As Introduced

125th General Assembly
Regular Session
2003-2004
S. B. No. 115


SENATOR Robert Gardner



A BILL
To amend sections 711.001, 711.10, 711.131, and1
713.22 of the Revised Code to change the2
definition of "subdivision" in the Platting Law,3
to change the procedure for the approval of plats4
by county or regional planning commissions, to5
provide different methods for implementing the6
statute authorizing the approval of certain7
subdivisions without the submission of a plat, and8
to permit the payment of compensation to the9
appointive members of county planning commissions.10


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That sections 711.001, 711.10, 711.131, and11
713.22 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:12

       Sec. 711.001.  As used in sections 711.001 to 711.38,13
inclusive, of the Revised Codethis chapter:14

       (A) "Plat" means a map of a tract or parcel of land.15

       (B) "Subdivision" means either of the following:16

       (1) The division of any parcel of land shown as a unit or as17
contiguous units on the last preceding general tax rolllist and18
duplicate of real and public utility property, into two or more19
parcels, sites, or lots, any one of which is less than fivetwenty20
acres for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of21
ownership, provided, however, that the division or partition of22
land into parcels of more than fivetwenty acres not involving any23
new streets or easements of access, and the sale or exchange of24
parcels between adjoining lot owners, where suchthat sale or25
exchange does not create additional building sites, shall be26
exemptedare exempt; or27

       (2) The improvement of one or more parcels of land for28
residential, commercial, or industrial structures or groups of29
structures involving the division or allocation of land for the30
opening, widening, or extension of any public or private street or31
streets, except private streets serving industrial structures;,or32
involving the division or allocation of land as open spaces for33
common use by owners, occupants, or lease holdersleaseholders or34
as easements for the extension and maintenance of public or35
private sewer, water, storm drainage, or other publicsimilar36
facilities.37

       Sec. 711.10. (A) Whenever a county planning commission or a38
regional planning commission adopts a plan for the major streets39
or highways of the county or region, no plat of a subdivision of40
land within the county or region, other than land within a41
municipal corporation or land within three miles of a city or one42
and one-half miles of a village as provided in section 711.09 of43
the Revised Code, shall be recorded until it is approved by the44
county or regional planning commission under division (C) of this45
section and the approval is endorsed in writing on the plat.46
Within47

       (B)A county or regional planning commission may require the48
submission of a preliminary plan for each plat sought to be49
recorded. If the commission requires this submission, it shall50
provide for a review process for the preliminary plan. Under this51
review process, the planning commission shall give its approval,52
its approval with conditions, or its disapproval of each53
preliminary plan. The commission's decision shall be in writing,54
shall be under the signature of the secretary of the commission,55
and shall be issued within forty-five working days after the56
submission of the preliminary plan to the commission. The57
disapproval of a preliminary plan shall state the reasons for the58
disapproval. A decision of the commission under this division is59
preliminary to and separate from the commission's decision to60
approve, conditionally approve, or refuse to approve a plat under61
division (C) of this section.62

       (C) Within five days after the submission of a plat for63
approval under this division, the county or regional planning64
commission shall schedule a meeting to consider the plat and send65
a notice by regular mail or by electronic mail to the clerk of the66
board of township trustees of the township in which the plat is67
located. The notice shall inform the trustees of the submission of 68
the plat and of the date, time, and location of any meeting at69
which the county or regional planning commission will consider or70
act upon the plat. The meeting shall take place within thirty71
forty-five working days after submission of the plat, and no72
meeting shall be held until at least seven days have passed from73
the date the planning commission sent the notice was sent by the74
planning commission.75

       The approval of the county or regional planning commission,76
the commission's conditional approval as described in this77
division, or the refusal of the commission to approve shall be78
endorsed on the plat within thirtyforty-five working days after79
the submission of the plat for approval,under this division or80
within such further time as the applying party may agree to in81
writing; otherwise that plat is deemed approved, and the82
certificate of the planning commission as to the date of the83
submission of the plat for approval under this division and the84
failure to take action on it within that time shall be sufficient85
in lieu of the written endorsement or evidence of approval86
required by this sectiondivision. A87

