North Royalton City Council unanimously adopted legislation that places a temporary moratorium on small box discount stores across the city. The measure was introduced by Ward 2 Council Representative Linda Barath, Ward 1 Council Representative Jessica Fenos, and Ward 3 Council Representative Joanne Krejci. It was also co-sponsored by Council President, Paul Marnecheck.
Originally, Council discussed the matter to place the moratorium only in the city’s Town Center District (TCD). Generally, that area is located between Royalwood Road and Royalton Roads to the north and south, and State Road and Ridge Road to the east and west. Under the TCD zoning, retail was a usage allowable in that area. The measure had been discussed in the North Royalton Council Building and Building Codes Committee. Council then agreed to place the moratorium over the entire city, until the direction of the Master Plan is known and approved.
That way, the zoning could reflect a change in the uses that would be allowable in that area. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said that the city’s Master Plan will be reviewed and updated, probably starting at the end of this year. The new plan is expected to be finished and approved by Council by next summer in order to place it on the ballot for voters to approve. The city’s last Master Plan was approved in 2014, which included fourteen changes to the previous plan. That measure was passed by 65% of the vote.
According to the moratorium legislation, “the City of North Royalton may legitimately regulate the location and approval of Small Box Discount Stores, which are defined as a retail store between 3,000 and 15,000 square feet in size, that sell direct to consumers a limited assortment of physical goods, products, or merchandise, personal grooming and health products, household goods, and other consumer products, including food or beverages for off premises consumption, most individual items being sold for $10.00 or less, and having less than 15% of shelf space dedicated to fresh food and produce.” It goes on to talk about the city’s Master Plan for development, which is required to be reviewed at regular intervals. It notes that “that review is to be undertaken in the coming months and all recommendations be presented to Council and the electorate next year, 2021, and that such review will include the questions and concerns regarding Small Box Discount Stores.”
It goes on to state that “this Council believes that a temporary moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications for zoning, occupancy, conditional use and/or building permit approvals for Small Box Discount Stores in any Zoning District in the city, and on the issuance of such approvals, will not deny property owners the economically viable use of their property and will permit the City Administration, Council and Planning Commission necessary time to undertake a review of the North Royalton Zoning Code in conjunction with the Master Plan review and possible amendment thereof relative to the location and approval process for Small Box Discount Stores.”
The newly imposed moratorium is in effect for a period of twelve months from the effective date of the Ordinance or until the adoption of the Master Plan amendments, whichever comes first. With the moratorium, “the city shall not accept or process any applications for zoning, occupancy, conditional use and/or building permit approvals for Small Box Discount Stores in any Zoning District in the city, and further shall not issue any such approvals during said period,” according to the ordinance.
North Royalton Community Development Director, Tom Jordan noted that the Master Plan will be coming out that will have a town center focus. “I think we do have to look at what the city wants and hopefully the master plan will get at some of those issues,” said Jordan.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer