Community Development

The Community Development Program is administered by the Community Development Manager who is appointed by the Mayor.  The current Community Development Manager is         Pat Sauner.

The Community Development Manager’s office is located on the upper floor of the City Hall Building located at 46 North Avenue.  The office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The telephone number is 330.633.5639.  Mr. Sauner can also be reached at psauner@tallmadge-ohio,org. 

 The Community Development Manager is responsible for the following programs:

• The regular update of the City of Tallmadge Comprehensive Plan

• Works with the Heritage Commission in the development of the Design Control District and the List of Recognized Heritage Structures.

• Grant Writing and subsequent administration and close out of the project.  This would include ODOT Projects, Ohio Public Works Commission Projects, Community Development Block Grant Projects, Ohio Capital Projects as well as Police and Recreation grants. 

• City representative to various boards such as the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Planning Board, the Tallmadge / Brimfield JEDD Board, the Portage County / City of Tallmadge Water Board and the Tallmadge School Community Relations Board.

• Other tasks and responsibilities not inconsistent with the City Charter as may be assigned by the Mayor. 

TALLMADGE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - 1997

           
The current Comprehensive Plan was completed in November of 1997.

The 1997 Comprehensive Plan is directed toward the policy aspects of planning.  It determines community objectives which effectuate a sound pattern of development.  It defines a unified set of objectives for the development of the community, serves as a guide in the delineation of capital improvement projects, provides direction for the review and strengthening of the various land development controls, guides private land owners in making individual plans for the development of their property, and protects existing land use developments.  

The Plan represents a studied estimate of future land use requirements and outlines the pattern toward which the community should logically develop.  The plan represents the most economical use of land as well as the proper balance of uses to ensure the fiscal well being of the community.  Whereas zoning usually reflects current conditions, the comprehensive plan proposes the manner in which future expansion should proceed taking into consideration the health, safety economic viability and welfare of the community.

The Plan focuses on the South Avenue Corridor, the Portage County Industrial Area, the Rural Preservation Area as well as identifies 30 Potential Development Sites and makes recommendations as to the future development of those sites.

A copy of the 1997 plan is available by calling 330.633.5639.

It is the City’s intention to update the Comprehensive Plan in 2009.  The City will hold a series of public meetings to discuss the potential plan prior to development in order to gain public insight as to the development of the community.  A preliminary plan will then be developed and presented to both the Planning Commission and the Tallmadge City Council prior to completion. 

LIST OF RECOGNIZED HERITAGE STRUCTURES.   

The City of Tallmadge Heritage Commission is in the process of identifying century old structures in the community to be included on a List of Recognized Historic Structures.  

The purpose of the List of Recognized Heritage Structures is to determine which properties, 100 years old and older, are both of historic significance and in good enough repair to be feasibly restored or maintained in a condition that respects the historic features of the dwelling.   Properties that can practically be maintained and/or have special historic significance, will be candidates for the list, and hence meet eligibility for our grant program.  Properties deemed to be too deteriorated to be restored would not be placed on the list.

Over the next several months, an architect hired by the City will be conducting a survey of Century houses to determine which of these structures should be included on the list.

Once our initial review is complete, there will be a public meeting of the Heritage Commission in which preliminary recommendations are made. Subsequent to this meeting, the Commission will recommend the List to City Council, and once adopted, a Grant program may be implemented.  The proposed grant program will be geared towards the maintenance and restoration of the exterior only. 

A copy of both the completed 2009 Comprehensive Plan and the List of Recognized Heritage Structures will be available on line upon completion of the projects.