Legislative Roundup – February 2025

Want to stay informed about how local governments in Northeast Ohio are shaping the real estate industry? Here’s a summary of some ordinances under consideration in Cuyahoga, Portage, and Summit Counties. If you know of something missing from the list, email ATomkinson@AkronClevelandRealtors.com with the details.

Cuyahoga County

• Cuyahoga County Council
  • R2025-007: A Resolution awarding a total sum, not to exceed $100,000, to the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation for the Circle East District Neighborhood Patrol from the District 7 ARPA Community Grant Fund and Community Development Fund; and declaring the necessity that this Resolution become immediately effective.
  • R2025-0077: A Resolution amending Resolution No. 2024-0375, dated 11/12/2024, with authorized Affordable Housing Loans to various organizations in the total amount not-to-exceed $4,550,000.00 for the Affordable Housing Gap Financing Program, to convert the $200,000.00 Affordable Housing Loan for Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry to a grant; and declaring the necessity that this Resolution became immediately effective:

Original Organizations:

a) Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry in the amount not-to-exceed $200,000.00 for construction of (4) new, affordable, energy-efficient, permanent housing units for people experiencing homelessness in the City of Cleveland;

b) 2804 Moreland, LLC in the amount not-to-exceed $450,000.00 for the rehabilitation of a vacant residential building, located at 2804 Moreland Boulevard, City of Cleveland, to create 23 units of affordable housing;

c) CHN Housing Partners in the amount not-to-exceed $450,000.00 for the construction of (40) affordable housing units for low to moderate-income persons, with an emphasis single parents seeking higher education;

d) Cuyahoga Land Bank in the amount not-to-exceed $1,500,000.00 to provide matching grants for housing and rehabilitation; and matching grants for the construction of (2) (5) new homes in the City of East Cleveland;

e) Emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc., in the amount not-to-exceed $450,000.00 for the redevelopment and rehabilitation of (1) existing building and the creation of new affordable housing units for EDEN Expansion Phase II Project;

f) emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc., in the amount not-to-exceed $450,000.00 for the redevelopment and rehabilitation of (2) existing building and the creation of (6) new affordable rental housing units, located on Madison Avenue and Lorain Avenue in the City of Cleveland;

g) Northwest Neighborhoods CDC in the amount not-to-exceed $450,000.00 for the creation of (51) affordable rental housing units for seniors for The Karam Senior Living Project.

• R2025-0038: A Resolution authorizing an Emergency Rental Assistance 2 Loan and Federal HOME Investment Partnership Loan to Warner and Swasey, LLC, or their designee, in the amount not-to-exceed $3,350,000.00 for construction of 140 units for mixed-use, mixed-income, mixed-population, historic adaptive-reuse of the former Warner and Swasey Manufacturing Plant, located in the City of Cleveland; authorizing the County Executive and/or Director of Housing and Community Development to execute all documents consistent with said loan and this Resolution; and declaring the necessity that this Resolution become immediately effective.

