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Washington Township Draft Zoning Text Amendments 2024

The Washington Township Trustees will meet on Thursday April 11 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Township House, 106 Gibson St., Arcadia, OH, in order to discuss updating of the Washington Township Zoning Resolution. Below are the proposed text changes and affected sections of the code. Anyone with questions can contact the Washington Township Zoning Inspector, Jacob Mercer, at 419-424-7094.

1.       1. Changes to Section 20.

ARTIFICIAL PONDS

Artificial ponds may be permitted in all use Districts with review of the Zoning Commission and Zoning Inspector.

(a) All artificial ponds shall comply with all, requirements of this Resolution including, but not limited to, setback and yard requirements from main structures.

(b) All artificial ponds may not exceed 3 acres in surface area, with a limit of one pond per parcel.

(c) In determining compliance with setbacks and yard requirements, the measurements shall be made as follows:

a For in-ground ponds or portions thereof, from the edge of the pond bank nearest the road right-of-way or lot line to the road right-of-way or lot line.

b. For above-ground ponds or portions thereof, from the lowest point on the outside of any embankment nearest the road right-of-way or lot line to the road right-of- way or lot line.

(d) A permit may be issued only after Zoning Commission approval and if the application for a zoning certificate for artificial pond is accompanied by a set of detailed plans made by the Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District or similar service.

2. Proposed Definitions (Section 2)

ARTIFICIAL POND: Any man-made body of water that retains water on an ongoing basis, with a surface area greater than 500 square feet or more, with a depth of no less than 6 feet at its deepest point.

BORROW PIT: An area excavated or to be excavated from which soil and unconsolidated materials are removed or extracted below the grade level of the property, which existed before any overbuilding of the site occurred, for any purpose including but not limited to: for sale, exchange, or for use, as fill for any activities, including but not limited to landscaping, building construction, levees, dams, highway construction or maintenance, or low-lying areas, whether on-site or off-site.

SURFACE AREA: For a pond or borrow pit, it is the measurement taken from the highest point to be excavated.

3. ADD TO I-2 DISTRICT (ARTICLE IX):

Section 3. PRINCIPAL USES PERMITTED SUBJECT TO SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

The following uses shall be permitted, subject to the conditions hereinafter imposed for each use and subject further to the review and approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals:

1. Borrow Pits over 3 acres in surface area

4. ADD TO ALL ZONING DISTRICTS:

PRINCIPAL USES PERMITTED SUBJECT TO SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

1. Borrow pits under 3 acres in surface area