Auroraadvocate.com - Rezoning, 4 county issues on fall ballot

by Ken Lahmers

Editor

A rezoning of property will be the lone Aurora-only issue on the Nov. 4 ballot, while local residents also will vote on two countywide renewal levies and two for new money.

Aurora voters will decide a zoning map change of 1.92 acres from R-4 residential to C-1 commercial.

Earlier this year, the planning commission and City Council favored sending a request from Dr. Aydin Cabi and Sandstrom Builders LLC to place the rezoning amendment on the ballot.

The property is at 485 North Aurora Road, just south of Hawthorn of Aurora, and once was owned by the Matthew Habbyshaw family.

The long, narrow property is zoned R-4 residential and is surrounded by commercially-zoned land, including a parcel where University Hospital is considering erecting medical offices.

Cabi hopes to build a dentist's office there. When the planning panel discussed the issue, Planning-Zoning-Building Director Rich Wehrenberg had said the site is essentially spot-zoned now.

By the Aug. 21 petition deadline, 28 ballot issues were submitted to the Portage County Board of Elections. Members are reviewing the petitions and will certify Aug. 28 what will appear on the ballot.

State issues have yet to be determined, so none of the issues have been assigned numbers.

Countywide issues include levy renewals for the Mental Health and Recovery Board and Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

The MHRB is seeking renewal of a 0.5-mill, 10-year existing levy. The board of MRDD is seeking renewal of a 2-mill, five-year levy. Both stress the renewals would mean no new taxes.

The Portage County Health District is seeking an additional 0.5-mill levy for five years for current expenses. The district serves all of the county except for Kent and Ravenna, which have their own health departments.

The Portage Park District is seeking an additional 0.5-mill levy for 10 years to preserve forests, wetlands and other sensitive areas.

Streetsboro voters will consider a charter amendment that would increase its municipal income tax credit for residents who work in other tax districts from 1 percent to 2 percent.

But that would occur only if voters also approve a companion issue that would increase the city's income tax from 1 percent to 2 percent, effective Jan. 1.

Streetsboro voters also will consider a zoning map amendment changing about 7 acres from I-1 (industrial research and office) to R-1 (low density urban residential).

The following school levies have been proposed: Field, 7.3-mill replacement for five years for current expenses; James A. Garfield, 5.42-mill renewal for five years for emergency requirements; Rootstown, 2.5-mill renewal for five years for renovation and rehabilitation of facilities; and Windham, 3.46-mill renewal for emergency requirements for five years.

Township levies are:

Atwater, Brimfield and Charlestown townshps are seeking levies for fire protection; and Franklin, Hiram and Paris townships for roads and bridges.

Mantua residents are seeking a referendum on a Council action to eliminate an income tax credit for people who live in the village and work in another tax district. If the referendum passes, the tax credit will not be eliminated.

Brady Lake is seeking a 2.2-mill renewal levy for five years for fire protection.

Local options likely will appear in Brimfield, Kent, Streetsboro and Windham, while the Mantua-Shalersville Fire District is seeking renewal of a 2.99-mill levy for five years for ambulance and emergency medical services.

E-mail:

klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155