       A county or regional planning commission shall not require88
may grant conditional approval under this division to a plat by89
requiring a person submitting the plat to alter the plat or any90
part of it, within a specified period after the end of the91
forty-five working days, as a condition for final approval, as92
long as the plat is in accordance with the general rules governing93
plats and subdivisions of land, adopted by the commission as94
provided in this section, in effect at the time the plat is95
submitted. Theunder this division. Once all the conditions have96
been met within the specified period, the commission shall cause97
its final approval under this division to be endorsed on the plat.98
No plat shall be recorded until it is endorsed with the99
commission's final or unconditional approval under this division.100

       The ground of refusal of approval of any plat submitted under101
this division, including citation of or reference to the rule102
violated by the plat, shall be stated upon the record of the103
county or regional planning commission. Within sixty days after104
the refusal under this division, the person submitting any plat105
that the county or regional planning commission refuses to approve106
under this division may file a petition in the court of common 107
pleas of the proper county, and the proceedings on the petition 108
shall be governed by section 711.09 of the Revised Code as in the 109
case of the refusal of a planning authority to approve a plat. A 110
board of township trustees is not entitled to appeal a decision of 111
the county or regional planning commission under this section112
division.113

       A county or regional planning commission shall adopt general114
rules, of uniform application, governing plats and subdivisions of115
land falling within its jurisdiction, to secure and provide for116
the proper arrangement of streets or other highways in relation to117
existing or planned streets or highways or to the county or118
regional plan, for adequate and convenient open spaces for119
traffic, utilities, access of firefighting apparatus, recreation,120
light, and air, and for the avoidance of congestion of population.121
The rules may provide for their modification by the county or122
regional planning commission in specific cases where unusual123
topographical and other exceptional conditions require the124
modification. The rules may require the county department of125
health to review and comment on a plat before the county or126
regional planning commission acts upon it and also may also127
require proof of compliance with any applicable zoning resolutions128
as a basis for approval of a plat.129

       Before adoption of its rules or amendment of its rules, the130
commission shall hold a public hearing shall be held on the131
adoption or amendment by the commission. Notice of the public132
hearing shall be sent to all townships in the county or region by133
regular mail or electronic mail at least thirty days before the134
hearing. No county or regional planning commission shall adopt any 135
rules requiring actual construction of streets or other136
improvements or facilities or assurance of that construction as a137
condition precedent to the approval of a plat of a subdivision138
unless the requirements have first been adopted by the board of139
county commissioners after a public hearing. A copy of the rules140
shall be certified by the planning commission to the county141
recorders of the appropriate counties.142

       After a county or regional street or highway plan has been143
adopted as provided in this section, the approval of plats and144
subdivisions provided for in this section shall be in lieu of any145
approvals provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, so146
farinsofar as the territory within the approving jurisdiction of147
the county or regional planning commission, as provided in this148
section, is concerned. Approval of a plat shall not be an149
acceptance by the public of the dedication of any street, highway,150
or other way or open space shown upon the plat. Any151

       A county or regional planning commission and a city or152
village planning commission, or platting commissioner or153
legislative authority of a village, with subdivision regulation154
jurisdiction over unincorporated territory within the county or155
region may cooperate and agree by written agreement that the156
approval of a plat by the city or village planning commission, or157
platting commissioner or legislative authority of a village, as158
provided in section 711.09 of the Revised Code, shall be159
conditioned upon receiving advice from or approval by the county160
or regional planning commission.161

       Sec. 711.131. (A) Notwithstanding sections 711.001 to 711.13 162
of the Revised Code, a proposed division of a parcel of land along 163
an existing public street, not involving the opening, widening, or164
extension of any street or road, and involving no more than five165
lots after the original tract has been completely subdivided, may166
be submitted to the authority having approving jurisdiction of167
plats under section 711.05, 711.09, or 711.10 of the Revised Code168
for approval without plat. IfUnless the rules adopted under 169
section 711.05, 711.09, or 711.10 of the Revised Code are amended 170
pursuant to division (B) of this section, no more than five lots 171
may be approved under this division from an original tract during 172
any calendar year.173

