BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A more than two-acre tract of land at the entrance of The Reserve, at Hickory Hill Dr. and Western Reserve Rd., is in violation of maintenance codes required by Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, Mahoning County Judge John A. Durkin has ruled.
      The property is owned by Donna Zdrilich, 81, of 8599 Youngstown-Poland Rd.
      According to a Judgement Entry on the matter, issues with the property were brought into question on Apr. 8, 2022, when then Boardman Zoning Inspector Krista Beniston filed a complaint charging the Zdrilich “has been and is continuing to violate” the township’s zooming resolution.
      Beniston said the Zdrilich “failed to stabilize, grade, seed, cut wood and cut trees debris,” and also “failed to stabilize, grade, seed and/or mulch the disturbed and cleared areas;” and failed to prepare and submit a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.”
      According to Beniston’s complaint, there have been multiple attempts to get Zdrilich to bring the property into compliance since March, 2021, “but Zdrilich has failed to come into compliance with the zoning resolution.”
      Zdrilich answered the claims saying that all work on the property required by the zoning resolution “has been completed” and she was not in violation of local zoning codes. She said the property (now largely overgrown with weeds) “has been stabilized, graded and seeded,” and she had no obligation to submit a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.
      In May, 2023, current Boardman Township Zoning Inspector T.J. Keiran conducted an inspection of the property to took photographs depicting tree stumps, cut wood sand cut tree debris covering the property; and said there was no evidence that Zdrilich submitted a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.
      According to the Judgement Entry, Boardman Township zoning officials have viewed the property several times, most recently on Aug. 9, 2023.
      “The property needed to be cleared of tree stumps and graded, seeded and/or mulched within 30 days.
      “Zdrilich has failed to do so as cut wood and cut tree debris remain on the property. Further, there is no evidence that the property has been stabilized, graded and seeded.
      “There is no evidence of new grass or mulch, the only growth is the natural progression of weeds,” the Judgement Entry notes.
      Judge Durkin said “Reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion…that the Zdrilich’s property is being used and maintained in a way that violates the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution.” In declaring the property in violation of the zoning resolution, Zdrilich was ordered to bring the land in compliance with Boardman Township regulations.