The Ohio Revised Code requires all communities (townships, cities, counties) that have zoning to adopt a Future Land Use Plan and or a Comprehensive Plan.
Land use and comprehensive planning is a complex and multi-dimensional process that communities go through to better prepare for eventual changes and development requests in their community. The plans are one part of how the township can manage future development. They are the primary mechanism a township has, to either approve or deny a zone change request. This is done by evaluating the request against the plan recommendations to see if it meets the intended future land use and other characteristics set out in the plan.
Zoning is the legal regulation of land uses and development and includes a zoning map which geographically and visually defines the zoning district, and the zoning code or written regulations. The township has existing zoning for all properties in the community. Zoning cannot be changed without approval of the Township Board of Trustees at a public hearing after a process involving the Zoning Commission’s review and recommendation of the change, which is called an amendment. Unless an amendment to the zoning map, or zoning regulations are requested and approved by the Trustees the existing zoning is what applies to any development.