• Cleveland
  • Heir Property Relief Program
    • The City of Cleveland has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to launch the Heir’s Property Program. This program will help those who have inherited a property, but do not have a clear title to it.
    • ACAR has reached out to the City of Cleveland for more information on this program.
  • No. 189-2025: To supplement the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio, 1976, by enacting new Section 350.121 relating to window sign coverage limitation and to amend Section 3104.02 of the codified ordinances, as amended by Ordinance No. 388-2024, passed April 1, 2024, relating to civil offenses.
  • 1116-2021: An Emergency Ordinance authorizing the Mayor and the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies to acquire the Martin Luther King, Jr. High School property located at 1651 East 71^st Street for future redevelopment for the Department of Community Development; to convey the property to Structures Unlimited, LLC, or their designee; and to enter into an agreement between the City and the Redeveloper.
    • Second reading.
• Cleveland Heights
  • No. 010-2025(PD): An Ordinance introducing amendments to various Sections of Part Eleven, Zoning Code, of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Cleveland Heights to update the City’s regulations regarding enclosed private parking garage regulations, driveway widths, accessory parking, fences, frontages and yards, sidewalk/shared-use paths, landscaping requirements, non-conformities, yard requirements in residential districts, PRD District, zoning complaints, role of the Zoning Administrator, inclusive language, and general changes to ensure consistency within Zoning Code, and transmitting the same to the Planning Commission.
    • Public Hearing 02/18/2025
  • Draft 2025-011: An Ordinance amending “Part Thirteen-Building Code” and “Part Fourteen-Property Maintenance and Housing Code” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Kent to correct conflicting language and declaring an emergency.
  • Resolution – Planning Commission: “[T]he City of Cleveland Heights Planning Commission fully supports funding the 2025 Budget the larger zoning examination of residential zoning as part of the Livable Neighborhoods Initiative…”
• Garfield Heights
  • 16-2025; An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Finance Director to Earmark ARPA Funds for the City of Garfield Heights Home Repair Grant Program and Declaring an Emergency.
    • “…the Mayor and Council have requested that the Finance Director earmark an additional $150,000.00 for the home repair grant program, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated as if fully written within…”
• Gates Mills
  • Sending a survey to Village residents asking for input on possibly amending the Charter regarding zoning:
    • Chapter 1160 (Allows groups of up to three attached single-family homes in exchange for conserving open space)
    • Five-acre lot size (the minimum lot size established in the 1990s outside of the downtown historical district)
    • Higher density housing (currently not allowed, but clustering of homes with associated open space under Chapter 1160 above)
• North Royalton
  • 25-10: An ordinance amending the Codified Ordinances of the City of North Royalton, Part 2, Administrative Code, Chapter 214 General Fee Schedule, Section 214.08 (h) Fees in the Building and Housing Code, and declaring an emergency.
    • Third reading 02/18/2025
  • 25-20: An ordinance amending the Codified Ordinances of the City of North Royalton, Part 14 Building and Housing Code, Title Six, Miscellaneous Building Regulations, Chapter 1477 Regulations for the Use and Installation of Solar Energy Systems, by amending Section 1477.04 Standards (b) Setbacks and 1477.06 (b)(1) Site Plan and declaring an emergency.
    • Second reading 02/18/2025
  • 25-28: An Ordinance amending the Codified Ordinances of the City of North Royalton, Part 14 Building and Housing Code Title Six Miscellaneous Building Regulations, Chapter 1472 Numbering on Buildings, by amending Section 1472.02 Size, and declaring an emergency,
• Parma
  • No. 07-25: An Ordinance to rezone permanent parcel numbers 442-44-003 and 442-44-001, located at 11100 and 11120 Snow Road, respectively, from Single Family A-1 to Single Family Cluster C-1, in the City of Parma.
    • Motion made to refer back to Planning Committee. Motion carried.
• Parma Heights
  • Ord No. 2024-91: An Ordinance providing for Short-Term Rentals establishing Chapter 769, amending Chapter 1171, and 1174, and establishing Chapter 1192 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Parma Heights, and declaring an emergency, as amended.
    • Second reading 02/24/2025
  • 42-2025: An emergency ordinance Authorizing the Director of Public Health to transfer property located at 4242 Lorain Avenue to the control, possession, and use of the Development of Community Development or Economic Development; authorizing the sale or lease of the property to Penrose Holdings, or its designee, for future redevelopment; and authorizing the Directors of Public Health, Community Development and Penrose Holdings to enter into a development agreement relating to this ordinance.
• University Heights
  • 2025-02: An ordinance amending Chapter 1493 of the Codified Ordinances relating to Apartment Building Registration, Permits, and Inspections.

Summit County

• Akron
  • Ordinance amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code,” Article 6 “Development and Area District Requirements”, Section 153.205 “Residence Requirements” and Section 4.3.3. “Walls and Fences” of the City of Akron Form-Based Code to amend fencing requirements and declaring an emergency.
    • Public Hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025.
• Hudson
  • Ord 25-28: An ordinance amending Chapter 1202.04(b)(3) of the Land Development Code relevant to the Architectural and Historic Board of Review Advice of Consultant
    • Would allow the board to consider consultant firms recognized by the state historic preservation office in addition to licensed architects.
• Richfield Village
  • Public Hearing on Feb. 04, 2025: Discussed a request to rezone 2500, 2518, 2536, 2538, Brecksville Rd. from a portion of 2542 & 2558 Brecksville Road from their current C-1 Local Retail zoning classification to R-4 Multi-Family Residential.
    • Planning and Zoning has given a unanimous recommendation.
    • Constantine Village: ranch-style, single-floor rental units with two-car garages, 55+, calls for high-density residential use.
  • Planning Commission Meeting Jan. 28^th: Discussed Zoning Code Update, expected outcomes include, but not limited to:
    • A restructured and/or consolidated document that reflects an appropriate mix of zoning districts commensurate to the size of the community;
    • Implementation of tables and charts to readily identify permitted and accessory uses;
      • Updated site development standards, including a new chapter regarding landscaping and lighting standards;
      • Updated architectural requirements reflective of acceptable, time-lasting building materials and overall design;
      • Legally defensible, content-neutral sign regulations founded in up-to-date Court decisions
• Mogadore
  • 2025-2: An ordinance rezoning certain real property located within the Village from an R-3 Zoning District Designation to an R-1 Zoning District Designation.
    • Third reading 02/19/2025.
• Tallmadge
  • 2024-79: Amending and supplementing Section 1103.14 “Neighborhood Center Overlay District” of the Tallmadge Codified Ordinances

Portage County

• Kent
  • Draft 2025-009: An Ordinance afforming Kent’s Design & Preservation Committee’s designation of the Hometown Bank Building as a “Local Historic Property” and declaring an emergency.
  • Draft 2025-011: An Ordinance amending “Part Thirteen-Building Code” and “Part Fourteen-Property Maintenance and Housing Code” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Kent to correcting conflicting language, and declaring an emergency.