Green City Council Regular Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Green City Council met at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Council Chambers at 1755 Town Park Blvd, Green, Ohio. The meeting included three public hearings, committee reports, first-reading legislation, two adopted resolutions, and several roll-call votes. Council rules prevented votes on the three public hearing items, so those items were continued.

Consent Calendar

• TMP-5515: Council approved the September 22, 2026 Council meeting minutes by roll-call vote with six yes votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No one spoke during the Public Report portion. Individuals signed in for the Redwood rezoning were advised to wait until the public hearing.
• 2026-22AA and 2026-23: No oral public testimony was offered.
• 2026-24 public speakers:
  • Todd Schwartz, COO of RJS Corporation, supported the rezoning. He said the 27.8 acres have been vacant since RJS bought the land in 1966, RJS has found no industrial buyers, the city was given an opportunity to market the property, and RJS has 42 employees in Green.
  • Eric Fromling expressed concern about the proposed apartments' proximity to his 24/7 industrial operation and related noise, but said Redwood made adjustments that were favorable to him.
  • Jeff Buck opposed the rezoning. He said he owns neighboring land and is talking to two industrial prospects; he argued new housing would create complaints and deter industrial development.

Public Hearings

2026-22AA - Vape and Smoke Shop Regulations

• This ordinance would amend Chapter 157 to add definitions and regulations for vape/smoke shops and smoke establishments. Proposed rules include: no vape/smoke shop within 1,500 feet of another such shop; 1,000 feet from schools and licensed child care centers; 500 feet from public parks, public libraries, and places of worship; and 150 feet from residential zoning districts. Distances are measured lot line to lot line.
• Operational standards would restrict hours to 8 a.m.-10 p.m., prohibit on-site consumption in vape/smoke shops, require secure dumpsters, limit window displays, and require permits and site plan review. Smoke establishments, such as cigar lounges, would allow consumption only in fully enclosed approved areas.
• The permitted-use chart would allow new shops primarily in B4 highway business, B5 airport commerce, and I1 industrial areas; Planning and Zoning removed B1/B3 from earlier conditional approval.
• The administration said the city has four smoke shops and one smoke establishment. Under the new rules, existing businesses would become nonconforming but could continue operating if they comply with hours, signage, and waste-disposal requirements; if they close, a new vape/smoke shop generally could not reopen in those locations.
• Councilmember Speight suggested increasing the public park/library/place-of-worship distance from 500 to 1,000 feet and the residential separation from 150 to 500 feet. Councilmembers debated the legal limits of regulating these businesses and why alcohol retailers are treated differently. Councilmember DeVitis noted countywide sheriff's stings and underage-vape sales as reasons for stricter rules.
• Council asked the administration to prepare updated maps showing 1,000-foot buffers, residential buffers, and zoning overlays for the next meeting. No vote was taken.

2026-23 - Parking, Loading and Stacking Regulations

• This ordinance would allow driveway widths up to 30 feet within 10 feet of the right-of-way for single-family or two-family homes with a three-car or larger garage; the existing limit is 24 feet. The administration said the original proposal was 36 feet, reduced to 30 feet through Planning and Zoning Commission discussion.
• Council discussed whether a detached third garage would qualify; the administration indicated it likely would, though the language could be clarified to say 'within a single structure.' No public testimony was offered, and no vote was taken.

2026-24 - Rezoning of 27.8 Acres at Massillon Road and Stein Road

• This ordinance would rezone approximately 27.8 acres on the west side of Massillon Road at Stein Road from I-1 General Industrial to R-2 Multi-Family Residential. The Planning and Zoning Commission made a favorable recommendation by a 3-2 vote at its August 19, 2026, meeting.
• Rad Schneider, Vice President of Acquisitions for Redwood USA, presented the proposal. Redwood described itself as a developer/manager of single-story, two-bedroom apartment communities with more than 23,000 units in 200 neighborhoods across nine states. The proposed project would have about 150 units, a density of roughly four units per acre, projected starting rents of $2,277, and a new public road connecting Miller Park to Stein Road. Redwood said its existing Green site has 153 units with an average rent of $2,162.
• Schneider also said Redwood's typical resident profile is median age 50, an average of 1.5 cars and 1.5 people per unit, and 21% of residents stay more than five years; within a five-mile trade area, 43% of residents are 50 or older, 74% of households have no children, and 68% are one-to-two person households.
• The administration said its recommendation was unfavorable because the city values industrial land and was not given an adequate opportunity to market it for industrial use.
• Council discussion focused on the loss of future industrial/income-tax potential, compatibility with surrounding 24/7 industrial and highway uses, and the mixing of zoning uses. Councilmember DeVitis opposed breaking up the continuity of industrial zoning. Councilmember Noble noted this was a traditional rezoning rather than a planned development. No vote was taken.

Reading of Correspondence

• The following items were read into the record: Historic Preservation Commission minutes from March 26, 2026; Summit County Sheriff's September 2026 activity report; Planning Department September 2026 monthly financial summary; an email from Pat Carleski regarding vape legislation and distance from public parks; and an email from Pat Carleski opposing the Redwood rezoning.

New Legislation - First Reading

• 2026-R52: Resolution declaring service department equipment surplus for trade-in, requesting reappropriation of funds, and declaring an emergency. Referred to the Finance Committee; second-reading passage requested.
• 2026-25: Ordinance amending zoning and right-of-way fee schedules adopted by Ordinance 2026-06, with an emergency clause. Referred to Planning and Economic Development.
• 2026-27: Ordinance adopting the City of Green Public Art Plan. Referred to Environment and Parks.

Committee Reports

• Finance: The Finance Committee reviewed 2026-R52. The service department proposes trading an obsolete sewer jet for a combination sewer cleaner/hydro-excavation machine; after a $50,000 trade-in, the net amount would be $324,672. The item will be taken up on second reading at the next meeting.
• Environment & Parks: No legislation; discussed programming only.
• Public Safety: Council approved, by roll-call votes with six yes votes, motions not to request state liquor-control hearings for TMP-5516 (Mama Lupe LLC, new D-5 license, Mama Lupe Mexican Grill, 4195 Massillon Rd. Suite 217) and TMP-5520 (Sunrise Social, D-5J transfer, Paul Mickele Calderone, 3875 Massillon Rd. Suite B200). The Summit County Sheriff's Office reported no issues with either business.
• Planning, Community & Economic Development: The committee requested time, which was granted, on 2026-22AA, 2026-23, and 2026-24 after their public hearings.
• Rules and Personnel: The committee requested time on 2026-26, a second-reading ordinance amending service-award provisions in Chapter 32; the administration said it adds flexibility with no additional cost to the city.
• Transportation, Connectivity & Storm Water: Council adopted 2026-R47, authorizing the city to apply to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Partners in Watershed Management Grant Program for Crouse Pond work. The grant request is $430,000 toward an expected $1.3 million project; the city's remaining share is estimated at $800,000, with additional ODNR grant funds possible. The vote was six yes.
• Intergovernmental & Utilities: Council adopted 2026-R49, establishing a street-lighting district for Stoney Creek Estates Phase V. The district covers the final 27 lots and nine streetlights. The vote was six yes.

Mayor's Report

• Mayor reported recent business openings: Chick-fil-A opened October 1-3, Mama Lupe opened in the Steese Road Roundabout Plaza, and Dunkin Donuts opened on Arlington Road.
• The city continues pursuing a unified ZIP code through its lobbyist and a coalition of cities; options include a Senate 'hotline' vote requiring unanimity or attaching to larger legislation. Businesses were asked to submit stories about ZIP code confusion.
• Arlington Road construction: On October 14, traffic on Arlington Road at Butler Road will shift to temporary pavement; delays are expected. The Butler Road closure remains in effect.
• ODOT: State Route 241 (Wales Road) will close south of Shufel Road on October 16 and remain closed until fall 2027; Shufel Road will remain open, with a 60-day roundabout closure expected in spring 2027.
• The six Green Charter Amendments on the November 3 ballot were assigned Issue Numbers 21-26; early voting began October 6.
• Other announcements included Green Corps membership promotions, a free legal clinic on October 17, the Trick-or-Treat Trail and family movie on October 17, the Green Joiner Fair on October 18, the American Revolution Experience exhibit October 27-November 3, and an Engaging Green business event on October 28.

Unfinished Business, New Business, and Adjournment

• There was no unfinished or new business. Councilmember Neugebauer wished the Mayor a happy recent birthday. A motion to adjourn passed by roll-call vote with six yes votes.

Key Outcomes

• Approved September 22, 2026 meeting minutes.
• Approved no-hearing requests for two liquor license items.
• Adopted 2026-R47 (Crouse Pond grant application) and 2026-R49 (Stoney Creek Estates Phase V street-lighting district), each with six yes votes.
• Continued 2026-22AA, 2026-23, 2026-24, and 2026-26 by committee time requests.
• Referred 2026-R52, 2026-25, and 2026-27 to committees on first reading.
• Directed administration to prepare amended vape/smoke shop distance maps and proposed text changes increasing the park/library/place-of-worship distance to 1,000 feet for the next council meeting.