Cincinnati approves zoning code overhaul

DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved the city's biggest overhaul of the zoning code in 41 years Wednesday.

The new code, a four-year effort of the Planning Commission, is more "developer-friendly," and vastly expands the amount of land zoned single-family by allowing homes on smaller parcels.

City Council also passed a separate provision that keeps an exemption to off-street parking requirements for businesses with less than 2,000 square feet.

Intersection named in honor of church

OVER-THE-RHINE - The intersection of 13th and Clay streets will be known as "Old St. Mary's Square" under a Cincinnati City Council resolution to honor the city's oldest Roman Catholic church.

Council unanimously approved the resolution Wednesday, following a recommendation from its committee on names.

Mason festival loses group of organizers

MASON - Officials here will have to re-evaluate whether to hold the annual Heritage Festival this year or combine it with another city event.

City Manager Scot Lahrmer told council this week that the Heritage Festival Committee, a volunteer group that runs the festival, is no longer interested in leading the event.

Among the options he gave council include creating and hiring a full- or part-time staff person to coordinate special events or combining the festival with another city event.

Council will discuss the issue at a work session at 6 p.m. Monday in City Council Chambers at the Mason Municipal Center, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road.

West Chester readies property storage policy

WEST CHESTER TWP. - A policy prohibiting township employees and officials from storing personal property at township properties should be in effect by March.

Trustees are expected to give final approval Jan. 27 to the policy requested in October after news stories about former Trustees President Dave Tacosik and Township Administrator Dave Gully parking their boats for free on township property.

Tacosik had been parking his 30-foot RV and sailboat at the township police impound lot during fall and winter months since he was elected in 1999. Tacosik, a Lakota Schools teacher, was defeated by George Lang in the November election.

Warren college board elects officers

LEBANON - The Warren County Community College Board elected officers at its first meeting earlier this month. Barney Wright of Lebanon will serve as chairman, Bill Russell of Loveland will be vice president and Cindy Garland of Springboro will be the secretary and treasurer.

The nine-member board will serve until July 2005 or until successors are named. It will be creating a proposal for a community college.