Loudonville Council doesn't take any action on tourist homes being controlled

LOUDONVILLE - Village Council, at its Monday, Jan. 17 meeting, discussed but took no action on the need for tourist homes to be controlled through village zoning ordinances.

Previous meeting: Loudonville Mayor Jason VanSickle asks council to consider architectural review process

The body was split on the concept, with members Cathy Lance and Matt Young favoring permitting tourist homes, like Air B & Bs, be allowed throughout the village. Members Tom Young and Bill Huffman were reluctant to take that stance.

“I don’t want my neighbor to sell his house and the new home owner put a tourist home in with 10 cars parked in the yard,” Tom Young said.

Currently village zoning allows tourist homes in areas zoned residential commercial, if they are approved as a conditional use by the zoning board of appeals. Mayor Jason VanSickle has suggested making this provision available in all residential areas.

Complicating the issue is that several Air B & Bs have been established in the village the past few years with no involvement, or enforcement, by the village.

“Maybe all we need is a requirement to notify village police if a home is used as a tourist home,” the mayor suggested.

Realtor Wendy Lance, of Loudonville, attended Monday’s meeting to provide comments on the issue from a Realtor’s perspective. She preferred the village to allow tourist homes throughout residential areas.

Law Director Thom Gilman was not at Monday’s session, so no further action was taken on the issue without his input. Tom Young suggested if the issue ever comes to vote in ordinance form, three full readings be held to allow for public input on it.

Council also delayed discussion on another land use issue, proposal to create an architectural review board for the downtown area, because of Gilman’s absence.

Mayor VanSickle gives his first State of the Village address

Mayor VanSickle opened the meeting with his first State of the Village address since becoming mayor last summer.

He said the village remained financially in good shape, ending 2021 with a carryover of $709,000. Income tax receipts for 2021 were almost $1.3 million, and total village cash balances were $3.5 million, up from $3.3 million at the end of 2020.

“As we move into 2022, we will continue to be mindful of the village’s financial health through sound budgeting and efficient day-to-day operations,” VanSickle said.

Infrastructure improvement accomplished in 2021 included completion of North Market Street improvements, including resurfacing the street and installing new water mains, service lines and fire hydrants between Loudon and Burwell avenues. Total cost of the project was over $500,000, with 60% funded through a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

Bids were awarded for resurfacing of East Campbell and North Jefferson streets north of Ohio 3, and this work should be completed by June 2022, the mayor said.

The village continues to reduce its loan balance for the new maintenance building on Wally Road, with the village on track to pay off debt on it, with assistance from Loudon Post 257 of the American Legion.

Ohio Theatre improvements also continue, with work underway to replace the fire escape on the south side of the building, including an American with Disabilities act-required ramp, improved sidewalks for the main floor and improved exits on the north side of the building, $200,000 of which is funded by a grant through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and the remainder, about $175,000, by the village.

The mayor reported the village received American Rescue Plan funding totaling $376,275 that will be used to install new residential water meters throughout the village.

With the new meters, the village will be able to read meters in a fraction of the time it now takes to manually enter readings door to door, the mayor said.

“This will reduce our utility fund expense,” he said.

He also announced a $180,000 grant was obtained to install new LED lighting at the ball fields in Riverside Park in the coming months, and new decorative lighting will be installed for increased security in Central Park.

Retired village officials receive thanks for their service

VanSickle extended thanks to three retired village officials, Gary Hannan, detective with the police department; John Burkhart, former mayor and maintenance department superintendent; and Tom Gallagher, councilman for the past term, former fire chief, and longtime member of the village planning commission.

He also extended appreciation to the former mayor, Steve Stricklen, who retired last summer, for his many years of service as councilman and mayor, particularly for his work on the maintenance building project.

Council approved uses of Central Park by the library for its summer reading program in June and July, and by the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District to hold farmers markets on selected dates during the summer months.

It also approved the village again hosting the Mohican 100 mountain bike event May 23.

Next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. in council chambers, 156 N. Water St., upstairs.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Loudonville Council mulls tourist home zoning