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COUNCIL CORNER

It`s been a busy April for Village Council. Due to space restraints, I will hit the highlights on issues that have garnered the most attention and discussion. If you are not on the Peninsula Village mailing list for monthly meeting handouts, agenda, etc., you are strongly encouraged to do so. It will provide you with what topics we will be talking about before meetings, should you wish to attend, along with past minutes and motions. If interested, contact the Village Administrator (Faith Dorton) at admin@villageofpeninsula-oh.gov.

Short Term Rentals (STR): STRs continue to be up for discussion. Due to the diligence of councilmember, Moe Riggins, a thorough deep dive was taken to audit all the 14 STR files (applications, inspection, septic plans, affidavits of compliance, waiver releasing Village of liability, etc.) for those who applied at the end of 2025 for 2026.These included those in the R1and R2 districts, along with owner occupied. STRs pay a 3% bed tax and are required to be rented a minimum of 60 days. The audit showed that in 2025, the Village took in $6,600 in bed taxes, with number of days rented ranging from a minimum of 61 days to a high of 140 days. Average stay was three days. Compliance and enforcement were major issues. Applicable forms such as inspections and required evidence (such a validation of minimal rental days, website for advertising, etc.) were missing or incomplete, and the process for residents to report issues is confusing. Originally, there was a set limit of two people per bedroom max occupancy, but at the last Planning recommendation, it was changed so that two people per bedroom plus three additional people is permissible. Minimum parking is now one space per bedroom plus one additional space. There is no maximum number of parking spaces. So, it appears with the added occupants and parking, groups are gathering and parking is overflowing onto lawns and non-approved areas. At the end of April, Council sent these concerns back to the Planning Commission, of which any changes would not go into effect until 2027.

Shared Parking Ordinance: This is something you really want to read, as there is not enough space here to give it justice. This is a proposed ordinance that will allow the Village "off street parking requirements to be more tailored to the use and needs of a particular property". It includes private passenger vehicles and delivery truck parking. Basically, it says that if there is a need to increase the floor area or change zoning use of a building, the developer of the project would submit a plan to Planning for approval (including if a variance is warranted). If the project does not allow enough parking onsite, the plan allows entities to "share" parking by entering into written agreements within 500` of the project. Planning and the Solicitor would approve this process. Two family and multiple family dwellings of 900 sq ft or less would only require one space (instead of per bedroom as it is now). Many concerns were raised during Council discussion such as taking the variance process away from the BZA (limiting checks and balances), allowing Planning Commission too much discretion and potential conflicts of interest, not requiring enough parking for apartments (especially if a couple and each needing a car for work). If you do any research on the concept of shared parking some of the challenges include easement disputes, enforcement burdens, residential overspill (taking the path of least resistance by parking on residential streets), visual blight with all the signage required, visitor confusion (increased towing and ticketing), residential loss of quiet enjoyment with slamming doors, headlights, etc., and increased "cruising"-slowly driving around looking for additional parking that may impair traffic and pose safety issues- and finally, how will it be enforced?. When it came up for the vote in Council, it did not pass. At the following Council meeting a motion for a re-vote was made and it is now back to three readings in Council, without any changes.

First Energy/CVNP Discussion on Electrical Outages: Thanks for everyone who attended the meeting, asking some very pertinent questions. While no changes or decisions in the process were made, hopefully we all walked away with a better understanding of each entity`s process in outages and prevention. Residential contact with these agencies is encouraged and reached at 330-546-5465 (CVNP communication center) or 1-800-584-3101 (First Energy).

Thank you,
Jodi Padrutt