Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Morning. Okay. Call the meeting to order. If you would uh take the roll call, please. Kate Fargo here. Dan Delahunt here. John Fe here. Blake Harris. Greg Pujo. William Seammens here. Hey, we have Oh, back up one. Ta. Hello. Hello. Great. Okay. Um, everybody had a chance to read the minutes for the July 17th meeting and make a motion that we accept the meeting or the minutes is written.

Second. Have a motion second. Any questions on the motion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Okay. Uh, this is an adjudication hearing. So everybody here, if you're going to give uh any testimony, you'll need to be sworn in. So if you'd raise your right hand and repeat after me. Promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is help you God.

You were sworn in. Okay. The first item of the agenda is uh an application submitted by George Sky Brem for property he owns at 1225 West Osman Street for a variance to allow a two family dwelling to be reestablished on a parcel zoned R1 140 a sacred family residential district whereas 112903 only permits one family dwellings in the R1 140 district. We have staff comments.

Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman. So on this slide pictured uh you can see that the zoning district is R140 single family residential and on the right slide you'll see a better look at the aerial image indicating one uh historically a duplex and we'll get into that later as well as a detached garage and a driveway. Street view photo on the left showing two existing front doors. Uh project description is that the applicant is proposing to reestablish the two family dwelling as an active land use. The reason they're here today is because um the applicant fell outside of the allowable one-year time frame of uh discontinuence of the previous land use to be able to discontinue the legal non-conformance. Um so since they fell out, it's hasn't been used in over a year, in other words, and it's been vacant for over that time. And so therefore, we are here. Um they intend to complete repairs and upgrades to the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC prior to starting the use. Uh below this on the right part, you'll see that the floor plan, it's a twobedroom frame. You'll see the two entryways and doors there. Um another picture of the houses on the left with the driveway and the dwelling unit area. What is existing between the first floor and the full upper floor uh does comply with our modern minimum area per dwelling unit requirement which uh is 450 square ft per dwelling unit. So staff analysis is that the proposed two family dwelling use would be aligned with the existing character of the neighborhood noting particularly that the R140 and R2F districts are commonly found near each other. As a matter of

fact, if we go back to the zoning map, the R2F, that orange district is immediately south here, back to the analysis. Uh, it this request appears to be justified given the apparent history of its use as a duplex. I did speak as well with u the county offices and they had that it was taxed for quite some time as a two family use but just as background that's not really relevant so much to this particular request but uh more so to this next point it's relevant is that this would help preserve historic neighborhoods and intact housing stock and maintain the quality of the neighborhood which outcomes are aligned with the comprehensive plan and All other zoning code requirements would be met by the proposed I'm sorry that should say proposed two family dwelling and I probably don't need to say it but I'll just further underscore it by by reminding all of us housing is we talk about the need for it every single day. We have um an applicant here who wants to go about it and play by our rules in doing it and reestablish a use that has been apparently you know running as a duplex it seems successfully for a long time. The structure was built in early 1900s. So all of that said staff recommends approval with the following condition. One, all applicable permits are obtained through the building department, engineering department, and any other applicable agency prior to construction. Thank you. Okay. Uh, is there anyone in the audience wish to speak in favor of this request? If so, please come to the podium, state your name, your address.

Thank you, folks. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to read a few. Okay. Your name is George Scott Bren. Okay. Your address? Uh, this address is 1225 West Osborne Street. That's where you live. My current address is 6641 Merlin Drive in Madina, Ohio. Thank you.

Uh, good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is George Scott Brim. I am here to request approval for a variance to recognize a single family home as a duplex. This project is more is about more than one property. It's about strengthening Sunduski. The duplex provides two quality homes where only one existed before, helping to meet our city's housing needs while keeping costs more affordable for working families, young professionals, and retirees. This approach uses our existing infrastructure more efficiently, increases property tax revenue without burdening city taxes, city services, and creates additional local construction and maintenance jobs. Residents of this duplex will also spend money here in Suski, supporting our businesses and contributing to the local economy. Beyond the numbers, a duplex brings real community benefits. It allows for flexible living arrangements like multi-generational households and it contributes to the neighborhood vitality by welcoming diverse residents. With more families choosing Sunduski, this helps to strengthen our neighborhoods and ensure long-term growth. In short, this project is a win for the city, the economy, and and the community. I respectfully ask for your support in improving this duplex as a step toward a stronger, more sustainable Sundus.