       If the authority acting through a properly designated 174
representative is satisfiedfinds that thea proposed division is 175
not contrary to applicable platting, subdividing, zoning, health, 176
sanitary, or access management regulations, including, but not 177
limited to, rules governing household sewage disposal systems, it 178
shall within seven working days after submission approve the 179
proposed division within seven working days after its submission180
and, on presentation of a conveyance of the parcel, shall stamp 181
the conveyance "approved by (planning authority); no plat 182
required" and have it signed by its clerk, secretary, or other 183
official as may be designated by it. The planning authority may 184
require the submission of a sketch and other information that is185
pertinent to its determination under this sectiondivision.186

       (B) For a period of up to one year after the effective date187
of this amendment, the rules adopted under section 711.05, 711.09,188
or 711.10 of the Revised Code may be amended once within that189
period to authorize the planning authority involved to approve190
proposed divisions of parcels of land without plat under this191
division. If an authority so amends its rules, it may approve no192
more than five lots from an original tract as that original tract193
exists on the effective date of the amendment to the rules. The194
authority shall make the findings and approve a proposed division195
in the time and manner specified in division (A) of this section,196
but it shall not approve divisions on a calendar-year basis.197

       (C) As used in this section:198

       (1) "Household sewage disposal system" has the same meaning199
as in section 3709.091 of the Revised Code.200

       (2) "Original tract" means a tract, lot, or parcel of real201
estate as shown on the last preceding general tax list and202
duplicate of real and public utility property prepared under203
section 319.28 of the Revised Code.204

       Sec. 713.22.  (A) The board of county commissioners of any205
county may, and on petition of the planning commissions of a206
majority of the municipal corporations in the county having those207
planning commissions shall, provide for the organization and208
maintenance of a county planning commission. A county planning209
commission shall consist of the members of the board of county210
commissioners, or their alternates designated in accordance with211
this division, and eight other members appointed by the board in212
accordance with divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section or their213
alternates designated and approved in accordance with this214
division. Any alternate designated under this division shall be a215
resident of the county.216

       To designate an alternate for a member of the board of county217
commissioners, the board member shall send a letter of appointment218
to the alternate and deliver a copy of that letter to the clerk of219
the board of county commissioners. At the next regular meeting of220
the board, the clerk shall inform the board of the designation of221
the alternate, and the board shall have the designation entered on222
the journal.223

       To designate an alternate for any other member of the224
planning commission, the member shall send a letter of appointment225
to the clerk of the board of county commissioners designating an226
individual to serve as that member's alternate. At the next227
regular meeting of the board, the clerk shall inform the board of228
the designation of the alternate, which designation the board may229
either approve or disapprove. The board shall enter its decision230
on the board's journal and, if the alternate is approved,231
designate the name of the alternate on the journal. The clerk of232
the board shall notify the commission member of the board's233
action, and the commission member shall inform the alternate.234

       A designated alternate shall serve at the pleasure of the235
member who makes the designation. Removal of an alternate shall be 236
made by a letter of removal, delivered and journalized by the same 237
method that the alternate was designated.238

       Once an alternate is designated for a member of the planning239
commission, if that commission member is absent from a planning240
commission meeting, the alternate has the right to vote and241
participate in all proceedings and actions of the commission at242
that meeting as if that alternate were the commission member.243

       (B)(1) Except as provided for counties with two or less244
townships in division (B)(4) of this section, if the population of245
the portion of any city located in the county exceeds fifty per246
cent of the total population of the county, the board of county247
commissioners shall select three of the appointive members from248
persons nominated by the planning commission of that city. The249
board shall appoint three members from the unincorporated250
territory of the county from persons recommended by the townships251
to the county, except that, if one or more of those townships in252
the county is a limited home rule government township, then the253
board shall appoint at least one of these three township254
appointees from the persons recommended by a limited home rule255
government township. The remaining two appointees shall be256
selected at the discretion of the board and shall be residents of257
the county, one residing in the unincorporated territory of the258
county and representing townships and the other residing in the259
incorporated territory of the county and representing municipal260
corporations in the county.261

