Council Discusses Residential Lot Size

Avon mayor Jim Smith said at Monday's work session of City Council that lot sizes for single-family homes should be written up as an amendment to the city charter and put before the voters.

Smith's objective is to try and prevent more cluster development in the city, something he worries will strain city sewer services to a breaking point. That, he said, will lead to more problems like what happened in March, when several Avon homes were damaged by into their basements.

'People are saying smaller lots are 'in vogue,'" he said. "Don't worry about what's in vogue, take care of the city and protect homeowners from damage like this as much as you can."

While Smith didn't recommend an exact lot size, he said that whatever Council should be put into the charter.

Smith spoke of the ancient stone tsunami markers in Japan, put up centuries ago but ignored in recent years.

People, and governments, have short memories, he explained. A few years from now, people won't remember as well the uproar over the flooding of 2011.

"Make a committment," he said. "If someone wants to change it, make it go before the voters. Get it as close to etched in stone as possible."

In other news from the work session:

• reminded residents that a 13-percent increase in water rates takes effect next month. He estimated residents will pay an average of $20 more per year.
• , the new director of Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services, gave a presentation to Council on her group's work so far this year. While there hasn't been much of an increase in demand for services, there hasn't been a decrease. The group is discontinuing its rides service in favor of giving gas cards. There is still a strong need for the food pantry, she said, and added that she intends to focus more on helping clients access more nutritious food.
• Councilmen Clinton Pelphrey and Dennis McBride volunteered to represent Council on the Charter Review Commission.
• Council will be voting next week to advertise for bids for the project.
• Planning director Jim Piazza and city engineer Robert Knopf said that bids for work on the Nagel Road interchange should be awarded by the Ohio Department of Transportation starting on July 21.