Watermain Breaks, Dog Ordinance, Environmental Commission Appointments on Council Agenda

City Council to Review Proposals for Restroom at Oregon Trails Park and Playground Equipment Replacement at Heather Hills

The City Council agenda for Thursday, Feb. 12, is chock full of items that will be of interest to Stow residents, including a report on watermain breaks in the city, updates to a nuisance dog ordinance, the appointment of residents to a new Environmental Commission, and several upcoming additions/updates to Stow parks.

Public Hearing on Marsh Rd. Facility Zoning Change

Prior to the start of City Council’s standing committees, a public hearing will be held starting at 5 pm to get public comment on a proposed rezoning of a former assisted living facility on Marsh Rd.

The property, located at 3605 and 3625 Marsh Rd. near AutoZone, would be rezoned from R-2 Residential to C-1 Limited Retail.

During City Council’s Jan. 8 meeting, Stow Planning Director Zack Cowan said the property owner intended to repurpose the 2.2-acre property, with 16 vacant units, into office space or medical office building. Cowan said a C-1 designation would allow small-scale commercial uses in residential areas, encouraging adaptive reuse, and supporting mixed-use development. He said permitted uses under C-1 included health and wellness centers, artist studios, offices, personal services, and retail.

The city’s Planning Commission, made up of five residents, approved the request unanimously on Dec. 9.

Public Improvements Projects

At the request of Councilman At-Large Cyle Feldman, the city’s engineering department will provide a report on the increase in watermain breaks throughout the city. The discussion will take place during Council’s Public Improvements Committee, scheduled to start at 5:30 pm on Thursday.

Council approved $175,000 in contracts for companies to provide emergency water line repairs at its Jan. 22 meeting, which Councilwoman At-Large Kim Young noted was a significant increase from prior years. Service Director Nick Wren noted that the increased budget request was necessary as the city’s aging infrastructure and extreme weather fluctuations had resulted in more frequent watermain breaks.

The Public Improvements Committee also will consider proposals for installation of a shelter at the Oregon Trails Park for a restroom near the pickleball courts and the replacement of playground equipment at Heather Hills Park.

Updates to Nuisance Dog Ordinance

The first order of business during Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting at 6 pm on Thursday will be proposed changes to a nuisance animal ordinance strengthening the leash law for dogs. The law also would be changed to escalate penalties for residents with multiple instances of violating the nuisance animal law. See proposed changes to the ordinance here.  

New Environmental Commission Appointments

Mayor John Pribonic will nominate for Council approval seven residents to the city’s new Environmental Commission. The residents, selected by Pribonic from among 16 applications received, will advise City Council, the Mayor and city staff on environmental, conservation, and sustainability matters, including solid waste policy, recycling, sustainable development, and environmental technologies and review and make recommendations on policies, plans, and projects that may impact the city’s natural environment.

The residents nominated, who will serve staggered terms, are Andy Boateng, Marcie Kress, Dennis Mariola, Robert Misbrener, Cari Orris, Brian Prunty and Patty Spring.

The original ordinance creating the commission passed last month specified a commission of five residents. However, Pribonic will ask City Council to approve an amendment to the new law increasing the commission size to seven. The city received 16 applications for the commission. Based on the number and strength of the applications received, Pribonic felt increasing the number of members was warranted. That proposal, along with the vote to approve the appointments, also will be discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting, which begins around 6 pm.

City Council approved the creation of the commission at its Jan. 8 meeting on a 6-1 vote, with Ward 2 Councilwoman Kelly Coffey voting against it. In explaining why she would oppose the Environmental Commission, Coffey said she felt it was unnecessary to add another commission as she could do all the research required of any proposed ideas and that any proposals or projects could instead be directed to another of the city’s boards and commissions. Read more about that prior discussion here.   

2025 Parks & Recreation Annual Report

The Parks & Recreation Department will present its 2025 annual report during Council’s Public Improvements Committee meeting. Notable accomplishments that the department cited in its report:

• Approval of a plan to construct an amphitheater (The Amp) on Norton Rd.;

• Conclusion of the first year of operation of the city’s Community & Senior Center, the highlights of which included 747 senior memberships, 3,500 total visits, more than 200 programs, and 35 special events;

• Replacement of an aging bus with a new bus for senior trips and community pop-up events;

• Pop-up in the Park events at the city’s neighborhood parks;

• Four concerts on the green;

• A Connect with Nature Series in cooperation with the Stow-Munroe Falls Library.

• And more.

See the full 2025 Parks & Recreation Annual Report here.