City Council

THE CITY OF Zanesville 401 Market Street • Zanesville, Ohio 43701 Council - Mayor Phone (740) 617-4875 Government E-mail: council@coz.org Zanesville City Council Community Development Committee Agenda Council Chambers, 401 Market Street, Zanesville, Ohio Monday, August 25, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. This meeting is open to the public to attend in person or remotely by using the information below. This meeting is for discussion pertaining to the upcoming Ordinances and discussion items of the Community Development Committee for review as follows: 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of July 28, 2025 Ordinances 3. Ordinance No. 2025-91- Introduced by Council - An Ordinance to amend and revise the zoning map and make permanent zoning in the City of Zanesville, Ohio as herein provided. 4. Ordinance No. 2025-93- Introduced by Council -An Ordinance authorizing the Community Development Director to submit an application for funding through to the Urban Forestry Grant Program and declaring an emergency. Discussion Items 5. None Next Community Development Committee Meetings 2025: Monday, September 22, 2025 Monday, November 24, 2025 Monday, October 27, 2025 Monday, December 22, 2025 This meeting is open to the public who may attend in person or attend by phone or Internet using the information below. Phone 1-844-621-3956 US Toll Free or 1-415-655-0001 US Toll Use Access Code: 1267508098 # Online with WebEx - Enter zanesvillecity.webex.com in web browser. Enter Meeting Information 1267508098 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING - JULY 28, 2025 The Zanesville City Council Community Development Committee met at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025 in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Mr. Baker: Welcome to this meeting of Zanesville City Council's Community Development Committee meeting. We're at 401 Market Street in Council Chambers. It's Monday, July 28, 2025 at 5 p.m. May I have roll call, please? COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilperson Mr. Baker for pt Ward, Chairman Councilperson Miss Bradshaw for 2 nd Ward Councilperson Mr. Ware for 3 rd Ward Councilperson Ms. Frye Council-at-Large COMMITTEE MEMBER(S) ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Mark Ballmer, Council-at-Large John Taylor-Lehman, 4th Ward Billie Corns, Clerk of Council Donald Mason, Mayor Shawn Digity, TR Reporter Matthew Schley, CD Director Glen Gregor, IT Network Technician Daniel Vincent, President of Council Mike King, 6th Ward APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2025 Mr. Baker: Hearing that we have a quorum, we'll move on to the approva I of minutes of June 23, 2025. Miss Bradshaw moved to approve the minutes of June 23, 2025. It was seconded by Ms. Frye. Mr. Baker: Hearing a motion and a second, those in favor of such approval please say aye. Nay? A voice vote was taken with all present in favor. None were opposed. Mr. Baker: The ayes have it. The approval of the minutes of June 23, 2025 are adopted. Community Development Committee 7/28/2025 Page 1 of 6 ORDINANCES 3. Ordinance No. 2025-73 - Introduced by Council - An Ordinance declaring 1444 Putnam Avenue, Zanesville, Ohio as blight and authorizing the Community Development Director to act in accordance with Chapter 1165 Elimination of Spot Blight to remedy the blighted conditions. (Second Reading 7/28/2025; Public Hearing 8/11/2025) Matthew Schley: So, this property, 1444 Putnam, has been an ongoing problem. It's in what we call lower Putnam. It's not far from Stewart Glapat. The house sits alone on a block effectively. It's pretty well overgrown. It's been vacant for a number of years, hasn't had water service since at least I believe 2018, but most likely sooner. We have made multiple attempts to try to work with the current property owner, who has been non responsive. This went through the Planning Commission process as required by our codified ordinances, to which time nobody came after we sent certified mailings and everything, nobody came to speak on the matter. We have continued to try to get this rectified. The problem is at this date, the house is in a very, very poor state, and I would just preface with it has trees growing out of the foundation. So, this one will most likely have to be taken down because it's got a sandstone block foundation. But nonetheless, it is blight. It is detracting from our community, and we've heard from multiple neighbors that they would like to see something done with this. That's why we brought it forward today. The Planning Commission did unanimously recommend this to be designated blight by City Council, and