       (2) Except as provided for counties with two or less262
townships in division (B)(4) of this section, if a county does not263
contain the portion of any city with at least fifty per cent of264
the total population of the county but contains one or more265
limited home rule government townships, one of the appointees266
shall be a resident of a limited home rule government township in267
the county, selected at the discretion of the board of county268
commissioners from persons recommended by a limited home rule269
government township in the county. One appointee shall be a270
resident of the municipal corporation with the largest population271
contained within the portion of the municipal corporation located272
in the county, selected at the discretion of the board of county273
commissioners from persons recommended by that municipal274
corporation. The remaining six appointees shall be residents of275
the county, selected at the discretion of the board of county276
commissioners.277

       (3) Except as provided for counties with two or less278
townships in division (B)(4) of this section, if a county does not279
contain the portion of any city with at least fifty per cent of280
the total population of the county and does not contain a limited281
home rule government township, the board of county commissioners282
shall appoint eight residents of the county selected at the283
discretion of the board.284

       (4) If a county contains two or less townships with285
unincorporated territory, the board of county commissioners shall286
appoint eight residents of the county selected at the discretion287
of the board, except that, if the population of the portion of any288
city located in the county exceeds fifty per cent of the total289
population of the county, then at least three of the appointive290
members shall be selected from persons nominated by the planning291
commission of that city.292

       (C) Subject to division (F) of this section, the appointive293
members of a county planning commission shall be appointed for294
terms of three years, except that, of the eight members first295
appointed, three shall be appointed for terms of two years, and296
two shall be appointed for a term of one year. The appointive297
members shall serve without paymay be allowed their actual and298
necessary expenses and the compensation that the board of county299
commissioners determines to be appropriate. Any member of a county 300
planning commission may hold any other public office and may serve 301
as a member of a city, village, and regional planning commission, 302
except as otherwise provided in the charter of any city or 303
village.304

       (D) The compensation and expenses of the appointive members305
of a county planning commission and the compensation of planning306
commission employees shall be paid from appropriations made by the307
board.308

       The county planning commission may employ engineers,309
accountants, consultants, and employees as are necessary, and make310
purchases as may be needed to the furtherance of its operation.311

       The county planning commission may accept, receive, and312
expend funds, grants, and services from the federal government or313
its agencies, from departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of314
this state or any adjoining state, from one or more counties of315
this state or any adjoining state, from any municipal corporation316
or political subdivision of this or any adjoining state, including317
a county, regional, and municipal planning commission of this or318
any adjoining state, or from civic sources, may contract with319
respect thereto, either separately, jointly, or cooperatively, and320
may provide information and reports as may be necessary to secure321
such financial aid.322

       (E) A county planning commission may adopt a policy under323
which members of the board of county commissioners, as members of324
that commission, or their designated alternates must abstain from325
participating and voting on the commission's recommendation,326
whenever a county planning commission is required by section327
303.12 of the Revised Code to recommend the approval or denial of328
a proposed amendment or approval of some modification of an329
amendment to the county zoning resolution, or is required by330
section 303.07 of the Revised Code to approve or disapprove, or331
make suggestions about, a proposed county zoning resolution. The332
policy may require that a quorum of the commission under those333
circumstances be determined on the basis of an eight-member334
commission instead of an eleven-member commission.335

       (F) If at any time a change occurs within a county so that336
the population of a portion of a city within the county exceeds or337
no longer exceeds fifty per cent of the total population of the338
county or a township becomes a limited home rule government339
township, thus creating a situation where the membership of a340
county planning commission should be altered to comply with the341
membership requirements of division (B) of this section, within342
thirty days after the effective date of either of those types of343
change, the board of county commissioners, in the board's344
discretion, may make changes on the commission by resolution so345
that its membership representation complies with division (B) of346
this section. If the board does not adopt a resolution to so347
change the commission's membership, the board shall phase in the348
necessary changes in the commission's membership by waiting until349
a member's term of office expires and appointing new members so as350
to meet the representation requirements of division (B) of this351
section as soon as possible without interfering with any member's352
term of office.353

       Section 2.  That existing sections 711.001, 711.10, 711.131,354
and 713.22 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.355