Smart Growth Education Foundation

 Community Assistance Grant Program

Case Studies of Past Community Assistance Grant Applicants

Olmstead Township - Cuyahoga County


Amherst Township - Lorain County

In 2004, Amherst Township was awarded a Smart Growth Educational Foundation Grant.  The township began an exploratory investigation and education program regarding conservation development as a type of development that could preserve open space, maintain the rural character of the township, comply with the stormwater management plan and reduce the long term operating cost associated with added development infrastructure. 

All township owners of 10 or more acres of property in Amherst Township were invited to educational forums presented by Kirby Date with the Countryside Program.  Based on the results of the comments from those educational forums, the township pursued the development of zoning regulations in support of conservation development. 

A professional planning consultant, D.B. Hartt, was hired to facilitate the formation of regulations acceptable to the township.  The township approved an amendment of the zoning resolution to allow Conservation Development in 2005, but a zoning referendum was filed by one of the trustees that delayed the change to the zoning resolution. 

At a protest hearing filed by the Board of Township Trustees, the Board of Elections determined that the referendum petition was flawed, and ruled in favor of the townships zoning resolution amendment.  On 4/27/06, a lawsuit was filed in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas naming the township and the Zoning Commission as defendants, Case No. 06CV146079.  On 6/30/06, the court dismissed the suit with prejudice. 

The availability of this type of land use helped the township to fight off an annexation attempt in 2006.  The developer has since submitted a zoning change request to develop a Conservation Development on a 20-acre parcel on the east side of Pyle-south Amherst Road.   The City of Amherst will provide utilities to the development.  Zoning and subdivision review should begin in 2007.

The Smart Growth Educational Foundation grant helped fund the township's development of "Conservation Development Zoning Regulations".  The Township looks forward to working with RJ Perritt Homes on Copper Creek - the township's first Conservation Development this summer, along Pyle-south Amherst Road.  

 

Village of Seville - Medina County

 

Brimfield Township - Portage County

 

Rootstown Township - Portage County

SGEF awarded Rootstown Township, Ohio a $4,000 grant to be used for drafting and amending its existing Zoning Resolution.  Rootstown Township, Ohio amended and implemented its current Zoning Resolution in 1998.  In keeping with the most recent Comprehensive Use Plan goal of encouraging open space and natural resource preservation while encouraging growth and development, the new and improved resolution has a section on Planned Residential Developments.  They have proven to be a successful concept.  Planned Commercial Developments were a concept the Rootstown Zoning Commission was exploring to complement there zoning regulations.

Recently in an effort to enhance the township’s tax base, provide jobs, and increase the value of “old” properties, sections of residential property have been re-zoned commercial.  These “new” commercial zones both residential and industrial sections, creating a mixed-use environment.  The Rootstown Township Zoning Commission began to explore the concept of Planned Commercial Developments in these mixed-use sectors, particularly where commercial zoning abuts residential zoning.  Like Planned Residential Developments, Planned Commercial Developments would modify or waive zoning requirements, with the goal of maximizing development profits while concurrently preserving open space and natural resources.  Additionally, with the anticipation of an amendment of the Zoning Resolution, a proposed development was pending upon approval of such revisions.

Rootstown Township achieved success in this project through several goals.  Initially, Rootstown Township hired David Hartt of D. B. Hartt, Inc., of Cleveland, OH, in January 2002 who drafted materials for the Zoning Commission’s consideration.  Finally, the Zoning Commission incorporated the following grant requirements into the Planned Commercial Developments: Preservation of Natural Resources; Support Infill Development; Is Contiguous to Existing Developed Areas; and Create Independent Mixed-Use Centers.  

Rootstown Township applied for a Smart Growth Education Foundation grant in October 2001 and the first installment of the grant was presented to on April 2002.  The Rootstown Township Trustees unanimously voted at the final meeting in December 2002 to accept the Planned Commercial Development amendment for the Zoning Resolution.