CATAWBA ISLAND TOWNSHIP
SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
Attendee
William Baker Kimberely Schaffer
Robert Crawford Jason Schaffer
Peter Segaard Holly Arnolde
Lee Burkam Sue Piacentino
Craig Oiler Doug Newcomb
Ken Spero Keith Deters
Leah Simone* Sylar Tiell
Al Fotheringham William Cousino
Christine Froehlich Dave Perkowski*
Frank Carchedi Gabriela Toscano
*Handwriting difficult to read. There may be spelling errors.
Members of the Commission in attendance were Chairperson Jordan Davenport, Dr. Gregory Hart, Paul Shaw, and Matt Gottron and Alternates Douglas Sprouse and James Atkinson. Kevin Howe was absent. Also in attendance was Jean Hartline, Commission Secretary and Zoning Inspector. Also, present was trustee Chris Cellier.
Chairperson Davenport called the meeting of the Catawba Island Township Zoning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. For the record, he identified the date as September 23, 2026.
The room was asked to stand for the pledge of allegiance.
The meeting then moved to the agenda provided by Chairman Davenport.
Agenda Item 1 – Continuance of Previous Business
Case #: 233070 Nor Easter PUD
The case notes were read into the record. In the last meeting in August the case was tabled to resolve the issue of how the 8 existing condos (Nor Easter Cove) would be managed with this modified PUD that at that meeting was not included in the 2026 modified PUD. There is a PUD approved in 2008 that included 11 acres. At the August meeting, it was discussed that this 2026 modified PUD needs to either include the existing condos or create a legal means to separate the 8 existing condos. In September, the PUD was resubmitted with the entire 11 acres (including the 8 existing condos) which better fit the definition of a modification of the 2008 PUD. The parcel is zoned RE. The 2008 PUD did not have former (now razed) Nor Easter Club business included as part of the open space.
Ms. Gabby Toscano, owner’s legal representative, presented the case for Mr. Robert Crawford. She identified a typo in her report on page 4 item 3, the Plat Book 51 should be Plat Book 59. The PUD now includes the full 11 acres (consistent with the 2008 PUD) for the purpose of land calculations of open space. The project is water slip condominiums with a Limited Common Element (LCE) which is the lot that single family will be built on.
Chairman Davenport confirmed that the eight (8) new single family home lots remain the same as they were in August and opened the floor for comments.
Mr. William Baker asked who is responsible for the bridge. Mr. Crawford indicated that he owns the bridge.
Chairman Davenport provided an overview of what can be done with the PUD with this being a PUD approved in 2008 with the proposed water slip detached single family dwellings and the zero lot line existing condominiums being permitted uses in this RE Zoning. Thus, this modification of the 2008 PUD includes the existing 8 zero lot line condominium and the now proposed 8 water slip condominium with an LCE for single family homes.
Other key points cited by Chairman Davenport with Peter Segaard (owner’s representative from DGL Consulting) providing figures and clarifications as needed including:
• No commercial uses will be in the PUD
• Minimum lot width of 60 feet is met
• Site is 11.12 acres
• Medium density allowable is 4 units per acres and this is also met for the 8 new single family units
• Open space meets 20% required with 3.95 acres above 574 with 0.904 acres open space fulfils requirements
• Corporate ownership is Robert Crawford
• Site will have 2 HOAs: one for existing Nor Easter Cove condos and one for the new water slip condominiums.
• Al Fotheringham representing Nor Easter Cove condos with three concerns:
o Would like to retain access to the ~17 (might be 21 spaces) parking stalls in the road median area accessible to the existing condos. Mr. Crawford indicated that this parking in the roadway median area will remain for overflow parking.
o Would like to have a shared trash dumpster (shared between the two HOAs). Mr. Crawford indicated that a trash dumpster is located on the southeast side of the PUD across the road toward west harbor.
o Concern on the aesthetics of Lot 8 being “shoe-horned” by the bridge.
• Building height is stated to meet 35 foot height maximum.
• Front yard and rear yard setback of 20 feet each are met on the 8 new lots
• Accessory structures are not proposed. Docks are seawalls not finger docks (finger docks would be an accessory structure).
• Each driveway meets the required 2 car parking
• Road will stay as it is, as this is the same road approved in 2008 PUD.
• No signs (illuminated or not illuminated) identifying the development.
• No fences are proposed
• Drainage plan was reviewed. Mr. Segaard indicated that the County will not review drainage plans (as this is not a subdivision). There are not any current drainage issues (grading and drainage plan including profile were provided).
• Water line from Harbor island Subdivision will be increased from 3” to 8” and include a new hydrant in the roadway median area (near the 14 parking spaces).
• Dockage was reviewed as lots 1 and 7 have some additional seawall dockage.
Chairman Davenport asked if Ms. Hartline was satisfied with the submission and she indicated she was.
Mr. Jason Schaffer from Waterford Way (which is located east of the project) is the HOA President and noted concern with trash location and prevailing winds (odors). He also indicated that the HOA is not fond of the median density water slip and their development is lower density and concerns pertaining to the water slip concept. Chairman Davenport indicated that the density is consistent with PUD code and water slip concepts is approved in the State of Ohio.
Chairman Davenport asked if the purchase of the water slip requires the buyer to build a house. Ms. Toscano indicated that the dock is sold with the LCE where the homes will be built and each dock will be required to build a single family home. Mr. Baker expressed a concern that docks could be sublet. Mr. Crawford indicated this is not a marina and docks will not be able to be sublet.
