Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Zoning Board of Appeals
June 17, 2008

The regular meeting of the ROOTSTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS was held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

Those present:
Troy Cutright, Chairman
Eugene Mills
Patricia Saillant
Deron Boring
Jennifer Milnes
Diane Esola

Those absent:
James Manion

Also in attendance:
Zoning Inspector, Jim Mahood
Assistant Zoning Inspector, Van Black
ZBA Secretary, Mary Ann Greer

Mr. Cutright called the meeting order. Mr. Cutright introduced the Board members and explained the evenings' procedures.

The first item on the agenda was an application for a variance from Section 420.07 for a lighted pole sign 12' - 13' above point of concrete parking lot submitted by:

Dean Abbe
P. O. Box 32
Rootstown, OH 44272

Mr. Cutright swore in Dean Abbe, 3501 Sanford Road. Mr. Abbe said he needed a variance for a lighted pole sign above the specs. He needed it to be 12 - 13' that would allow a little clearance underneath for visibility.

Mr. Boring asked why the change for the sign from the original request. Mr. Abbe said it was an oversight on his behalf. He did not read the zoning regulations (6 feet).

Mrs. Saillant inquired as to the hours the sign would be lit. Mr. Abbe said the hours the sign would be turned on would be until 9:00 - 10:00 maybe 11:00 P.M.

Mrs. Milnes stated that the existing structure has a sign on the building and didn't he think that was enough. Mr. Abbe replied it was on the face of the building and you would have to be almost directly in front of the building to see it. He felt that the sign on the building was not enough.

Mr. Mills remarked that the variance request for the sign was over 5 feet. Mr. Mills asked about the picture in the package. Mr. Abbe said that was to give them a reference point, that one is actually 14'5 feet. Mr. Mills asked if Mr. Abbe knew when zoning approved that sign. Mr. Abbe said maybe 6 years ago. Mr. Mills asked if that was why he was requesting this sign because of the other sign up the street. Mr. Abbe said absolutely not. He had a contractor come out and he explained to me the dimensions of the sign (35 square feet). This would make it a foot off the ground.

Mr. Cutright asked if he was the current owner. Mr. Abbe said he had signed sales agreement; it's getting close. Mr. Cutright asked what would be the height of the top of the post. Mr. Abbe showed them pictures of a gentleman standing by a post. He explained the pictures. Mr. Cutright said where the sign was being proposed would be better suited for traffic blockage.

Mr. Boring stated the sign would be 35 square feet. Mr. Abbe said he was allowed 40 square feet for the sign.

Mr. Cutright asked the audience if there were any questions, comments, or concerns.

Mr. Cutright swore in Peg Turner, 4298 Tallmadge Road. Mrs. Turner asked to see pictures of the sign. Mrs. Turner said that kind of sign was fine up where the businesses were but this is a residential area.

Mr. Cutright swore in Bob Sabin, 4299 Tallmadge Road. Mr. Sabin asked how bright the sign would be. Mr. Abbe said it would be similar to the doctor/s office sign on Tallmadge Road. Mr. Abbe said it wasn't the same contractor that put in the doctor's sign.

Mr. Mills asked who the contractor was. Mr. Abbe said it was Ellet Sign Company. Mr. Mills said in trying to answer Mr. Sabin, with the size of that sign it would have at least 3 - 4 florescent tubes (top and bottom) 6 feet florescent.

Mrs. Turner said that this area was zoned historical. Mr. Cutright said that area was just V-C.

Mr. Mills asked where the historical part ended. Mr. Mahood said if he was constructing a new building, it would have to be similar to the buildings around it.

Mr. Cutright swore in Richard Turner, 4238 Tallmadge Road. Mr. Turner said that sign would be an eye sore. It is not going to be a dim little sign and probably made of plastic. Mr. Abbe said it wasn't plastic. Mr. Turner thought it would be too bright.

Mr. Boring asked if an electric eye or switch would control the sign. Mr. Abbe replied that both switch and electric eye would control it.

Mr. Mills asked Mr. Abbe if he had any idea about the wattage of the sign. Mr. Abbe said there would be 5 bulbs and maybe 65-watt output. Mr. Mills said he had a problem with the number of strips and wattage in the sign (white with some green in the sign); it will light up a large area. The sign can be toned down which would not light up the neighborhood. Mr. Boring said there were regulations to how bright it can be. Mr. Mahood said he could have the same wattage at 6 feet. Mr. Mills said Ellet Sign Company should have given Mr. Abbe the number of bulbs and wattage.

Mrs. Saillant asked if there was something in the zoning book about the brightness. Mr. Mahood said he had a meter that measured the brightness. Mrs. Milnes inquired about the number of signs. Mr. Abbe said there would be two: one on the building and the pole sign. Mr. Mahood read Section 440 on measuring the brightness from the zoning book about brightness.

Mrs. Boring said he thought the Board had no authority on the lighting. It would be the Zoning Inspector to check it out. The Board can not make a ruling on lighting. Mr. Abbe asked who determines the brightness. Mr5. Mahood would measure the brightness at night and if it were too bright Mr. Abbe would have to adjust it.

Mrs. Saillant said in driving around in that area, the sign would be safer up in the air than closer to the ground when pulling in and out.

Mrs. Turner said the only thing in that area that would not change was the cemetery.

Resolution ZBA 2008-005. Mrs. Saillant made a motion to accept the variance request as is from Section 420.07. Mr. Boring seconded it. A vote was taken as follows: Boring - Yes Saillant - Yes Mills - No Milnes - Yes Cutright - Yes. The motion carried by a vote of 4/1.

Resolution ZBA 2008-006. Mr. Boring made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 18, 2008. The motion carried unanimously (5/0).

Mrs. Saillant made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mrs. Milnes seconded it. Mr. Cutright adjourned the meeting.

Troy Cutright, Chairman
ROOTSTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Mary Ann Greer, Secretary BZA
ROOTSTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS