Howland Township and Howland Local Schools launch
Safe Routes to School Program

Getting children to and from school safely is a priority for Howland Township and the Howland Local School District. That is why we are working together on this issue through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. SRTS programs examine conditions around schools and then conduct projects and activities that work to improve safety and accessibility and reduce traffic and air pollution in the vicinity of schools. Communities have found that they can encourage healthy lifestyles for their children by encouraging them to incorporate physical activity into their daily travels to and from school. In certain areas, walking or biking to school may be appropriate.

The goal is for each participating community to draft and implement a school travel plan that accomplishes these objectives. The Ohio Department of Transportation has awarded Howland Township a grant to develop a school travel plan for Howland Middle School. Parents and guardians were first surveyed as to the barriers and obstacles to safely getting their children to school. The anonymous results were tabulated, and a local committee of stakeholders with an ODOT consultant to develop the travel plan for the Middle School.

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The Howland Township Planning & Zoning Department handles several property maintenance complaints each year. The nature of these complaints can easily be resolved without the need to issue a citation. We suggest that residents and business owners become familiar with the Property Maintenance Code and Zoning Resolution to understand what is permitted and non-permitted uses of your property.

Knowing the regulations can help maintain good relations with your neighbors and assist Howland Township in sustaining its quality neighborhoods and attractive business districts. The Howland Township Property Maintenance Code was adopted by the Township Trustees to more quickly and efficiently address property maintenance complaints and unsafe or unkempt properties that have not come into compliance after notification. The intent of the Property Maintenance Code is to quickly remedy problems before neighborhood degradation occurs.

(Click below)

• Property Maintenance Code

• Property Maintenance Compliant Site

In the interest of public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare of the community, the Howland Township Trustees find it necessary to regulate the location and size of buildings and signs, the use of lands, and the dimensions of parcels. The current Township Zoning Resolution can be downloaded from the web site or a hard copy can picked up at the Planning & Zoning Department for a fee of $10.

(Click for PDF)

• Township Zoning Resolution (Updated Feb 2020)

The Board of Zoning Appeals serves in the capacity of a "judicial branch" of zoning administration. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is permitted to exercise only three functions by the Ohio Revised Code. These include the hearing of Appeals from an adverse ruling by the Township Zoning Department, variances from a specific requirement of the Howland Township Zoning Resolution, and the issuance of conditional zoning certificates for conditionally permitted land uses.

The Township Board of Zoning Appeals consists of five Howland residents who are appointed by the Township Trustees to staggered five-year terms:

• Heidi Mock, Chair

• Sal Ciferno, Vice Chair

• Christopher Morrone

• John Rubesich

• Patricia Gilmore

• James Hosack, Alternate Member

• Bill Beinecke, Alternate Member

Applications for an appeal or to request a variance follow.

(Click for PDF)

• Meeting Schedule and Submission Deadlines
• Administrative Appeal Application (updated 2023-08-22)
  
• Variance Request Application (updated 2023-08-22)
• Riparian Variance Request Application
• Use Variance Application
• Conditional Zoning Certificate Application

The Zoning Commission was created upon the adoption of Township Zoning in 1958 and is an advisory board to the Board of Township Trustees. The five-member Commission is appointed by the Township Trustees, with each member serving a staggered five-year term. The current members are:

• Bobby Poweski, Chair
• Michael Perry, Vice Chair
• William Beinecke
• Michael Smylie
• Julie Marinkovich

The primary duty of the Zoning Commission is to prepare and amend, when needed, the Zoning Resolution. The Zoning Commission conducts four quarterly public hearings every year to consider changes to the Zoning Resolution as proposed by Howland Township residents or will conduct public hearings for specific changes or amendments to the Zoning Resolution. An application must be completed to request a zone change. The Zoning Commission also reviews the Comprehensive Plan in coordination with the Board of Trustees.

Zoning Map

The current Howland Township Zoning Map can be viewed at the zoning office.

(Click for PDF)

• Zone Change Application
• Howland Comprehensive Plan (large file!)

Howland Township Planning & Zoning Departments are located at 205 Niles-Cortland Road NE in the Township Administration Building. Their office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Mon. - Fri.

Planning and Zoning have been seperated into two distinct departments. Kim Mascarella is the Township Planning Director and heads the Planning Department. Peter Ross operates the Zoning Department as the Zoning Administrator.