By Lisa Carolin
Cobblestone Farm received approval on a site plan and on a special use application by the Lima Township Planning Commission at its March 22 meeting held via Zoom.
Nanette Havens voted against the special use resolution and Howard Sias recused himself from both votes.
The applicants, Jim and Darlyn Daratony, provided commission members with plans for the historic barn, the new barn, and the clubhouse.
The plan is to use the historic barn for equestrian shows and other events until a club house is built. The planning commission will review the situation at Cobblestone Farm in December.
The biggest concerns expressed by members of the public are noise and traffic. Jim Daratony asked the commission to consider letting them have amplified music using their own equipment, but planning commissioners said that would require amending the special use permit, which would mean another public hearing.
Lima Township Zoning Administrator Tom Caplis said that the township’s noise ordinance states that there should be no noise from 10 p.m.-7 a.m., and that if music can be heard 50 feet from the source, that’s a violation of the ordinance.
Also at the March 22 meeting, the planning commission postponed action on a preliminary site plan for the Coy family project land division, located at 12005 Jerusalem Road, until the revised plans and escrow money are delivered to the township.
