By Lisa Carolin
The Lima Township Planning Commission unanimously approved a special use application for Burns Lawn Care and Landscaping at its June 27 meeting following a public hearing on the subject.
The decision will allow Burns to build a pole barn on property located at 267 N. Steinbach Road. Neighbor Ted Steinbach said, “They’ve been great neighbors,” and Lima Township Zoning Administrator Tom Caplis said, “They’ve been in compliance.”
The purpose of the barn is for equipment storage.
The Planning Commission also discussed updating an ordinance about off-premise businesses.
Planning Commission chair Marlene Consiglio said, “The definition is vague in the current zoning ordinance. Now when somebody has a home-based business, who knows what’s going to happen.”
Paul Montagno, planner from Carlisle/Wortman Assoc., Inc., introduced new requirements to the ordinance including that the business must clearly be incidental to the use of the premises as a residence.
Township Supervisor Craig Maier said, “This would primarily deal with equipment storage when all services are performed off-site.”
Caplis suggested, “They all should require special use permits.”
The Planning Commission voted to table the discussion so that members can take the time to study the proposed language for the ordinance.
Members of the Planning Commission also discussed a work session they had a few weeks ago to review the Township’s Master Plan. They determined that the Master Plan is adequate. Suggestions include updating the numbers like population and growth, and strengthening the language about preserving certain areas.
Due to absences and a light agenda, the Lima Township Planning Commission voted to cancel its July meeting and will meet next on Aug. 22.