Mr. Baker asked timeframes for building. Mr. Davenport indicated there is two years to build a home. Mr. Baker asked if an electric dog fence (buried wire) is a “fence”. Chairman Davenport indicated an electric (buried wired) dog barrier is not a fence that needs to be permitted.
Mr. Schaffer asked about deed agreement for the shared channel for dredging. If lots are not individual deeded lots this agreement goes away. Ms. Toscano indicated that this deed item would be in Mr. Crawford’s chain of title and thus the PUD would be bound to the deed agreement for maintenance.
Mr. Baker asked what happens to the bridge if Mr. Crawford is gone. Mr. Oiler says that Harbor Island has been working with Mr. Crawford to resolve and secure an agreement on the bridge and the Nor Easter Road (from Gem Beach to SR 53). This effort has included all HOAs along the road including Gem Beach. A draft agreement has been drawn up. At this point, if something breaks (on Nor Easter Road and the bridge), Mr. Crawford is solely responsible. He indicated that Mr. Crawford has worked with them and is cooperating on this common problem.
Mr. Baker asked if this road/bridge problem should be approved until this issue is resolved. Chairman Davenport indicated the bridge and Nor Easter Road was in the original PUD in 2008 and is thus a pre-existing condition approved with the 2008 PUD and acknowledged that there seems to be a positive cooperative group effort to resolve this effort.
Trustee Cellier indicated that the Trustees are the final approval of the PUD after the Zoning Commission provides a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. This will include a public hearing with the Board of Trustees.
Chairman Davenport continued with reviewing that the PUD is consistent with Township planning guidelines.
Garbage collection was again reviewed with an option to use large totes instead of a dumpster as the plan shows the dumpster is on state land (West Harbor waters of Lake Erie). Mr. Carchedi indicated that Harbor Island dumpsters are also on state land and he believed an easement was obtained from the state and this should be pursued for this PUD dumpster location.
Chairman Davenport asked about the type of plantings that would comprise the landscaping. Mr. Crawford indicated that trees and landscaping will go through the PUD architectural committee with residential input.
Mr. Carchedi (2865 Perch Row Harbor Island Estates) asked about the sanitary lift station (which is located in the Harbor Island Subdivision) may be near capacity based on numerous maintenance operations performed by the county. Mr. Segaard indicated they have talked to the county and the sanitary connections will be authorized by the county and meet any county requirements. Mr. Carchedi also asked why the bridge is not in the HOA. Ms. Toscano indicated that she believed the bridge was not in the 2008 PUD. Ms. Toscano indicated that the 2008 PUD excluded roads and bridge. This seems to be undefined. Ms. Hartline indicated that on page 43 of the submitted report and on page 26 shows the full 11 acre PUD. It appears the bridge may or may not be part of the PUD. Ms. Toscano indicated the road and bridge is excluded from the PUD. Ms. Toscano indicated that this time, Mr. Crawford is responsible for the road bridge at this time through an LLC he created. The HOAs (Waterford Way, Nor Easter Cove, Nor Easter PUD, and Harbor Island) are working with Mr. Crawford to execute a maintenance agreement. It was asked if the LLC goes away with the future agreement. This is not confirmed. Ms. Hartline indicated on page 26 of the project submittal shows the bridge within the 2008 PUD. Mr. Davenport indicated that ultimately the road and bridge may be a civil issue.
Mr. Baker expressed concern for subletting docks. Ms. Toscano indicated that there will be HOA restrictions on dock subletting.
Chairman Davenport asked about landscaping in which Mr. Crawford indicated that a detailed planting scheme has not yet created but will go through an architectural review committee.
Chairman Davenport indicated conditional requirements might include a confirmation of the trash/dumpster location and retaining the 17 parking stalls for overflow parking.
The Chairman closed the floor to the audience.
The Chairman asked to have a motion from the Board to modify the current PUD to add the 8 water slip dock condominium. Mr. Shaw provided a motion to recommend approval of the modified PUD to the Trustees. This was seconded by Mr. Gottron. A vote yield unanimous approval (four yes votes, Chairman Davenport did not have to vote as there was no tie) to recommend an approval of the PUD to the Board of Trustees
Action by the Board of Trustees will follow this meeting including public notice.
Agenda Item 2 – Approve the Prior Meeting Minutes
August 26, 2026 meeting minutes were approved with a minor revision to add the conducting Pledge of Allegiance and change the date to the date of the meeting.
Agenda Item 3 – Address Unfinished Business From Prior Meeting
No unfinished business.
Agenda Item 4 – New Business to Introduce to the Commission
No new business.
Mr. Baker came to the floor and asked about the Highland Drive proposal for a large accessory building and the currently in construction of a very large storage building on Northwest Catawba Road with an interpretation of code, that adding a breezeway makes the detached garage an attached garage. Mr. Baker provided a resolution for restricting garage door height so that garages do not look like commercial boat storage units and to eliminate the breezeway connection interpretation and limit sizes of attached garages. Mr. Davenport indicated that a change in code could not be applicable to a case that is currently on the table (Highland Drive case) and accepted the resolution and will look at action to correct this and also pass through the county for their approval.
Adjournment
The next scheduled meeting is October 28, 2026. With the completion of the agenda, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made and seconded. The vote was unanimous to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Hartline, Secretary/Zoning Inspector