Brimfield Township, Portage County, Ohio
Brimfield Township is located in the Southwest quadrant of Portage County, Ohio. It is bordered by the city of Kent to the north, Rootstown Township to the east, Suffield Township to the south, and by the city of Tallmadge in Summit County to the west. The township has an area of twenty-two and one half square miles.
The Township has access to an excellent transportation system with two interstate highway exchanges on I-76 located within the township, State Route 43 traversing in a north/south direction and State Route 261 located just north of the Township. The Township also contains a reasonably developed network of Local Township and county roads.

This accessibility to a well developed road network allows Brimfield to be within one hour’s drive of most of the major metropolitan areas of northeast Ohio: Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Warren. On a larger regional perspective, Brimfield is within one day’s drive of other major urban centers such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.
The transportation access, a key asset in Brimfield Township, allows it to have advantages of accessibility to diverse educational and cultural centers, large labor pools, large product markets, and allows its residents to enjoy diversity in both rural and urban landscapes, all factors contributing to the quality of life in Brimfield Township.

Brimfield Township is govern by three elected Township Trustees and one elected Clerk that serves as the chief financial officer, in addition, the Township maintains its’ own Police, Fire, and EMS Departments.
The 2000 US Census lists the Township population at 7,963 persons, however factoring population estimates from Portage County Regional Planning Commission and Northeast Ohio Four County Regional and Development Organization a more realistic population would be at 8,100 persons.

Since 2000 Brimfield Township has been experiencing unprecedented residential growth, multiple sub-divisions have been approved and are in various stages of development, building, and occupancy. The Townships’ population is approximately 9,675 persons as of December 2006

The Township Zoning Commission, in fall 2001, proposed a managed growth resolution for the Residential District to create a window of opportunity to review the Land Use Plan, Zoning Map, and Zoning Resolutions and allow for updating community planning. The time frame allowed the Township to insure adequate services could be delivered to its citizens. The Township Trustees approved the new resolution, effective January 5, 2002. The managed growth Residential District zoning allowed only single-family dwellings to be constructed on a minimum of 1.5 acre lots. Duplex and multi-family dwellings, and planned unit development sub divisions were not permitted under the managed growth resolution

In June 2004, the Township Trustees approved a new and completely revised Land Use Plan, Zoning Map, and Zoning Resolution

Brimfield Townships’ new zoning has 14 Zoning Districts distributed in 23 sections throughout the Township. The new zoning has resolved many problems encountered with the previous zoning code. The major benefit has been the distribution of housing densities in various districts in relation to traffic patterns, sewer and water availability, and maintaining green space as per objectives of the new zoning plan. The new zoning resolution allowed the Township to district the majority of industrial, commercial, and retail areas within both the Tallmadge and Kent Joint Economic Development Districts [JEDD’s], resulting in present and future financial benefits for the Township.

The Townships center of population density is in the Beechcrest allotment located off SR 43 approximately one half mile south of Tallmadge Road. The foremost growth areas in the Township are in the northeast quadrant and central/west area of the Township, while the southeast quadrant is generally rural to low density, and the southwest quadrant is generally semi rural to mid density in character. The City of Akron’s’ Mogadore Reservoir occupies 887 acres within Brimfield Township and is located in the southern section of the township.
There are approximately 3,675 residential dwellings in the Township with the potential for more than 900 additional dwellings in the near future. The Township is considered to be a “bedroom” community with the majority of its citizens commuting outside the area to their workplace.

The average family size is 2.9 persons with an average tax adjusted family income of $ 40,984.00 per year. [CY2002]

The Field Local School District serves both Brimfield Township and Suffield Township and has an enrollment for the 2006 school year of 2,350 students. The Student population represents approximately fourteen percent of the total population of both Brimfield and Suffield townships. The School operates five school buildings, four of which are located in Brimfield: Brimfield Elementary School located on SR 43 one quarter mile south of I-76 exit 33 interchange and Field High School, Middle School, and Central Elementary School, all located at the Townships southern border on SR 43 and Saxe Road.

