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Public Input Helps Shape Geauga County Farmland Preservation Plan

Planning Commission – August 11, 2026

Meeting Details: The Geauga Planning Commission met in regular session on August 11, 2026 at 7:30 am at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH 44024.  This meeting was in person with no virtual attendance option.  The agenda is normally available online prior to the meeting. A copy was available at the meeting.  Observer Note: The website presents the minutes and meeting dates, and the agenda is included in that section.

Public Comment Policy:  No formal policy, but in practice, public comment could be permitted at the Chair’s prerogative. However, public comment is not typically invited during regular meetings.

No public comment is solicited or offered except in cases where an applicant or zoning inspector is present to answer questions regarding an item on the agenda. 

Board Attendance:

Staff Attendance: Linda Crombie, Planning Director, Allyson Kobus-Havel, Planner II, and Pamela Irizarry, Administrative Assistant were present.

Others Attending: This Observer and one other member of the public were in attendance. 

Minutes - Once approved by the board, the minutes are available online here.  Scroll down until the section on Minutes and Agendas.

Pledge of Allegiance - The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call - Roll was called. A quorum was present. 

Approval of Minutes - July 14, 2026 Regular Meeting

The Commission approved the minutes of its July 14 regular meeting without opposition.

Approval of Agenda/Addendum

The Commission unanimously approved the agenda as presented.

Financial Report and Approval of Expenses

Ms. Irizarry reviewed expenses. July expenses included advertising for the Farmland Preservation Plan public forum and three *Spirit of Bainbridge* payments divided among multiple accounts and a new purchase order. All vendors have been paid.

The Commission received a $5,000 advance from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) for the Farmland Preservation Plan grant. A planning commission financial account, Account 2044, designated for farmland planning and unused since approximately 2010, was reopened. July revenue included a $150 lot-split fee. The Board of County Commissioners provided a $600 supplemental appropriation, and $2,000 was appropriated for plan expenses.

Members discussed approximately $14,966 remaining from account 2044. The Prosecutor's Office had advised against using the balance until its purpose was verified. A resolution located by the County Commissioners' Office established that it could be used for general farmland purposes. The money can now support the current farmland work or future farmland work.

Ms. Crombie is tracking employee time, printing, mileage, and other grant expenses in a master spreadsheet. Ms. Crombie will confirm ODA's requirements before the first quarterly report in October. Additional reimbursement submissions are scheduled for February 15 and June 15.

The Commission approved the financial report and expenses without opposition or abstention.

Other Business

There was no other business.

Major Subdivisions to Be Reviewed

There was nothing to review.

Township Zoning Amendments

A. Russell Township Text Amendment ZC-2026-01

The amendment would change provisions concerning definitions, the official zoning map, and general regulations. Ms. Crombie recommended that the township confirm statutory references governing licensed residential facilities with its legal counsel. Ms. Crombie also proposed shorter zoning map language that does not cite a specific adoption date.

For electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Ms. Crombie recommended consistent terminology, clarification of conditional accessory uses, and language stating that electric vehicle spaces are “in addition to” minimum parking requirements. Ms. Crombie questioned assigning fire, electrical, and inspection responsibilities to the zoning inspector when those matters are administered by other officials.

Ms. Crombie recommended approval with the modifications in the review memorandum. Mr. Rogish moved to recommend approval with modifications. Mr. Miller seconded, and the motion passed without opposition or abstention.

Director’s Report

Ms. Crombie reviewed her Director’s Report. No formal motions were taken under this section.

1. Lot Splits

Ms. Crombie reported one lot split during July, a comparatively low number. She said the lighter subdivision workload was helpful because July work centered heavily on the Farmland Preservation Plan public forum.

2. NEO Planning and Zoning Workshop

The Northeast Ohio Planning and Zoning Workshop will be held Friday, August 28, at the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake. Ms. Crombie described the program as useful to townships and rural communities while also serving villages and cities. Two staff members plan to attend, including the session on data centers. Notice was distributed to the townships, and Ms. Crombie expects significant Geauga County participation. The reported nonmember registration fee was $75.

3. 2027 Budget Request

The department's customary 2027 budget request was approved by the Board of County Commissioners, but the requested farmland-coordinator position was not. Ms. Crombie said the position could be reconsidered after the Farmland Preservation Plan is completed. The Planning Commission could also hire an intern or temporary worker to perform a special project. In response to Mr. Gorris’ question, Ms. Crombie said no specific reason was given for denying the position, although concern was expressed about high property taxes.

4. ODA 2025 Report

Ms. Crombie presented the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) annual report and highlighted an agricultural easement involving Hope Farm in Thompson Township. The report also contains information about Agricultural Security Areas (ASAs). Geauga County currently has no ASAs, and the updated Farmland Preservation Plan may include a goal of establishing at least one. Ms. Crombie explained that an ASA requires a minimum of 500 contiguous acres and may provide tax benefits for new agricultural construction. Wayne County was cited as having substantial acreage enrolled in the program.

The report discussed at the meeting is available as the official 2024–2025 Ohio Department of Agriculture Annual Report and Statistics here.  Its farmland-preservation section begins on report page 18.

