Atwater
The Community Action Council (CAC) of Portage County’s Summer Food Program for Children will once again be serving lunch at the Atwater Olde School Park located at 6660 Waterloo Rd. in Atwater. This program will run from June 8 to Aug. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any child age 1-18 can receive a free lunch. There is no paperwork needed, and children from neighboring areas are all welcome. Contact Kathy Kunze of the CAC of Portage County to find other sites in the county and for more details at (330) 297-1456 ext. 258 or at kkunze@cacportage.net.
River Kale, District Outreach Representative for U.S. Representative David P. Joyce, will be attending the Atwater Township Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, June 23 to speak on the federal services Rep. Joyce’s office can help with concerning the township and its citizens.
The Atwater Memorial Day Parade was a rousing success. Pastor Paul Phillips was the Grand Marshall; Delaney Miller was the Waterloo Honor Speaker; Micah Cottrell was the Waterloo Price; and Kamyrn Lynn was the Waterloo Princess. The guest speaker was Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski.
“The weather was beautiful and the parade was enjoyed by all,” township Chair Thora Green said.
Watch for the names of winners of the various categories of the parade to be posted on Facebook.
Upcoming township meetings (all meetings at Atwater Town Hall located at 1219 state Rte. 183):
- June 1: Records Retention, 6:30 p.m.
- June 9: Board of Trustees, 7 p.m.
- June 23: Quarterly Finance Review, 6:30 p.m.; Board of Trustees, 7 p.m.
Brimfield
The Village at St. Edward partnered with developer Dan DeHoff to construct a 107-unit, 101,000-square-foot residential care facility that will serve independent, assisted living and memory care residents in Brimfield. Upon completion in 2027, the project is expected to employ 83 people. Brimfield Township and Portage County supported the development with a local property tax abatement, while the Portage County Port Authority provided sales tax savings on building materials.
The Portage Development Board Locate, Stay & Grow Event was held on May 27. The Village of Saint Edwards was given the Locate Award.
Work is continuing on several new tax increment financings (TIF). Brimfield Economic Development Director and Zoning Inspector Mike Hlad met with Field Local Schools Superintendent David Heflinger to discuss TIFs prior to school notification.
7 Brew will be constructing a new building in Brimfield Commons across from Aldi.
“The Nova”, a mixed-use residential/celebration-center proposal on Tallmadge Road, is currently preparing plans in order to submit its zoning applications.
The Zoning Department is working with Campbell & Associates for the replat of McGuire Park.
Pavlick & Reppas Oral Surgery Center on State Route 43 was approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals and is awaiting building permits from the County. The oral surgery center’s zoning permit has been issued.
A new hotel is being proposed in the Highway Commercial District behind McDonald’s. The Board of Zoning Appeals approved its Conditional Use Permit.
The proposed Farfield Inn is working on framing, drywall and an alarm system.
There are several new occupancies for the Plaza – Wing Warehouse, All Pro Sports & Creations, and Portage County Republican Headquarters.
Villas at Wyles Farm Apartment Homes on Town Square Drive continue site work and constructing apartments is nearing completion. The County Engineer has approved the public roadway improvements from the TIF. Lighting and sidewalks are now being installed on Town Square Park East.
Ryan Homes continues to construct townhomes/condos in the Woodland Reserve Condominium Development at 5036 state Rte. 43. Many condos were sold this spring, and permits have been issued. Work is being done on a TIF to run water down State Route 43. Replats for this project continue.
Pleasant Lakes of Ohio has been granted approval to continue with condominium development off of Sanctuary Drive. The roadway is now in, and several condos are under construction. The developer will also begin building behind the Holiday Inn and Los Girasoles.
Brimfield Crossings Plaza building construction is complete. Work is being done on landscaping and preparing for paving. Subway will soon relocate to this plaza.
The Hill Church continues to work on its new addition.
The former Rico’s Bar is being transformed into a restaurant/bar owned by KWT Commercial Real Estate LLC. Construction is nearing completion.
Schaffer Woods Subdivision on Route 18 has been approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals and Regional Planning. This new subdivision will have 128 new homes and connect into Chapman Farms. An extension of the subdivision’s Conditional Use Permit will be requested at the June 10 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.
Village of Saint Edward Assisted Living Facility is siding the building and continuing site work.
Menards has installed electric vehicle charging stations in the front portion of its lot.
Plato’s Closet is going into 3975 Cascades Blvd., Units 8 and 10.
Buffalo Wild Wings Go has requested occupancy for the former Game Stop location near Chipotle.
A mixed-use development is being proposed south of Dunkin Donuts on Route 18.
The Estates at Marsh Landing off Powdermill Road has sold two of the 10 remaining lots. These will be developed into single family homes.
May Zoning Commission recap: The discussion surrounding data centers continues, including detailed restrictions that are needed in the draft legislation. The survey results of agricultural properties over 20 acres in the R-3 and R-4 districts were covered, but minimal responses to the survey were received. Updates to Chapter 8, Agriculture of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan will be discussed at the June meeting. Lastly, the Zoning Commission discussed and moved to remove the current language that allows for high density development in the O-C District. A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10.
May Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) recap: No applications were received, so the May BZA meeting was canceled.
Zoning violations: Ten cases are currently in court with the Prosecutor’s Office.
Sixteen new homes were permitted this year.
Permit fees as of May 29 for the Zoning Department: $21,221.15.
Upcoming meetings:
- Zoning Commission public hearing – June 10 at 6:30 p.m.
- Zoning Commission – June 11 at 7 p.m.
- Board of Zoning Appeals – June 10 at 7 p.m.
- Regional Planning Commission – June 10 at 4:30 p.m.
- Executive Committee – June 10 at 3:30 p.m.
- Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning & Development Organization – June 17 at 8:30 a.m.
- Kent Joint Economic Development District – Aug. 5 at 11 a.m.
- Amat’s Policy Committee – Aug. 13 at 1 p.m.
Suffield
Suffield’s fifth annual Cruise-In will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 7 at the Suffield Town Hall at 1256 Waterloo Rd. There will be food trucks, music and kids activities, including bouncy houses.
The Township Trustees issued a six-month moratorium on data centers so they can review zoning.