Newbury Looks to Update Land Use Plan

May 29, 2025 by Charlotte Jons

Like other municipalities in the county in recent months, Newbury Township is due for a land use plan update, said Zoning Inspector Frank Kolk May 21.

The township’s plan hasn’t been revised in over a decade, Kolk said during the Newbury Township Trustees meeting, adding he hopes to coordinate a planning session soon and include Linda Crombie, director of the Geauga County Planning Commission, in discussions.

Kolk also touched on zoning fees and discussed potential adjustments for residential and nonresidential areas.

“We’re staying on top of things and being strategic with where money is put,” Kolk said, emphasizing the township’s zoning could use some updates for effectiveness.

Trustees agreed to discuss zoning changes, including fee adjustments, during their June 25 trustees meeting.

In other business, township officials discussed Memorial Day preparations, including the placement of American flags and a cookout for military veterans at the township’s Veterans Memorial Park May 26.

Road Superintendent Doug Zimperman also said plans for paving at the township cemetery are in progress, though rain weather delays have impacted other roadwork.

Fiscal Officer Lindsay Pollock said a comprehensive review of changes to the township’s budget would be held and voted on at the July 2 trustees meeting.

Pollock also discussed cybersecurity with trustees.

As the threat of cyberattacks continues to increase for local governments, many township officials are looking into ways they can better protect themselves.

In Geauga County, alone, there were breaches in Burton Township, Huntsburg Township and Troy Township in April 2025; Bainbridge Township had a breach in February 2025; Munson Township had a cyber attack in December 2024; and Thompson Township, in February 2024, according to a recent Geauga County Automatic Data Processing board security report.

As a result, some entities have decided to partner with ADP for IT services and more protection.

Pollock presented ADP as a potential IT provider for township services, such as website development, data storage, cybersecurity and other digital infrastructure improvements.

“I … have a call tomorrow with two or three other township fiscal (officers) who were around when their townships started using ADP,” Pollock said. “Obviously, because it’s a county service, it should be a cost savings over using Newbury Technologies. Although Newbury Technologies has been fine … it seems they’re not the most efficient and they’re not always able to diagnose problems.”

Pollock said she hopes to have more information about ADP to present to trustees soon for further discussion.

“I think it is something to consider,” she said. “I think it’s pretty much anything A to Z for IT that they’ll do. To me personally, I would just feel more secure knowing the county is handling those things.”

Trustee Greg Tropf also announced the township has been awarded a $7,500 grant from The Realtors Association to support projects at Oberland Park, with more specifics to be released soon.

Trustees also reminded residents the township’s Clean-Up Day is scheduled for June 7.