5. GIS/Planning Intern

The GIS/planning intern was completing work identifying buildings by type. The intern also prepared maps and assisted with the Farmland Preservation Plan public forum. The week of the Commission meeting was the intern's final week.

6. Geauga County Township Association Quarterly Meeting

Ms. Crombie reported that the quarterly Township Association meeting included several presenters. A Bainbridge Township representative, believed to be a member of the township zoning commission, said the township was preparing proposed changes to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 519: Township Zoning. Ms. Crombie has not yet received the proposal and will notify the Commission when it becomes available.

7. Commercial Construction

In Chardon, the former Rite Aid was demolished for construction of a Sheetz. Ms. Crombie also reported an expansion of a chocolate manufacturing facility, owned by December Holding Co., in Burton Township that was expected to approximately double its existing footprint.

8. Work Summary

Ms. Crombie said six items were recorded in the monthly work summary, substantially fewer than in June. The department referred to the land-use chapter of the county plan and reviewed Middlefield Township agricultural soils and agricultural-district information before meeting with the township about the Farmland Preservation Plan update.

9. Not Reviewed

Item 9 of the Director's Report was not reviewed at the meeting.

10. Not Reviewed

Item 10 of the Director's Report was not reviewed at the meeting.

11. Security Training

Ms. Crombie reported completing security training. No additional discussion or detail was provided.

12. Legislation

Ms. Crombie reported another proposed data center bill that would require proposed data centers to be submitted to a public vote. Because the current General Assembly ends at the close of 2026, she expressed doubt that the pending data center bills would advance. House Bill 985 would reduce the signature requirement for a zoning referendum from 35 percent to 20 percent of an area’s registered voters. Ms. Crombie noted that the threshold has changed repeatedly over time and remains 35 percent unless the law is amended.

Mr. Gorris revisited press coverage of the Farmland Preservation Plan public forum. He said the resulting newspaper article made it appear that his comments focused entirely on data centers. He explained that the reporter had specifically asked whether data centers came up during the forum and that he answered yes, but emphasized that data centers were not the only subject he discussed. He spoke favorably of the reporter while clarifying that the article did not reflect the full scope of his comments. Reviewer Note: The Farmland Preservation Plan public forum was held on July 15, 2026 and was organized by the Geauga County Planning Commission. See the announcement for the event here. See the Maple Leaf article Mr. Gorris referenced here. It may be behind a pay wall.

Correspondence

There was no correspondence.

Old Business

A. Farmland Preservation Plan Update

Ms. Crombie, Ms. Kobus-Havel and Mr. Rogish attended the July 13 Middlefield Township trustees meeting. The visit satisfied a grant requirement to contact townships without zoning, and staff presented a condensed version of the public forum materials.

An estimated 85 to 90 people attended the Farmland Preservation Plan open house and public forum. The interactive exercises identified keeping farmland in agricultural use as a leading strength, the lack of younger farmers as a weakness, buying locally as an opportunity and development pressure as the principal threat.

Participants showed the most support for hiring a county farmland planner or coordinator, keeping elected officials informed about agricultural issues and expanding agricultural education for young people. Nine attendees requested continuing updates.

Approximately $12,000 in expenses had been attributed to the project since April 1, including nearly $2,000 for advertising, about $900 for printing and supplies and approximately $9,200 in staff time. Additional in-kind contributions had not yet been included.

Commission members discussed how the completed plan would be distributed and implemented. Suggestions included providing it to local governments, preparing explanatory information sheets, promoting local purchasing and considering a farmers market or agricultural exposition at the county fairgrounds. Staff also created an online story map containing the public forum materials and will begin drafting the updated plan.

New Business

A. Malcolm Boorn Survey, Sublot 6 — Middlefield Township

The owner of Sublot 6 proposed purchasing 1.4 acres from adjoining unplatted land and consolidating it with the existing lot. Members expressed concern that the change could affect nearby owners because Middlefield Township has no zoning.

The Commission determined that the proposal would have an injurious effect on Sublots 7 through 12. Approval from the owners of those lots will therefore be required before the replat can proceed.

B. Sunset Drive Subdivision, Sublot 26 — Auburn Township

The owner proposed dividing Sublot 26 into parcels of approximately 2.9 and 3 acres. Auburn Township had already granted the necessary lot-area variance, and no objections were identified from the variance proceedings.

The Commission determined that the proposal would have no injurious effect.

C. Frey’s Subdivision, Sublot 13 — Parkman Township

One acre of adjoining unplatted property would be consolidated with Sublot 13 to correct an existing building and driveway encroachment. The remaining property would retain adequate road frontage.

The Commission determined that the proposal would have no injurious effect.

D. Mileage Reimbursement

The Commission approved increasing the mileage reimbursement rate from 72.5 cents to 76 cents per mile, effective July 1 through December 31, 2026, following Internal Revenue Service guidelines.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:36 am following unanimous approval of a motion to adjourn.

Next meeting: September 10, 2026.

More Information about the Geauga Planning Commission is available online. 

Observer: David Lewis

Editor: Rooney Moy

Reviewer: Carol Benton

Submitted: August 12, 2026

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