Danbury Township is conducting a rezoning study of single-family neighborhoods that are zoned “R-C” Recreational Commercial to determine whether they should be more appropriately rezoned to “R-3” High Density Residential. In the interest of openness and transparency, Danbury Township held one an open house in July and is holding a second Open House on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 9-11 a.m., to give residents the opportunity to review the recommendations.

“The study involves over 700 parcels in 12 general areas. The State of Ohio does not require the Township to notify every property owner personally since more than 10 parcels are proposed to be rezoned,” said Administrator Kathryn A. Dale, AICP, of Danbury Township’s Zoning & Planning Office.

The areas involve properties in or near Marblehead Estates Subdivision, Cove-on-the-Bay, Danbury Cove, part of Galley’s Landing Subdivision, Bayview Shores, the north part of Zeller’s Beach, Willow Cove, Lattimore Acres, Emerald Shores, the south side of Avalon-on-the-Bay, Cottages at Marblehead, part of Saylor & Koontz Subdivisions, five addresses in West Harbor Landings, Harbor’s End & Harbor’s Cove Condominiums, part of Regatta Subdivision, west side of Channel Grove, part of Rockport Subdivision, part of Commodore Subdivision and Phase 7 of Perryview Estates.

Maps of the areas are available on the Township Website at www.danburytownship.com.

Dale shared that the July Open House was well attended by approximately 40 people. Feedback from those who attended was overall very positive with a few recommended modifications. Dale provided a brief presentation that provided examples of what could happen if the properties remained zoned as Commercial. The same presentation will be given at 9:30 a.m. during the upcoming Open House.

“Whether your neighborhood is effected by the recommendations of the study or not, anyone is welcome to come to the Open House,” Dale said. “People are welcome to stay for as long or as little as they like.”

In addition to Dale, Zoning Commission and Board of Trustee members will also be present to answer any questions.

Dale said that if these residential properties have public sewer and water, the basic requirements related to building size, setbacks and lot coverage already revert to the “R-3” High Density Residential requirements. The concern is that some larger residential lots, and the structures on them, could be converted to a commercial use allowed in the “R-C” Recreational Commercial zoning district with no notice to neighbors.

The other concern is that multiple small lots could be consolidated, making a larger parcel for a commercial activity or structure in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

“Not all of these neighborhoods have active associations or private restrictions in place preventing the commercial activity,” explained Dale. The goal of this study was to protect these residential neighborhoods, old and new, and not create a problem for existing commercial uses.”

Should the reviews continue to be positive, Danbury Township intends to begin the official public hearing process in September with an anticipated adoption of the recommended changes by the end of the year in order to be effective at the beginning of 2022.