Claridon Township officials are moving forward with zoning changes to formally incorporate the former Aquilla Village into the township.
Claridon Township officials are moving forward with zoning changes to formally incorporate the former Aquilla Village into the township.
The Claridon Township Zoning Commission took another step during a Dec. 15 hearing by proposing an amendment to the township’s zoning resolution to include Aquilla on the township zoning map, said Zoning Inspector Chris Alusheff in a phone interview Dec. 16.
The proposed amendment would update the Geauga County Planning Commission map to reflect the change and is expected to go before township trustees in January, with a vote anticipated in February, he said.
Although township trustees adopted a resolution in November applying township zoning regulations to Aquilla, the zoning map itself was not updated at the time due to a miscommunication, Alusheff said. The resolution was structured to allow most of Aquilla’s existing zoning standards — including lot size, setbacks and frontage – to remain in effect.
A majority of Aquilla voters approved a ballot issue in November 2024 to dissolve the village and rejoin Claridon Township. The dissolution was carried out under a newly enacted section of the Ohio Revised Code, with a transition board working for a year to ensure the compliance with state law.
Alusheff, a former Aquilla council member for the 330-resident community, said zoning enforcement was effectively paused during the transition, leaving properties in limbo.
While zoning could not be enforced, some construction still required variances, he said, adding only two permits were issued during the yearlong transition.
“We need to get the word out to (Aquilla) residents. The zoning barriers have been removed. We’re open for business. You do need to come in for permits,” Alusheff said.
The transition board directed all the actions and set a precedent for similar actions in Ohio, according to previous reporting.
“Trustees already did a major step by amending the (zoning) regulations in Aquilla Village,” said Claridon Township Trustee Jonathan Tiber Dec. 16. “This is just a piece of that. Zoning couldn’t be official and enforced until the map was adopted.”
Although Aquilla is no longer incorporated as a village, Tiber said the community’s identity remains important and, due to its depth of history, should continue to be referred to as Aquilla Village.
Located near Aquilla State Park and Lake Aquilla, the area was developed decades ago as a summer retreat for Cleveland-area families.
According to Aquilla’s website, in 1923, its lots were sold through a special “buy one get one free” county fair promotion and summer cottages soon followed.
The village incorporated in 1946, but financial challenges in recent years ultimately led village, township and county officials to work together to return the community to township governance.
