Council holds first reading of charter amendment to shift zoning appeals to zoning board

A council member presented the first reading of Ordinance 29-2026, a proposed charter amendment that would alter Article V and Article X to make decisions by the zoning board of appeals final rather than sending those appeals to council for a de novo decision. The council read the ordinance caption during the meeting that began at 6:14 p.m.

The council member who spoke about the measure said the city learned from peers that "98, 99% of cities in Ohio go with this process" where the zoning board's decision is final, rather than being referred to the council. The speaker said the ordinance will proceed on three readings; the third reading would be the final legislative reading, and if adopted the amendment would be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot for voters to decide.

Clerk and council members invited public comment on legislation but heard none on the ordinance. No formal vote on the substance of the charter change was taken at the meeting; the item was recorded as a first reading. The council did not introduce a specific timeline for subsequent readings during the public portion of the meeting.

The ordinance was listed as "Ordinance 29-2026," described in the meeting as a charter amendment to the zoning board of appeals process. The council recorded the procedural first reading and discussed the rationale behind moving final decision-making authority to the zoning board, citing comparable practice in other Ohio municipalities.