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LOCKPORT -- Woodward Township Supervisors approved two zoning ordinance amendments, celebrated another successful Riverfest and approved several community events at Riverview Park during their July meeting.
Among the board's most significant actions was the adoption of two zoning amendments, one easing setback requirements for smaller residential sheds and another limiting where institutional residences/group homes may be located within the township.
The first ordinance amends the townships lot, yard and open spaces requirements for the rural center, residential-low, medium and high districts.
According to the ordinance, the amendment exempts sheds measuring 144 square feet or less from standard accessory structure setbacks, instead requiring a two-foot setback from side and rear property lines.
The ordinance will take effect 20 days after adoption.
Supervisors and zoning board members agreed that the change is intended to reduce the number of variance requests brought before the township.
The board also adopted an ordinance amending the residential-low uses and structure table, removing group homes and institutional residences as permitted with special exception uses within the township's low-density residential district.
The ordinance states that the township considers the use of land as "a group's home or institutional residence to be incompatible with the character and makeup of the low-density residential district. Under the amendment, those uses will be limited to the township's high-density district.
The amendment follows the township's denial of Project Transition earlier this year. During the meeting, Supervisor Kyle Coleman and solicitor Tom Rosamilia noted the township had not received notice of an appeal within the required timeframe and noted that any future application for the property would now be subject to the newly adopted ordinance.
Riverfest success
Coleman praised the success of this year's Riverfest, saying attendance remained strong despite rain during the first two days of the event.
"We still did really well this year," he said. "We sold just a couple tickets short of 1,200 duck tickets, which is good, and the fire company sold out of food again.
Supervisors also noted the festival featured the largest number of vendors in several years.
Coleman and the other members of the recreation committee are already looking forward to next year's event.
Community events
Supervisors approved requests for two free community events to be held at Riverview Park later this year.
The board authorized Common Places Church to hold outdoor worship services on select Saturday mornings for Aug., Sept., and Oct. The church has requested to use the park from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
According to organizer Chad Long, the community services would be set up on the grass with a free picnic to follow.
Rather than assigning specific dates during the meeting, Coleman directed township secretary Jackie Bartlett to provide the church with available days for them to choose.
The board also approved a request from Shirley Hoover to use the park on Saturday, Sept. 26, for a combined America250 celebration and community harvest feast.
The event is expected to recognize the celebration of the nation's 250 birthday while also incorporating elements that honor the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
According to Hoover, the celebration is expected to occupy a significant portion of the park with tents set up for games, activities and photo opportunities.
In other business:
-- Supervisors will be meeting at Riverview Park for the installation of a memorial footbridge in the park as part of a Boy Scout project. The bridge, painted in rainbow colors, will honor pets that have passed away and includes a railing where visitors can hang memorial tags.
-- Repairs have begun on the pickleball court following damage done by studded tires.
-- Supervisors received an update that a new stormwater pipe and catch basins have been installed on Lin Ridge Drive.
-- Cleanup has begun at a long-vacant, burned structure on South Alleghany Street after Rosamilia notified the mortgage owner, Rocket Mortgage.