Township zoning regulations altered to allow homes on Guyuron land
TWINSBURG TWP. – The building of homes along three streets on the Guyuron property south of East Aurora Road and east of Hadden Road will be permitted after township trustees OK’d text amendments to the zoning resolution.
West Creek Land Conservancy has the property under contract for purchase, with most of the 80 acres targeted for preservation. But the non-profit group plans to sell about 40 lots along North Park, East Park and South Park drives to help pay for the acquisition.
The conservancy’s mission is to reclaim vacant urban land and restore streams, wetlands, woods and natural habitats. If the land purchase is finalized, no development other than the few homes is planned.
The land is in the township’s interchange mixed use zoning district, which was created in 2008 after Dr. Bahman Guyuron bought it with intentions of retail or industrial development. Several homes on the three streets then were demolished.
Township Administrator Rob Kagler told trustees at their Aug. 10 meeting that the conservancy has obtained two grants – one being from the Clean Ohio program – to help with the land’s purchase and is talking to prospective homebuilders to develop the lots.
Kagler explained when the IMU district was created and zoning was changed from R-3 residential, building of homes was prohibited. But to accommodate what the conservancy proposes, the zoning had to be amended to allow home construction.
Thus, the zoning amendments will allow single-family dwellings as a permitted use, subject to R-3 district requirements. The township’s zoning commission and the Summit County Planning Commission favored the change.
Meanwhile, Kagler reported he hopes bids will be ready for trustees to act upon so a contract can be awarded – possibly at the Sept. 14 meeting – for reconstructing the three streets, including installing street lights, curbs/gutters and sidewalks.
OHM Advisors is handling construction management services for the road reconstruction/street lighting project at a cost of $181,550.
“An agreement with the potential developer/homebuilder also is needed so the street upgrades can be financed via assessment districts instead of grants,” Kagler said. “That will fast-track the project, cutting the timeline from about three years to one.”
OTHER BUSINESS
Trustees approved a five-year lease with Pitney-Bowes for a new digital mailing system at a cost of $212 per quarter ($4,255 total), and OK’d assessing costs for cutting grass and street lighting to certain property owners’ tax duplicates.
Kagler reported Phase I of Ravenna Road improvements is expected to start soon and be finished by the end of 2022. They involve shoulder stabilization, repaving and removing objects in the right-of-way from Old Mill Road to the Twinsburg city line.
Phase II, which runs from Old Mill Road south to the Portage County line, is scheduled to be done in 2025.
Kagler announced an asbestos assessment is complete and a contract could be awarded in September for demolition of a house at 8265 Stow Road. Completion by the end of October is expected, with costs assessed to the late homeowner’s estate.
Kagler also reported Heights road improvements Phase 18 will start soon, while contracts for Phases 19-20 – the last in the 20-year series of Heights road upgrades – is expected to be awarded later this year, with work slated in 2023.
Tri-Mor Corp. submitted the low bid of $1.075 million for Phase 18 (western block of Stanford Street to the dead-end and southern block of Harvard Road from Case to Stanford). A new cul-de-sac is planned at the end of Stanford.
Kagler has said $400,000 to $450,000 will come from a state grant, $166,000 from the township’s American Rescue Plan allocation and about $450,000 from the township.
Phases 19-20 include the eastern block of Stanford and southern block of Yale.
Contact the newspaper at twinsburgbulletin@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Zoning regulations altered to allow homes on Guyuron land in township