Okay. I see one other person out there, and you I know you didn't raise your hand, so assuming you're not going to speak. Any questions from the board? Uh, are you going to live in this facing? I am not planning on living in this facility. Are you going to are you a resident going to be a resident of the Sunduski? I'm not planning on being a resident of Sunduski. Thank you.

I have family members that live here. I grew up in the Hiron and Sunduski area. Um I have since built and have residents in Madina and property throughout. This property was foreclosed property. The individuals there were not paying taxes, were not paying utilities, and it was being run down. Uh, I acquired it through your foreclosure process and it came up as a duplex. Two doors, two meters, two kitchens, and the idea is to bring it up to code so it's usable and better for anybody living in.

I know there was some reference to uh improvements to electrical and plumbing and things, but what what specifically do you plan to do to improve the property?

Great question. First off, the electric has already been inspected by your city and we've already had a meter replaced. Uh the idea is the upper floor, for whatever reason, whoever went in there decided to use it as a single resident. Might have been the last people who wanted it was a single family. He put parents and other people upstairs, other family members downstairs, and they built a door just easy access. Uh the problem is by doing that it kind of threw me out of the hole being recognized as a duplex. They pulled the meter, ran all the electrical together. In this process, we have since gotten inspected for the for the meter and our new panel. Uh rewiring the whole second floor, all brand new wires. This is older house and knob and tube. Uh we're upgrading that to to regular wire and line. uh plumbing, HBAC, all that's got to be upgraded, not only for permit and inspection wise, but also for usability.

The first step, putting on different thermostats for both units, plumbing. Uh I think we're going to upgrade from a hot water tank to an instant that allows the whole property be be run out of one. Thanks. Sure. Sir, you do you have rental management experience? Do you have places in Madina? I don't Do you run them as Airbnbs or I do not. And what's your uh are you are these going to be long-term rentals or

obviously that's hopefully the intention. I having quick turnover doesn't do me any good, doesn't do the property any good, doesn't do the city any good. Obviously bringing people there uh that are going to stay or offering affordable housing to people who already live in the city. We always look for long term. So your plan is to manage it yourself. Absolutely. Okay. Unless, of course. I mean, I'm an hour and 20 minutes away. I'm here every day. Unless there's a viable or better viable option that is close or a company uh that meets the standard of being a good property management company. I've managed my own properties all the way through. Okay.

Are you planning on doing anything upgrades to the exterior of the home? We're not at this time. There was a portable pool that the last people had left in the backyard. We have removed that. We have since removed a huge tree that was a burden on three different properties including ours. Uh we took the cost and and took care of that. We have some fence lines that we're dealing with and cleaned up. Um but other than that outside structurally the building and the garage were pretty good. It was just hasn't been up upkept. So, taking down a huge street and taking down a struggle on both sides.

And then when you say affordable housing, do you have an idea in your head right now what you think per duplex you could ask rent for? Well, if you're asking me what the the current rent or the area, we're generally uh you're looking at $1,000 to $1,500. Um both of these are going to be two bedrooms, uh full bath, full kitchen, separate entrance way. There's plenty of parking. There's a garage in the back and um it's all the way down to studs. So, we're we're changing everything from we're putting in central air. Okay.

So, most of the rent rentals, at least from the Sunduski web page that I follow, uh people write that it was a hot summer, nobody had air conditioning, nobody had access to this. We've done windows, central air, heating, plumbing, and electrical. And uh we've completely gutted to bathrooms and building a kitchen. So uh this is going to be a little bit higher level than uh just something that's falling apart. Question for staff. Yes.

Why is this coming to us as a variance versus a code change from to R2F from R1?

So right great question. Um, first, this wouldn't come to the board of zoning appeals if it were a reszoning. Uh, it would go to the planning commission with ultimate authority held by the city commission. Two, uh, we did discuss that. However, in the world of planning, it's best practice in the practice of our planning division specifically to use the least amount of intervention possible to achieve what a property owner is desiring to do. assuming what's being desired is generally, you know, copathetic with neighborhood everything. So, since that appeared to be the case and I believe still does appear, um, we went with this route. Uh if there if this property had been used in the last year, we wouldn't be here because we if if staff was satisfied with the amount of evidence showing its use in the past as a duplex, then we could have just administratively granted a certificate of legal non-conformance, but since that period had passed, we're here to to make it, you know, legal again. Thank you. Thank you.

