvel is granted instead of the variance being automatically allowed. With this proposal Council may not even be made aware of the variances being automatically approved. The Director mentioned a development that took a year to be approved. He said the zoning variance requests made the approval process take two months longer than it should have. It should have taken ten monhts not a yearr. First, we don't know if this development was picked to make a point or if it is representative for most developments that are approved. All developers know that when zoning variances are required it is going to take longer for approval. This is not bad as it may cause the developer to rethink what variances he wants to put in the plans. Second, it is more important that developments meet standards that have been put in place to protect the health and welfare of our residents. For example, individual residences could be built right next to each other like row houses without zoning variances being required. Remember, zoning requirements such as setbacks, side yard distances and fencing are the result of input from the Building Department, Fire Department and Police Department. The Director mentiond that this proposal was the result of interviews of various people. We do not know who these people are. They may all be developers who have a vested interest in changing our laws to benefit their development in terms of timing and cost. One Councilman mentioned that he has heard that developers do not want to build in North Olmsted because of our approval process. I have heard this said about many cities. Cities have codes in place to protect residents and assure safe and compatable development. you should be more concerned about your residents and city visitors than the developers. Don't thow your Zoning Code out because a developer wants to reduce his cost and increase his revenue. Jim Burns