Chagrin Town Council passes short-term rental ordinance and approves grant application for Riverside Park expansion

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – At the August 12 Chagrin Falls Town Council meeting, the council adopted new regulations for short-term rentals, increased clothing allowances for fire and police departments and approved grant applications for structural improvements to Riverside Park.

Regulation on short-term rentals adopted

Under the new legislation, owners of short-term rental properties would be required to register their property with the municipality annually, pay a $100 registration fee and undergo a safety inspection of the property.

During the safety inspection, the fire chief or village fire marshal would verify that there is a working smoke detector in every bedroom, that there is at least one carbon monoxide detector installed near a bedroom, and that there is a working fire extinguisher on the property.

These steps would issue the owner with a certificate of rental registration. Without such a certificate, no short-term rental can legally operate in the village. Owners of short-term rentals have 90 days to register their property.

In addition to the new playground at Riverside Park, council members want to build a new retaining wall and walkway, as well as a new picnic area in the downtown park. To help pay for the construction, council will apply for ODNR NatureWorks grants. The grants would only fund a portion of the projects. Both projects are in the planning stages and are expected to be completed in 2025.

Police and fire brigade have increased the clothing allowance

According to Chagrin Falls County Clerk Rob Jamieson, the clothing allowance for fire and police departments has not changed in quite some time. “The amounts of these allowances have been in place for many years, and it turns out that they do not cover the cost of the uniforms these departments currently wear,” Jamieson explained.

Council approves Chagrin Valley Little Theater mystery theater event

The Chagrin Falls Town Council has approved the CVLT “Murder By The Falls” fundraiser, which will be held on September 6 and 7 at 38 River Street. The Town Council has approved a one-time exemption for the consumption of beer and wine in open containers on the sidewalks of River Street.

Grove Hill Park Update

Construction inside the park began in August. This includes a circular walkway connecting the existing walkway from the stairs up. Additionally, three stone benches have been added to the walkway. According to Councilman Brian Drum, the rest of the landscaping in the park will be completed either in the fall or spring of next year. The small park is not officially open yet, but residents can explore the park’s improvements.