TOWNSHIP TALK August 2025
The Sylvania Board of Trustees authorized the Zoning Department staff to notify property owners at 3905 and 3925 N. McCord Rd., 7340 W. Central Ave., and 4533 Nantucket Dr. that they have seven days to remove the overgrown vegetation. If not done, U.S. Lawns will cut the grass at the property owner's expense. If not paid within 30 days, the fee will be added to the property tax.
The Zoning Department staff was also given authority to file legal action in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court regarding zoning violations of two property owners, one at 5723 Rudyard Rd., and the second at 5840 Stewart Rd., for failure to take care of the issues in the allotted time after being properly notified.
What is a nuisance?
The Sylvania Township Zoning Resolution states that noxious vegetation, garbage, refuse, or debris are not allowed, which may cause injury to the property of another, endanger life or health, be offensive to the senses, or adversely affect the surrounding area or adjoining premises.
How is this handled?
Summer in full season brings flowers blooming and grass growing... and in some cases, if not regularly mowed, complaints are made. “Uncut, tall grass and weeds tend to be the biggest complaint we receive,” noted Zoning Compliance Officer Dean Boyers.
Planning and Zoning Manager Daryl Graus agreed. “At least 80 percent of the nuisance complaints we receive are for tall grass and weeds. Grasses and weeds are not to exceed eight inches in height,” he added.
Other nuisance issues include junk and debris, including old, inoperable vehicles, which are not allowed to be parked or stored outdoors for more than two weeks.
Once a complaint has been logged, Boyers inspects the property. If there is a violation, with the Trustees’ authorization, a citation is issued, giving the property owner seven days to comply.
“We have a compliance rate of 75 to 80 percent,” Boyers reported.
LITE Project
The 2025 disbursement of Sylvania Township’s TARTA “LITE,” or Local Investment in Transit Enhancements, is being used for widening and resurfacing Corey Road from Whiteford Road to Monroe Street. Several subdivision roadways connecting to Corey Road are included in the resurfacing project.
“Corey Road qualifies as a LITE project because of its importance as a connector for residents traveling to major TARTA corridors, including Monroe Street and Sylvania Avenue,” noted Sylvania Township Road Superintendent Rob Nash. “This project’s scope aligns with LITE fund objectives—specifically resurfacing at key transit access points and enhancing roadway safety and function for TARTA vehicles and customers, including users of TARTA Flex and TARTA Move.” He explained that the LITE program was implemented when TARTA funding went from a property tax to a sales tax. As part of the program, TARTA contributes annual payments of $90,000 to Sylvania Township for installation, maintenance, and improvements of transit-related infrastructures to allow TARTA to operate its vehicles and serve its passengers in the township.