Restaurant, Nordstrom Rack get zoning variances

by Sheldon Ocker

June 15 township trustees meeting

Planning Director/Zoning Inspector Bill Funk asked Bath trustees to approve zoning changes for a new restaurant at 1070 Ghent Rd. and a national retail branch store at 3977 Medina Rd.

Funk recommended the approval of two signs for 1818 American Grille, which will fill the space formerly occupied by Pitchfork in Corner Provisions on Ghent Road.

Also seeking a variance for a sign was Nordstrom Rack, which has taken over the store previously occupied by JoAnn Fabrics, next to the Acme Fresh Market on Medina Road.

In addition, a proposed Sheetz gas station and convenience store received approval from the zoning commission as to site plan, landscaping, lighting and building elevation, but needed validation from trustees.

Trustees approved all of Funk’s recommendations.

Trustee Sean Gaffney asked when the restaurant plans to open.

“I believe they were looking for the end of this month [June] or early next month,” Funk said. “I know there was a decent amount of interior work to be done.”

Trustees approved the construction of a storage building for the Revere Schools at 3195 Springside Dr. Funk said the building would be used to store sports equipment.

Trustees approved the reappointment of Richard Bradner for five years as a regular member of the zoning commission and Tyler Bolanz as an alternate member of the zoning commission for two years.

Jeff Kerr was reappointed as a regular member of the board of zoning appeals for five years, and Marci Fredrick was reappointed to the board of zoning appeals as an alternate for two years.

Trustees approved the appointment of Kathy Sidaway as a regular member of the appearance review commission for five years.

Trustees also approved a recommendation to contract with iWorQ for not more than $16,450 for software used by the zoning department.

Former fire chief honored

Retired Bath Fire Chief James Paulett was honored May 12 at the 45th annual Hall of Fame and Fire Awards ceremony in Columbus.

The Ohio Department of Commerce presented Paulett with the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award for more than 50 years as a firefighter.

Paulett retired in 2011 after 37 years as a Bath Township fireman, including 11 years as chief, starting in 2000.

After he retired, Paulett became a volunteer firefighter with the Valley Fire District in Peninsula, where he continues to serve. In 2012, he was named part-time chief for the Granger Township Fire Department in Medina County. He continues to hold that position.

Paulett’s father, Tom, served as Bath fire chief from 1954-1964.

In other action

Trustees approved the request to buy four Kenwood two-way radios for the police department with a grant of $18,587. The township will pay a 25% match.

Township Administrator/Police Chief Vito Sinopoli asked trustees to approve a similar grant for next year to buy four more radios, and they complied.

Sinopoli explained that because of the expense ($1,000 per unit) in repairing the current inventory of radios, the department needed to transition to new radios.

The township paid $30,000 to Lewis Landscaping for Bath Baseball Park renovations and paid $12,695 to Davey Resource Group for invasive species treatment in Bath parks.

A resident asked trustees to consider finding or building a facility that seniors can use for meetings or other gatherings.