we do have a public hearing on August 11th - Mr. Baker: Matt, I'm assuming if this passes here and will pass Council that it will be torn down. Do we ever go after the old owners in order to get remuneration for that'? Matthew Schley: We do if we can't obtain ownership. So, there's a few different pieces in the Ohio Revised Code and how this works. But effectively if we have to take a property down as an emergency or because it's a health & safety hazard, and we do not take ownership of it, then we would assess that charge to the property owner, to which time it would go through a foreclosure sale. And then effectively either A) transfer to the land bank, or B) it would go up and be sold for a few dollars, and we would never receive our funding back. In either of those situations, the Zanesville taxpayers do not receive the funding back. In this situation, at least the City of Zanesville would be able to recoup some of its cost through the valuation property. Mr. Baker: And the value of the neighborhood undoubtedly would go up. Matthew Schley: Absolutely! There is a very nice gentleman who lives near there who has called in every time we've had squatters or anything else in that property. They just want this thing to be resolved. Mr. Baker: Okay, very good. Are there any questions or comments from the committee'? Mr. Ware: I'm just trying to look at the picture of it. I saw the picture on Zillow. Do you have a picture of it? Community Development Committee 7/28/2025 Page 2 of 6 Mr. Baker: Yes, it's in the agenda, second page. Mr. Ware: Oh, okay. I didn't see it. Mr. Vincent: Mr. Baker, if I could? Mr. Baker: Yes. Mr. Vincent: It may be helpful to the committee. With that, I was going over to look at the property. Yes, on the roofs, the slate is ready to come out. It's going fast. The grass is tall. I saw a groundhog with a big hole in the side of the yard and saw a groundhog going in and out. Trees and vines were all over everything. It's just sad that what was once, I'm sure, an okay home at least and has been let go and deteriorated to this point. Mr. Baker: And that never ceases to amaze me. These beautiful homes that are left to go to seed and just over the years, there reaches a tipping point where they're unsalvageable and more of a negative than a positive. Mr. Vincent: Maybe 3 to 5 years ago, we could've got to that and maybe could have been salvaged, which is unfortunate. Thank you. Mayor Mason: Mr. Chairman, what we have found on some, and I'm not sure if this one includes, but some in the area that the person who lived there, lived there until pretty close to the end of life. After hospitalization, a lot of federal liens would be filed against the property to recuperate a lot of the medical care and cost. So, as a result a lot of times family members would see absolutely no reason in paying the taxes anymore or taking care of the property. We've had a couple instances where we have been able to work with the, I guess it would be the special attorney for the Ohio Attorney General's Office in getting some of those properties back into our hands. But, we've just learned how to use that process now. I don't know if that applies here, but that's a good example a lot of times why people just walk away from a property. There might be $100,000 tax lien, and they see no reason to work on it. Mr. Baker: It makes sense. Is there anything else from the committee? I'll entertain a motion to recommend this for passage at City Council. Mr. Ware: So moved. Miss Bradshaw: Second. Mr. Baker: Hearing a motion and a second, those in favor of such recommendation please say aye. Those opposed say nay. A voice vote was taken with all present in favor. None were opposed. Community Development Committee 7/28/2025 Page 3 of 6 Mr. Baker: The ayes have it. It's hereby recommended for passage. 4. Ordinance No. 2025-83- Introduced by Council -An Ordinance authorizing the proper city officials to execute a Pre-Annexation Agreement with Ronald and Suzanne Gebrosky. (First Reading 7/28/2025) Matthew Schley: So, this is a pretty standard pre-annexation agreement. I know there have been a couple questions on why we do this. So, I'll give a brief high level of what's going on. So, the city has a policy that if we are going to provide water to a customer outside of the corporation boundaries that we have them sign a pre-annexation agreement. What that means is if at any time the property were to be contiguous and eligible for annexation, that the property would then be compelled to annex in to the city. And we do that for a few reasons. One, it protects our utilities. lt protects our investment and then it also allows us to provide a water