A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held July 13, 2020 via Zoom teleconference software. Members present were Bryce Jacob (Planning Commissioner), Sheila Bagley, Janet Brown, Paul Collini, and Rich Skowronski. Also present were Mike Jones and Jody Croley Jones, Neil and Jennifer Zipfel, Rob Albert, Greg and Nancy Long, and Carl and Sharon Merhar. Joshua C. Mehling served as Clerk. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

  1. The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of June 8, 2020 were not read since each member had received a copy. Skowronski moved and Brown seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bagley, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 5-0.

An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Neil and Jennifer Zipfel at 5925 Olentangy Blvd to install an aluminum fence on the north and west sides of the back yard and a cedar fence on the south side of the back yard. During the meeting, Jennifer Zipfel stated that she was modifying the original plans to make a shorter section of 6 foot cedar fence by the house, and then dropping it to 4 foot for the remainder. The 6 foot section is for privacy as it is between the patios of the 2 houses. Rob Albert, who owns the neighboring property on the south side of the lot, stated that he has no objections to the 6 foot section of fencing. Greg Long, who owns the neighboring property on the north side, stated that he has no objections as well.

The plans included a small section of chain link fencing at the back as well that would allow for equipment to do future landscaping work to access the back yard, at which point it would be replaced with cedar fencing. There was discussion about this and the aesthetic drawbacks of having several different types of fencing and heights in the yard. Zipfel agreed that the chain link fencing could be replaced with 4 foot cedar in the current plans.

Skowronski moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for this project with the stipulation that the Zipfels replace the proposed chain link fencing with 4 foot cedar, the south side will be 4 foot cedar with a section of 6 foot cedar near the houses, and that the aluminum fencing will be 48 inches and Bagley seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bagley, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 5-0.

  1. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Mike Jones and Jody Croley Jones at 5830 Falmouth to install solar panels on the south facing roof of the house. Mike Jones stated that these 29 panels would provide 100% of the electricity needs of the house. The panels will be 1 inch thick and set 3 inches off of the roof. The panels will be black and the frame and rails will be powder finished black as well. The connectors from the panels to the house’s power will be in the back of the house.

Carl and Sharon Merhar, who own the property to the south of the house, inquired about how the panels would affect rain runoff from the house. Jones stated that the panels will sit back about a foot from the ridge of the house, allowing space for water to run into the gutter as current.

Brown moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for this project as shown in the plans and Bagley seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bagley, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 5-0.

  1. The Planning Commissioner updated the commission as to a letter of notice of violation that had been sent to the residents at 5809 Olentangy Blvd. The Planning Commission had approved a walkway in December 2018 with the stipulation that it could not be used as a driveway, but there have been numerous documented occasions of cars parked on this. The Planning Commissioner sent the homeowners a letter notifying them of the potential of escalating fines and penalties for any future violations.

Skowronski moved and Collini seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0). The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

 

Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner

Josh Mehling, Clerk