The Zoning Commission is the legislative branch of the Township in regard to Zoning. They are responsible for creating and updating the Auburn Township Zoning Resolution. This is a very important document as it delineates land uses in the Township.

A zoning change or amendment can be initiated in one of three ways: by the Board of Trustees, by the Zoning Commission or by an individual. Members serve a five (5) year term with a new seat opening each year.

If you would like to serve on a Zoning Board - Applications are taken in the month of November. Send a letter and/or a resume to the Trustees expressing your interest. Interviews occur in December and appointments are generally made at one of the first organizational board meetings in January.

Auburn Township Zoning Resolution
The Zoning Resolution is subject to updates. For information on the latest changes, please call the Auburn Township offices at 440-543-7028.

The State of Ohio has removed control from local government to regulate Gas & Oil Wells located in the township. Wells are now the responsibility of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

If you are a township resident who may be considering a gas or oil well on your property, there are certain safeguards that you personally can take to protect yourself, your property, your own personal interests and the environment.

Some Gas & Oil Well Environment Management Considerations to protect our residents are:

Local residents considering gas/oil well leases have the ability to include in their lease agreement many additional safeguards.

The lease contract should include language that requires the leaseholder (the driller) to abide by local erosion and sediment control, flood plain, riparian setback, stormwater management and other local codes. Only YOU the resident contemplating a well can make these requests and they need to be made BEFORE these lease agreement is signed.

There should be specific site conditions and restrictions listed in the contract. (i.e. access road construction standards and placement, removal of topsoil from the roadbed and proper storage of soil, location and management of brine pits, use of an electric pumping unit [gas fired pumps are noisy], etc.). Also, public safety and long term maintenance requirements should also be mentioned. (i.e. the standards for the maintenance of road and gate/fencing); and site restoration.

The additional considerations the land owner can request for the lease can be a signing bonus, the specific gas formation to which the driller is authorized to drill, specific gas allotments, royalties, and well plugging and well productivity.

If you have any questions about the above, please contact the zoning office.

OTHER ZONING INFORMATION…

As an FYI…Any land development activity requires a zoning permit. Land development is defined as “any change to the surface area of a lot including (but not limited to) clearing, grubbing, stripping, removal of vegetation, dredging, grading, excavating, cut and filland any other installation of impervious cover.

And so you ask, “What is a Riparian Area?” Well, it is the naturally vegetated land adjacent to a watercourse, which will help stabilize stream banks, limit erosion, reduce flood size flows and filter off runoff pollutants; and so the RIPARIAN SETBACK is the property adjacent to a designated watercourse. This area is anywhere from 25’-125’ in width and in most cases most development activities are not permitted within this setback.

View the Riparian Setback Map Here (PDF Format)

Bret Jordan
Chairman

Bret Jordan moved to Auburn Township with his wife and two children in August of 2004. He graduated from Miami University in 1989 and earned his J.D. degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1992.

Mr. Jordan has been a practicing attorney fro the past 14 years. Currently, Mr. Jordan is a partner of Lindner & Jordan, LLP. His areas of practice include: real estate law, contract law, criminal defense and personal injury.

Don Simpson Vice Chairman Mr. Simpson, a Kenston High School graduate, has been a resident of Auburn for 40 years. He and his wife, Susie, have two children - Lindsey and Kevin, both students @ Lakeland Community College. They are members of Auburn Community Church. Don is the President of Auburn Fence Corporation and serves as President of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the American Fence Association.

Michael Henry Mike has lived in Auburn Township for 3 years with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys hunting, skiing and spending time with his family. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1992. Currently he is employed with Chagrin Valley Engineering Ltd. as a project manager handling various public and private site improvements. He joined the Zoning Commission in 2005.

Mark H. Hardenbergh Mr. Hardenbergh is a retired Architect who received his Bachelor of Arts in 1952; his B. Architecture in 1957; and his Master City Planning in 1958 from Yale University. Mr. Hardenbergh's primary focus for the Commission is to get consistency in the decision making process as it relates to the interest of the Auburn residents. The Hardenbergh's moved to Auburn in 1997 to a house designed by Mark. He and his wife enjoy travel, particularly overseas.

Tracy L. Engle Zoning Commission Mr. Engle and his wife, Jeanne, moved to Auburn in 2000 where they reside with their two daughters. Tracy joined the Zoning Commission in January 2001. Mr. Engle also serves on the Geauga County Planning Commission and is on the Board of Supervisors for the Geauga Soil and Water. Professionally, Mr. Engle is the Ecological Services Group Manager at TranSystems where he manages wetland and environmental transportation projects. Mr. Engle received his Masters of Science Degree in Biology at John Carroll University in January 2003.

Dee Belew Ms. Belew has been the Zoning Commission Secretary since 1996 and has lived in Auburn for the past 35 years. Past experiences include legal secretary, office manager, administrative assistant, and special education secretary. Her love for zoning and Auburn are one of her major interests along with family, grandchildren, horses and flowers. Dee and her husband, Bill, have a horse boarding facility and produce maple syrup on Messenger Century Farm.