North Canton Development News
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City Council June 22, 2026
Published: Jun 22, 2026
Parks Master Plan Unveiled: Focus on Natural Areas, Pool, Golf Course Redevelopment, and Community Input
The council received a presentation on the 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Master Plan, developed by Brand Center Carol Inc. The plan, based on community feedback and facility assessments, identifies resident priorities such as natural areas, trails, playgrounds, and pools. It benchmarks North Canton's facilities against other communities, noting areas for improvement like the lack of rectangular fields and the need for more pickleball courts. The plan suggests systemwide recommendations including ADA accessibility improvements, playground replacements, potential locations for rectangular fields, and a dog park. It also proposes strategies for enhancing community events and programming, with specific recommendations for the Dogwood Pool (repairs or replacement, estimated at $2 million for repairs or higher for replacement) and Arrowhead Golf Course (redevelopment into a community park with nine holes of golf, pickleball courts, splash pad, and other amenities, or alternative uses). The plan emphasizes the need for a phased approach to implementation and continued community engagement, with cost estimates provided as "order of magnitude" figures. The council moved to accept the plan as a strategic tool, not a mandate for immediate funding or implementation.
City Council Sets Water and Sewer Rates for 2027-2031, Introduces Potential Savings with Deduct Meter System
The council discussed Ordinance 24-2026, which aims to set water and sewer rates for a five-year period from January 1st, 2027, to December 31st, 2031. The Utilities Committee presented information indicating that the minimum water bill would decrease slightly, while the typical household user's bill would increase. The proposed structure aligns rates with meter sizes, recommending a 5% increase for average users. A "deduct meter system" was discussed as an option for residents who use significant water outdoors (for irrigation, pools), allowing them to pay lower sewer rates by tracking outdoor water usage separately. This system involves a secondary meter for outdoor use, with residents paying standard consumption rates for water but being exempt from sewer charges on that outdoor usage. The ordinance was adopted on its second reading.
City Hall HVAC Project: Council Approves Change Orders for Conference Room and Bathroom Renovations
The council approved two change orders related to the City Hall HVAC renovation project. The first change order, for $31,430.73, will fund the addition of a conference room on the first floor near the police department to provide additional meeting space and overflow for upstairs. This change is deemed an emergency to facilitate the ongoing project. The second change order, the amount of which was not explicitly stated in the provided text but implied to be substantial given the context of bathroom renovations and reconfigurations, addresses the renovation of two downstairs bathrooms and the reconfiguration of one upstairs bathroom. This also includes a declaration of emergency to keep the project moving forward. Funding for these change orders comes from already appropriated funds, specifically mentioning "sale of the 1200" [cite: 1078-1081], suggesting funds from a previous sale or budget allocation. The urgency is driven by the ongoing renovation project and the desire to minimize downtime at City Hall.
Council Approves Additional Funding for Police Department and City Hall HVAC Renovations
The council approved two ordinances authorizing amended professional services agreements for the police department renovations and the City Hall HVAC project. Ordinance 29-2026 approves an additional cost not exceeding $31,430.73 for these projects. Ordinance 30-2026 authorizes an additional cost not to exceed $225,326.62. Both were declared emergencies and adopted under suspension of the rules requiring three readings. These funds are intended to cover necessary adjustments or additional work related to the ongoing renovations.
City Council Reviews Zoning Code Updates, Including Data Centers and Neighborhood Business Districts
The council discussed proposed amendments to the city's zoning ordinance, including the potential restoration of the Office Building (OB) designation, the establishment of conditional uses for multi-family residential and restaurants in specific commercial and industrial districts, and the allowance of live-work units and commercial kitchens. A significant focus was placed on the regulation of computer data centers, which would be a permitted use only in the Limited Industrial (LI) district as a conditional use. The discussion also involved clarifying the intent and application of the Neighborhood Business (NB) district, with concerns raised about vagueness in definitions like "essential services" and the potential for uses after business hours. The council debated the notification process for new permitted uses within the NB zone and the possibility of making all uses conditional to ensure greater oversight and public input. There was also discussion about removing the supplemental regulations for "mainstream media shops" as they are now covered by a different chapter defining "adult uses."
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The North Canton News archive
ZBOA June 24, 2026
City Council June 15, 2026
Committee of the Whole
Planning Commission June 3, 2026
City Council
ZBOA - May 27, 2026
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