The city of Streetsboro is looking to update its ordinances with regulations on nuisance properties. The main purpose of the change is to outline how officials must serve notices to residents, what citizens are guaranteed during the process and what happens to residents who do not comply.
Streetsboro City Council members began editing a draft ordinance during a working session Monday night. The meeting is one of many to come before the council votes to change the current law. The city made clear the released draft is in its beginning form and concerns from the community will be addressed before passage.
Two of those concerns have already come up among the council members.
Citizens were concerned that the draft’s language could result in a citation for storing vehicles like trailers or boats on a property. Council members were clear that the ordinance’s final language would only apply to abandoned or junk vehicles.
Additionally, members asked for wording to be changed to ensure only non-ornamental grasses and weeds would be subject to an 8-inch limit.
The council also seemed interested in removing the city’s fee for an appeal, currently around $100, to make it easier for residents to disagree with a city decision.
The tone of the meeting was productive as attendees listened to council members and city officials discuss the document.
Sally Jacobs, a longtime resident, appreciated clarifications the council was making, but told members to continue to keep in mind Streetsboro’s working class.
Andrei Nova, the city’s zoning inspector, assured the council the ordinance’s guidelines are a minimum standard, not an attempt to beautify neighborhoods, and that the notice process would only come as a last resort.
The new ordinance would combine and replace a section of the code dealing with litter.
At-large Council Member Steve Michniak began brainstorming ideas on how to best implement a 1-year deadline for certain types of outdoor storage, ensuring there are no loopholes to get around regulations.
At-large Council Member Justin Ring requested that distinctions be made in how different types of properties are treated. He floated the idea of writing separate ordinances for residential and commercial properties. Ward 4’s Council Member Lisa McDaniel asked for distinctions to be made in the statute for rural residential areas.
City officials will now work to prepare updated language for the statute.
The council plans to schedule future work sessions on the legislation soon. All meetings are open to the public to attend at 555 Frost Road. The first draft of the ordinance is available here.
