Stark County could have authority to request public land dedication

Talk about it

New subdivisions in Stark County may be required to dedicate land for public uses — including fire halls — under an ordinance approved late last year by the County Commission.

At Tuesday’s regular commission meeting at the Stark County Courthouse, County Planner Steve Josephson said the idea to give the county authority to ask developers to dedicate land is implied under the code, but it wasn’t specific.

The Stark County Zoning Board recommended a proposed amendment to the zoning code adopted in October, Commissioner Russ Hoff, who also serves on the board, told the commission.

“Basically, they want an area in a subdivision for emergency services, like a fire station or something like that,” he said. “Gary Kostelecky with the Dickinson Rural Fire Department is the one who came in before us about it.”

Josephson said the new section for dedications reads, “In connection of approval of a final plat, the developer shall be required to dedicate any lands and required improvements according to the provisions of this code, and may be required to dedicate other land and improvements for circulation, storm water management, drainage utilities, open space schools, fire service, public safety and law enforcement protection, park land and other appropriate public needs related to the development.”

Developers would be given ample time in the planning process to figure out what land to dedicate, he said.

Commissioner Jay Elkin said the request would be made to the developer, but the size of the land to be dedicated would depend on the size of the development.

Elkin said Dickinson Rural Fire Department is looking for property north of town to build a new fire hall.

Hoff said the current fire hall is “being pushed into the middle of town,” but it cannot afford the property.

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