The Brimfield Township Zoning Commission from 2002 to 2004 considered all growth and locations of growth as well as business and economic development, and environmental concerns to format the revised Land Use Plan, Zoning Map, and Zoning Resolution Book.

Priorities were for upgrading the Residential District into multiple districts by reviewing residential growth patterns in relation to topography, geographic trends, transportation and road access, availability of central water and sewer and the expansion capabilities of central water and sewer systems. Compatible relationship with business, commercial, and industrial areas was a major issue that was addressed. The planning and positioning of multiple residential districts by density patterns that are compatible to each other was also a key consideration.

The Route 43 corridor, from Tallmadge Road to Kent and State Route 261, mandated planning. Commercial and mixed-use districts were identified and adapted and positioned to be efficient and profitable for businesses located on the widening of SR 43 to a five lane highway. Traffic statistics from a 2004 ODOT survey show an average daily count of 25,520 vehicles traversing SR 43 from I-76 north to SR-261 and 14,600 vehicles traversing south from I-76 to Tallmadge Road. ODOT estimates that a one to one and one half percent increase has occurred since the survey. Lot size and depth as well as parking are a foremost priority in local planning. Traffic patterns, ingress and egress, and infrastructure concerns addressed by County and State planners are crucial to the success of this district. The current 60-foot SR 43 right-of-way has been increased to a 90-foot right-of-way for five [5] lanes. The widening project started in early 2005 and will be a two [2] year project to finish. Five [5] lanes from the Kent City limits to Howe Road has been finished. The total project will be finished in 2006.

Studies, surveys and community attitudes favored a planning process of business and commercial use of Town Center, and areas along Tallmadge Road and portions south of Tallmadge Road along SR 43.
All of the 814 acres of industrial area in Brimfield Township is classified as a Rural Enterprise Zone and the Township, with Portage County, may offer tax incentives to companies that agree to various standards for employment, payroll, growth and stability. Industry and commerce located within the district can be categorized as basically environmentally clean and relate positively to surrounding areas. Approximately 350 acres are prime with central water and sewer availability or in close proximity and easy access to I-76 east and west and rail availability in certain areas. A strong economic development and strategic plan is in place with the help of the JEDD districts. Increasing the potential class two industrial real property and personal property tax base will help offset the tax burden of the residential taxpayer and benefit the Township and the School system with a higher effective millage tax collection.

Joint Economic Development Districts have been created with both the City of Kent and the City of Tallmadge.
The Land Use Plan was updated to address open space, recreational areas, rural character areas, and beautification issues such as signage, unsightly articles of collection, and miscellaneous concerns of the Township and its’ citizens.

THE NEW LAND USE PLAN, ZONING MAP, AND ZONING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES AND BECAME EFFECTIVE JUNE 24, 2004.

The new Resolution has 14 Zoning Districts and includes 6 Residential Districts, 4 Commercial Districts, 2 Industrial Districts, and 2 Office, Research Districts.

UPDATES:

Joint Economic Development Districts: [JEDD]
The Brimfield-Tallmadge JEDD became effective January 1, 2004. Payroll tax and net corporate tax is based at .50 of 1 percent beginning January 1, 2006

The Brimfield-Kent JEDD is also effective. The tax collection and rates are the same as the Brimfield-Tallmadge JEDD.

Follow this link: Brimfield Township Economic Development Page on PCOED Web Site for industrial sites & buildings, financing, labor market information, state and local economic development incentive programs and a business and residential relocation guide. Note: Clicking the above link will open a new window. Close window to return to this page.

Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD)
All commercial and industrial properties are included within a JEDD. The northern portion of the township is within the Brimfield/Kent JEDD. The southern portion of the township is within the Brimfield/Tallmadge JEDD. Follow the links for maps and more details.