Board of Zoning & Building Appeals

City of Hudson, Ohio Meeting Minutes - Final Board of Zoning & Building Appeals John Dohner, Vice Chair Lydia Bronstein Kerri Keller Louis Wagner Greg Hannan, Community Development Director Amanda Davey, Associate Planner Thursday, January 20, 2022 7:30 PM Town Hall 27 East Main Street I. Call to Order Mr. Dohner called to order the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Zoning & Building Appeals at 7:30 p.m., in accordance with the Sunshine Laws of the State of Ohio, O.R.C. Section 121.22. II. Roll Call Present: 4 - Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Dohner, Ms. Keller and Mr. Wagner III. Election of Officers A motion was made by Mr. Wagner, seconded by Ms. Bronstein, that Ms. Keller be elected as BZBA Vice-Chair. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Dohner, Ms. Keller and Mr. Wagner Election of Officers A motion was made by Mr. Wagner, seconded by Ms. Keller, that Mr. Dohner be elected BZBA Chair. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Dohner, Ms. Keller and Mr. Wagner IV. Identification, by Chair Dohner, of Amanda Davey, Associate Planner. V. Swearing in of Staff and Audience Addressing the Board. Chair Dohner swore-in staff and all the persons wishing to speak under oath. VI. Approval of Minutes BZBA Minutes of Previous Board of Zoning & Building Appeals Meeting 12-16-2021 December 16, 2021 Attachments: 12-16-2021 Meeting Minutes - Draft City of Hudson, Ohio Page 1 Board of Zoning & Building Appeals Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2022 A motion was made by Mr. Wagner, seconded by Ms. Bronstein, that the December 16, 2021 Minutes be approved as amended. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Dohner, Ms. Keller and Mr. Wagner VII. Public Hearings - New Business BZBA 2021-1316The subject of this hearing is a variance request from the requirement that any off-street parking or loading area shall be surfaced with a pavement having an asphalt or concrete binder of sufficient strength to support vehicular loads imposed on it while providing a durable, dustless surface in order to have a gravel parking lot area pursuant to Section 1207.12(o), “Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements - Paving” of the City of Hudson Land Development Code The applicant is Ken Kuryla, KGK Gardening & Design Corp, 1936 Georgetown Road, Hudson, Ohio 44236. The property owner is, KGK Properties LLC, 1936 Georgetown Road, Hudson, Ohio 44236. for the property at 1940 Georgetown Road in District 8 [Industrial/Business Park] within the City of Hudson. Attachments: BZBA Staff Report - 1940 Georgetown Road Letter From Applicant to Table Request Ms. Davey introduced the application which is on 19 acres and purchased in 2013 with a zoning certificate requiring an asphalt or concrete parking material and a curb. On close-out it was discovered that compacted gravel was used instead of the approved materials. Ms. Davey also noted the applicable LDC, stated that the Assistant City Engineer does not expect the gravel will affect surrounding properties and reviewed the staff comments. Mr. Ken Kuryla, KGK Gardening & Design Corp, stated paving was to be done in the spring of 2020 but COVID and event cancelations caused the loss of one-half of anticipated revenue, the decision to use compacted gravel was made. Mr. Kuryla also noted that out of the 35 events held, he has had no complaints. Now, Mr. Kuryla feels that the aesthetics of the gravel, combined with the sustainability of the product and the flow of water through the gravel has been positive . Regarding snowplowing, KGK has all the equipment needed to keep the lot clean. The Board, applicant and staff discussed: The distribution of events by season, the required maintenance including gravel washouts, the conditions of the parking lot in the days following a snowstorm and communication with City staff to use crushed stone instead of chip and seal. Ms. Davey noted staff discovered the issue during project closeout and has the understading that there is no record of discussions to allow gravel. Mr. Kuryla stated the cost of a concrete or asphalt parking lot would be approximately $100,000 and require removing the existing gravel. The Board and applicant also discussed Mr. Kuryla’s opinion that the compacted gravel has better aesthetics than concrete or asphalt and will not impact any of the neighboring properties. However, the Board noted this is the only business on the street that does not have an approved parking lot and that conversations with the City regarding the compacted gravel were not documented. The Board and applicant discussed the language of the LDC regarding a hard surface, the dates of work being done and the date when the variance was applied for as well as the applicant’s knowledge that the permit was for a hard surface City of Hudson, Ohio Page 2 Board of Zoning & Building Appeals Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2022 parking lot. Mr. Kuryla described the possibility of KGK doing a chip and seal project themselves and stated being able to do this over time might be helpful. Mr. Kuryla requested BZBA table the variance request to a future meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Wagner, seconded by Ms. Keller, that this Variance be tabled to a future meeting. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Dohner, Ms. Keller and Mr. Wagner VIII. Other Business Ms. Davey discussed possible applications for the February meeting and along with Councilwoman Heater the Council decision not to allow internally illuminated signs. BZBA board members expressed appreciation to Councilwoman Heater for attending and assisting in the meeting. Ms. Heater also discussed Council’s work toward the fifth member of BZBA being appointed. IX. Adjournment A motion was made by Mr. Wagner, seconded by Ms. Keller, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Dohner, Ms. Keller and Mr. Wagner ________________________________ John M. Dohner, Chair ________________________________ Kerri Keller, Vice Chair ________________________________ Joe Campbell, Executive Assistant Upon approval by the Board of Zoning & Building Appeals, this official written summary of the meeting minutes shall become a permanent record, and the official minutes shall also consist of a permanent audio and video recording, excluding executive sessions, in accordance with Codified Ordinances, Section 252.04, Minutes of Architectural and Historic Board of Review, Board of Zoning and Building Appeals, and Planning Commission. * * * City of Hudson, Ohio Page 3