Adamant, this isn't in the one of the areas for short-term rentals. No, it is not. Um, even if it's a duplex, the closest um,

West was Osborne. I believe there's a patch of um, if you're zoned RRB, which is residential/ business, which there's a patch on a portion of Hayesav, or zone business itself or any commercial. um you can apply to conduct transient rental. Um this is zoned R140 and the closest you can come to that is if you were to in R2F you can run a you can apply to run a bed and breakfast but you have to the operator has to have that as their main residence. So which isn't I think it uses the same form but that's not quite transient rental so much. Long-term rental is permitted. It code compliance division manages uh registration process and any inspections that may be required. So that that is a permitted land use. Okay.

Thank you. Question. How if it's zone single family and all the work has been done is two family. How do they get a building? Can they call the Did you talk to zoning first or

No. Uh Mr. Scott reached out quite a while ago. Um, so he's been in the application queue for a few months, I believe, and then there were some things we were figuring out and this month happened to be the one the first that uh he was ready to apply. So, he's been working closely with building department and planning division staff throughout the whole time. just wondering how you can get a building permit going to two family if it's a single family. So, it's non-compliant before

the So, our understanding is that it it was already non-compliant. Um, I don't believe we've offered any kind of formal approval to occupy occupy the duplex by any means, but um, I can't speak for what exactly has been issued or not uh, for the building department end of things. That's not who I work under. However, um the one thing I was aware of was regarding the meter that uh I just helped facilitate contact with our electrical inspector to just give Mr. Scott information on how down the line to get um energy to get a meter re-energized by First Energy. Other than that, I I can't speak to that.

Any other questions? Will you be maintaining the the outside the landscaping and lawn and will that be will you be doing that? Will you be hiring a a maintenance crew? I

I probably will not be coming out uh the hour and a half uh to cut the 20 minutes worth of grass. I I so far I've been having a local individual uh take care of the family. One of one of my pet peeves is that many rental properties in town are the lawns and grass are very poorly maintained and and I it's always been a concern of mine when you can go down the street and know which ones are rentals and which one are owner occupied. valid absolutely valid concern in my previous properties. Uh certainly that's a part of any rental contract, but if it isn't taken care of then then the responsibility comes back to me as the owner that I'm going to take care of it anyway one way or another. So you're you're going to be requesting the renters to maintain it

in all my sorry in all my rental previous rental contracts. The upkeep of the property and the inspection process of mine either monthly or bimonthly is done by me to ensure that all this happens. everything from the grass cutting to to the weeds to to the trimming the bushes but also any plowing or shoveling or winter salting that is required to be done as well both for insurance purposes safety and anything else. Thank you. Is this your first property in Sunduski? Kind of around there rental. Um will it be yours was going back 30 years? My family owned multiple properties both in Sunduski and Heron. It is my first venue up in the area.

Okay. Thanks. There's no further questions. Motion's in order. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we uh approve the application for the variance to allow for the uh current uses of two FEMA with the subject conditions with the conditions of the by the city. We have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Motion to second. There any questions on the motion? If none you please call the role. William Seammons. Yes. John Fe. No. Dan Delah Hunt.

Yes. Greg Bjo. Yes. The motion is approved. No. Is there any other business? No. Mr. Chairman. Okay. Is there anything on the agenda for the September 18th meeting? Thank you. There is one item on uh 413 Anderson Street. Uh the wateride gentleman has applied for a front yard setback. It's zone commercial over there. So the setback in the front is 30 ft. No, you know, um he wanted a boat house uh front residence. So you'll learn more about that. Uh that is the only item. Okay. Thank you for attending and answering our questions.

I I appreciate it. If just a second, I'd like to thank Adam again. I wasn't familiar with your city. You your policies and procedures have changed. Uh he was certainly uh very paramount in in me being able to walk through your process, find and talk to the different inspectors and get the inspections done um and actually get this process and be here tonight. So, if nothing else, I just wanted to thank Adam for his continued help and patience and uh helping a new person walk through your process. Thank you. Thanks, folks. Thanks. Good ad boy, Adam. Good job, Adam. Thanks. Motion to journ. So moved. Second. All those in favor say I.

I. We are turn you