New hire
The Sylvania Township Trustees authorized Fire Chief Chris Nye to hire Samuel Lammers to fill a staff vacancy. This is in keeping with the agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 2243 and the pledge to the community following the successful passage of the fire levy. His employment will be contingent on the completion of a successful background check, physical and psychological examination, and the completion of the Sylvania Fire/EMS Recruit School, and if needed, obtaining the state’s Paramedic certification and the Firefighter II certification within the one-year probationary period.
Sylvania Township Administrator Oliver Turner was authorized to fill the Zoning Department vacancy. Turner suggested two employment options: advertising for a replacement for a part-time zoning code enforcement officer or a full-time planning and zoning assistant.
Public Hearings
Two township residents spoke in favor of a text amendment to the Sylvania Township Zoning Resolution to permit front street-facing rooftop solar panels at the first of four public hearings. It was noted that there were several residents who voiced a negative opinion at an earlier public hearing. After some discussion, the trustees agreed with a two-to-one vote to table the request pending legal advice.
Lamar General Manager Greg Churilla, on behalf of developers Central Rock LLC, presented the benefits to the township of the proposed electronic billboard sign for Central Avenue in the second public hearing. The applicant was requesting an amendment to permit billboard signs in the township. Trustees Jill Johnson and John Jennewine voted to deny the request, and because of a conflict, trustee Neal Mahoney was recused from voting.
Following a brief third public hearing, the trustees approved the request for changing the zoning from C-2, general commercial, to R-4 PUD (High Density Residential Planned Unit Development) for the property at 9640 Sylvania Metamora Rd. This change allows 11 villas or 22 units to be added to Otterbein’s senior living options at the Sylvania Sunset Village campus.
After the fourth public hearing, the trustees voted to approve a zone change from R-2, low-density residential, to R-2, medium-density residential for the properties at 6044, 6048, and 6052 Durbin Rd. Jon Nissen of Woodland Custom Homes requested the zoning change to create two 60-foot frontage lots from the three existing 40-foot lots, allowing him to build two single-family homes.
The next Sylvania Township Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 at 5 pm.
Zoning change approved
The Board of Zoning appeals voted unanimously to approve the request of applicant Bruce Yacko of Canberra Corp. for a setback from the 15-foot requirement to three-foot, two inches. The applicant wants to construct a 9,159-square-foot building addition to the south side of the existing facility at 3610 N. Holland Sylvania Rd. Though the proposed addition would be, at its closest point, 3.2 feet from the south property line, the presence of the bike path provides a de facto buffer between the subject parcel and the adjoining commercial property to the south. The bike path is 50 feet wide. It does intersect and traverse through the applicant’s property, but there is still an approximate 30 feet at the narrowest point, between the proposed addition and the southern abutting parcel.
Leaf Pickup
Leaf pickup for Sylvania Township residents begins the week of Oct. 20.