service to somebody that we aren't necessarily statutorily obligated to do so. We do this all the time. And I say all the time, but over the last 7 or 8 years, we've done this quite a few times. I understand we haven't done it recently, but the most recent one we did was with the Dollar General out by the college. They have a pre-annexation agreement as well. So, should that ever become contiguous, they would have to annex in, and it would be at their cost to do so. Mr. Baker: Yes, so I assume this came about as an application from the Gebrosky's, is that right? Matthew Schley: It was, yes. They made a request for water service on a property that currently does not have any water service. It's undeveloped. It's a 1-acre parcel that's undeveloped. Mr. Baker: Okay, pretty straightforward. Are there any questions or comments? Okay, hearing nothing, I'll entertain a motion to recommend this for City Council's adoption. Miss Bradshaw: I move for that motion. Ms. Frye: Second. Mr. Baker: Hearing a motion and a second, those in favor of such recommendation please say aye. Those opposed say nay. A voice vote was taken with all present in favor. None were opposed. Mr. Baker: The ayes have it. It's hereby recommended. Community Development Committee 7/28/2025 Page4 of 6 5. Ordinance No. 2025-84- Introduced by Council -An Ordinance authorizing the assessment of liens against certain properties for demolition, clearance, and nuisance abatement activities, and declaring an emergency. (Emergency or First Reading 7/28/2025) Matthew Schley: So, this is our standard ordinance we do every year. Our property maintenance crew, from time to time, has to go and maintain vacant and abandoned properties. From time to time, as we mentioned earlier, we have to demolish unsafe properties. The Utility Billing side has their own separate ordinance, but this is our ordinance under Community Development for the work that we undertake. This is always the most difficult one to put together every year because the amounts you see listed there, that's for times that the city has had to go and maintain someone's property for them, which we do not do. We're not in the business of doing this, but we end up having to do it anyway as required by law. So, I am proud to report that we've been working with a lot of different property owners over the last few years, and this process has gone down. So, last year we were over $70,000 in assessments. This year, we're under $60,000. So we've had a decrease, which means that we are getting people to take care of their properties. We've also taken an approach to demolition that we've not previously taken. We're not tearing down houses unless they're required to be torn down. So, you'll see that number reflected in this where we've had a decrease in demolitions. In fact, the only demolitions we've done are on an emergency basis, and we're fortunate to have the land bank that's willing to work with us on those projects. So, there is a deadline for this, and Billie, correct me if I'm wrong. I think I have it in this ordinance, but I believe it's September 8th • If we don't certify it by September 8th, then it can't be placed on a tax duplicate, and then this would hold off until 2027. So, obviously at any time, somebody can come in, make a payment to us on these, and then we let the County Auditor know that a payment was made, and it gets taken off their tax duplicate. Mr. Baker: So, do you want this passed as an emergency? Matthew Schley: It's got emergency language in it. If it can be, that would be wonderful. Just that way, we're not turning it in on the deadline. Mr. Baker: That makes sense. Very good. Are there any questions? Hearing nothing, I'll entertain a motion to recommend this to City Council for adoption. Mr. Ware: So moved. Miss Bradshaw: Second. Mr. Baker: Hearing a motion and a second, those in favor of such recommendation please say aye. Those opposed say nay. A voice vote was taken with all present in favor. None were opposed. Community Development Committee 7/28/2025 Pages of 6 Mr. Baker: The ayes have it. It's hereby recommended to City Council for adoption. DISCUSSION ITEMS Mr. Baker: Nothing to discuss. The next Community Development meeting is August 25th • Does anybody have anything for the good of the order? Hearing nothing, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Miss Bradshaw: Move to adjourn. Ms. Frye: Second. Mr. Baker: Hearing a motion and a second to adjourn, those in favor of adjournment please say aye. Those opposed say nay. A voice vote was taken with all present in favor. None were opposed. Mr. Baker: The ayes have it. See you in an hour. The meeting adjourned about 5:13 p.m. Billie Corns Mark Baker Clerk of Council Community Development Committee Chairman Regular scheduled meetings with the next dates as follows: Monday, August 25, 2025 Monday, October 27, 2025 Monday, December 22, 2025 Monday, September 22, 2025 Monday, November 24, 2025 Community Development Committee 7/28/2025 Page 6 of6 Community Development Matthew Schley, Director ORDINANCE NO. 2025 - 91 INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REVISE THE ZONING MAP ANO MAKE PERMANENT ZONING IN THE CITY OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO AS HEREIN PROVIDED WHEREAS, an application has been duly made requesting a zone change from 0-2 Office Park District to RS-4 Medium-High Density Single-Family Residential District; and WHEREAS, proper notification of the intent of this Council to consider this request to rezone the below described property was given to abutters within 200 feet of the requested rezoning and in a newspaper of general circulation; and WHEREAS, after testimony and discussion the Zanesville Planning Commission recommended to City Council that the zone change request further identified on Exhibit "A", be approved. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Zanesville, State of Ohio; that SECTION ONE: The application for rezone change with respect to the real property hereinafter described and shown in Exhibit "A" is hereby approved and the zoning with respect to said property is so changed. SECTION TWO: The Zoning Map of the City of Zanesville, Ohio, and the same is hereby amended and revised by changing the zoning as follows: From 0-2 Office Park District to RS-4 Medium-High Density Single-Family Residential District, situated in the City of Zanesville, County of Muskingum, and State of Ohio, and bounded and described as follows: Auditors Parcel #86-26-02-06-001, recorded in Deed Volume 3166, Page 751 being located in the Muskingum County Recorder's Office. SECTION THREE: This Ordinance shall take effect upon the approval of the Mayor and from and after the earliest period allowed by law.  ORDINANCE NO. 2025 - 91 PASSED: _ _ __ _ _ _ _ ___,2025 ATTEST: Billie Corns Daniel M. Vincent Clerk of Council President of Council APPROVED: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __...J2025 This legislation approved as to form: Donald L. Mason Law Director's Office Mayor  Map Disclaimer Exhibit A 86-26-02-06-001 City of Zanesvrne does not guarantee the City of Zanesville accuracy of tl>is data. This map is subject ta a!i Department of Public Service termi; and conditions af th~ disclaimer postt!!d at Exhibit A maps,coz.org/disclaimer. Division of Engineering Attachment to Ordinance 2025-91 Matthew Schley Community Development Director ORDINANCE NO. 2025-93 INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING THROUGH TO THE URBAN FORESTRY GRANT PROGRAM AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is offering an Urban Forestry Grant to expand the tree planting ability of cities throughout Ohio; and WHEREAS, the City ofZanesville is committed to restoring and increasing the tree canopy in neighborhoods throughout the City; and WHEREAS, City Administration has identified an eligible project with a total cost of $50,000 in partnership with the Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District to plant trees in City Parks and Right-of-ways; and WHEREAS, the City is committed to increasing the amount of tree canopy available to its residents as trees provide invaluable health and wellness benefits such as clean air, water, and erosion control. Failure to pass this legislation as an emergency would deprive the residents of this critical resource. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Zanesville, State of Ohio; that: SECTION ONE: The Community Development Director is hereby authorized to draft, submit and execute an application for funding in the amount up to $50,000 to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Urban Forestry Grant Program. If funded, the Community Development Director is hereby authorized to execute all documents pertaining to the grant and accept funding in the awarded amount. SECTION TWO: For the reasons stated herein, this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure. Provided it receives the affirmative vote of six (6) or more members of City Council, this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law. PASSED: _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __, 2025 ATTEST: Billie Corns Daniel M. Vincent Clerk of Council President of Council APPROVED: _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ ___, 2025 This legislation approved as to form: Donald L. Mason, Mayor Law Director's Office