Madeira City Council will vote Monday, Aug. 24, on an ordinance banning livestock within city limits, a $25,000 parking lease tied to the Camargo Road reconstruction and zoning code changes affecting storage pods and commercial properties.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Residents can attend in person or join remotely through a link on the city's website calendar.

Livestock ban targets miniature horses

Ordinance No. 26-08 would prohibit horses, cows, pigs, goats, alpacas and other livestock animals inside Madeira. Chickens are explicitly excluded.

The ban traces back to a July 13 council meeting where resident Pete Seremitis of 6420 Shawnee Lane told council a neighbor planned to keep miniature horses on less than one acre. He cited concerns about manure, pests and odors.

City Manager Michael Norton-Smith said at the July 13 meeting that the city "[o]ccasionally" encounters cases that identify loopholes, and that "seeking a definite prohibition would be a recommended solution over an implied prohibition."

Council Member Chad Shaffer voiced support for "an airtight explicit policy," while Council Member Alicia Camper raised concern the ordinance might inadvertently ban chickens or household pets. Norton-Smith said the language could be drafted to allow hens while prohibiting livestock.

Vice Mayor Ramzi Takieddine referred the issue to the Law and Safety Committee, which met July 28 and recommended the ordinance to full council. The proposed ban includes protections for animals already lawfully on a property and a penalty provision.

$25,000 Camargo Road parking lease

Ordinance No. 26-09 authorizes a lease with SevenSisters LLC for temporary public parking and construction staging at 7842 Camargo Road. The city would pay $5,000 per month through Dec. 31, 2026, capped at $25,000.

Under the deal, the property owner will operate and maintain the parking area. Council had previously approved a contract with Fiscus Excavating, Inc. for the city to demolish the existing structure and build the lot itself, passing that 6-0 on July 27. The property owner has since asked to handle that work instead.

The ordinance dispenses with the usual three-reading requirement and would take effect immediately upon passage.

Zoning tweaks for storage pods, commercial lots

Ordinance No. 26-07 makes three changes to the zoning code: it allows commercial redevelopments to maintain their current impervious surface ratio rather than meeting stricter standards, removes screening requirements for commercial parking areas facing the right-of-way and creates rules for personal temporary storage units such as PODS.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing Aug. 17 and recommended approval.

Resolution No. 58-26 would end an eminent domain dispute with Spirit WG Madeira OH, LLC over easements needed for the Miami Avenue project. The city would pay an additional $10,000 beyond the $28,807 already escrowed as fair market value. Spirit WG had refused earlier settlement offers, prompting the city to exercise eminent domain. The case spent nearly a year in Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.

Construction update

Ford Development laid sidewalk pavers at the corner of Miami and Camargo Road the week of Aug. 22, and contractor Rack and Ballauer completed curb and storm work on the south side of Camargo Road. A collapsed sanitary sewer main on Laurel Avenue near the Madeira Inn, Megan's BBQ and the Madeira Market will push final pavement on that stretch into September. The Metropolitan Sewer District reported the collapse to the city the week of Aug. 22, and repair is expected to take one to two weeks.

How to weigh in

Residents who want to address council virtually must email [email protected] at least eight hours before the meeting with their name and address. In-person attendees must complete a form and submit it to the Clerk of Council before the meeting begins.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m.