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COPLEY — Copley Township Trustees Oct. 27 approved updates to the township’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, following two years of review by the Copley Zoning Commission and a resident working group. Planning and Zoning Inspector Shawna Gfroerer said the Comprehensive Land Use Plan was first adopted in 2009 to guide development in the township, and was last updated in 2020. This most recent update is effective through 2036. Gfroerer said the update began in 2023 and included input from the Zoning Commission, focus groups, community surveys and public meetings with more than 400 residents. She said the updates include several new “core” areas of focus, including sections addressing the township’s “built environment,” described by Gfroerer as determining “what do we have and how do we maintain it?”; adding new economic development tools such as community reinvestment areas, enterprise zones and tax increment financing options; transportation, greenspace, housing and infrastructure, including drinking water, sanitary sewer and future mixed-use development; future land use, including an estimated 11,000 residential unit buildout potential for an anticipated 3,000 new residents in the next two decades, and 440 acres identified for potential commercial development including priorities in the Copley and Jacoby roads corridor, South Cleveland-Massillon Road and mixed-use development at Copley Circle; and presenting Copley as a “farming community in a different way than just CAUV (Current Agricultural Use Valuation).” Gfroerer specifically addressed a change in the future land use map for five properties along Medina Road, buffered by Scenic View Drive and South Hametown Road. She said this change in the land use plan does not change zoning, but would “likely support” requests from these property owners for a zoning map amendment. She said the change to a new commercial neighborhood designation from the current commercial/office designation both aligns with potential commercial growth along the west side of Medina Road and “eliminates nonconformities” in the area, including two-family housing and the Sunoco gas station at 4640 Medina Road. Medina Road resident Gholam “Matt” Manteghi spoke in support of this change, stating he owns the only residential properties on Medina Road between Hametown and the Fairlawn border, and he is concerned with his ability to obtain sewer and water service in light of his aging septic system. Regalstone Lane resident Michael Lubes also spoke in support of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update, stating, “My whole issue is water and sewer … None of this gets done without water and sewer to the south [part of the township].” Service Director Greg Tracy called the update “a good product for the next 10 years to manage and control [development].” Trustees unanimously approved the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update. Also at the meeting, trustees approved: • a three-year labor agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 348 effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027; • rescinding a tax increment financing agreement on two commercial parcels on Rothrock Road due to the fact that there has been no development on the property and the property is currently tax delinquent, according to Tracy. Trustee Jim Schulte noted township officials have had numerous conversations with developers, and “it just is what it is”; • an $814 change order to the Infinity Construction contract for the Community Room renovation for concrete additions and credits; • amending the 2025 permanent appropriations in the amount of $10,000 each to cover electricity charges for the remainder of the year, and to issue a purchase order to Ohio Edison in the amount of $10,000; • reinvesting funds currently in a certificate of deposit that expire Nov. 13 into a money market account to earn 4.07% interest for seven months; • the use of the Township Employee Dishonesty and Faithful Performance of Duty insurance policy in lieu of individual surety bonds for various officials of the township including all elected officials, the township administrator, the zoning inspector and assistants to the fiscal officer; • a change order to the Infinity Construction Inc. contract in the amount of $113,047 for access controls and security upgrades for the Community Room, Town Hall and Service Department Administration offices; and rescinding a resolution approving a purchase order in the amount of $93,650 to Premise Solutions Inc. for the same improvements to these buildings; • purchase orders in the amount of $5,125 to iWorq to renew the zoning software for 2025-26; and $10,000 to Ohio Drone Repair to purchase a new drone for use in the Police Department, paid out of the Law Enforcement Trust Fund and “consistent with our capital budget,” according to Police Chief Michael Mier; • renewal of the 2025 Intergovernmental Agreement and to enter into a new agreement for 2026 for the Direct Indictment Program with Summit County, with cost for the 2025 renewal at $11,000 and the 2026 cost not to exceed $10,400; • a payment of $3,951 to Parker Truck and Trailer for Fire Department vehicle repair expenses; and • donations of $5,000 to support the 2026 Copley Car Show, and up to $2,500 to the Copley Seniors holiday luncheon. The Copley Township Board of Trustees next meet Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Copley Township Hall, 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road. The meeting is also available for viewing at www.copley.oh.us, under “Government” and “Board of Trustees Meeting Videos.”
