Board of Zoning Appeals

Development

Monday, May 6, 2024
9:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. EDT

601 Lakeside Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 (Directions)

Cleveland City Hall, Room 514 (or watch on YouTube)

The Board of Zoning Appeals is a 5-member body responsible for hearing appeals from individuals who are requesting exceptions or variations for city ordinances in regard to land use and building requirements or from individuals who are questioning the appropriateness of orders made by city officials.

Board members

Nina Holzer
Alanna Faith, chair
Priscila Rocha
Arleesha Wilson
Terri Hamilton Brown

Liz Kukla, board secretary, and Maurice Ruelens, city planner, often attend these meetings.

NOTE: Because the board has been holding hybrid meetings – with some people at City Hall and others joining via WebEx – you may have a better view of all commission members in person. Whether you watch remotely or attend in person, feel free to note if you can’t identify a speaker.

Watching remotely? Find a livestream of the meetings here: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandPlanningCommission/streams

Attending in person?

We add two hours of pay ($36) to the assignment. Be sure to bring a photo ID.

Find past Documenters coverage of this board here: https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=156

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Note-taking by Tina Scott

Residents speak for an against West Side gas station; board denies petition

View notes

Note-taking by Brittany Merriweather

Board rejects plan for new gas station by Cudell Park

View notes

Live reporting by Nicholas Ventura

Board denies gas station project following surge in community opposition

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11

Hi #Cleveland, I'll be live documenting today's Cleveland City Board of Zoning Appeals meeting scheduled today, May 6th, 2024 at 930. This board is responsible for hearing appeals from individuals who are requesting exceptions for City Ordinances @CLEdocumenters @signalcleveland

01:01 PM May 6, 2024 CDT

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 2/21

It is the board’s goal to treat all individuals fairly and courteously. Each appeal is heard and decided on its own merit. Be advised that the Board of Zoning Appeals may be limited in their authority, if any, to grant a variance from the Zoning Code.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 3/21

The board if made up of 5 individuals who are; Nina Holzer, Alanna Faith, Priscila Rocha, & Arleesha Wilson. Terri Brown was absent. There may be a tie vote today. Liz Kukla, board secretary, and Maurice Ruelens, city planner, often also attend these meetings.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 4/21

At the moment, there's no replacement for Terri Brown. Terri resigned from the role. Everyone in attendance is ready! There seemed to be a lot of commotion in the room. It was said that it'll be a minute until the meeting starts. The meeting began at 9:32.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 5/21

Watching remotely? Find a livestream of the meetings here:

youtube.com/@ClevelandPlan…

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 6/21

The majority of items on today's agenda are postponements from past meetings. The one item on today's agenda that is not a postponement is Calendar No. 24-051: 2429 Superior Viaduct Ave.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 7/21

Item no 24-046 was read first. This was 3305 West 165 St. that was POSTPONED FROM APRIL 1, 2024. There's been no change in this zoning. Brandt Architecture was here to speak on this matter. There were some issues with the microphones.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 8/21

There was apparently a fire set the other day, and the risk of fire hazards was raised. Power lines were also a problem raised by the neighbors. Brandt architecture responded with the fire rating and proximity. Existing conditions were also raised.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 9/21

The board has received all of the files, but the presentations did not. Xavier Bay did work to make sure all the files were properly displayed. Xavier said he saw no concerns. He sees no issues.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 10/21

Variances were raised, and safety was a prime concern. Shannan Leonard, zoning administrator, said no permit will be issued unless they meet all other permits.
The board voted to grant and will be ratified.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 11/21

The next item on the agenda is Calendar No. 24-024: 10022 Madison Ave. Shaker Madison LLC, owner, proposes to construct a new gas station in a C2 Local Retail Business District and a Pedestrian Retail Overlay District (PRO) Zoning District. This was POSTPONED FROM MARCH 4, 2024

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 12/21

History of the property was read, & in 1998 the variance was granted to erect the building. This has been sitting vacant and will increase the retail presence. The # of employees will be 18, 4 on duty at all time. There was a lot of public comment, both in support and opposition.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 13/21

There were a lot of people getting perplexed and got out of order, 😡mostly because of a man speaking over time, & the timer was shut off. This was due to a past person not going over, and the board not shutting off the timer.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 14/21

There were 54 opposition letters in total, including a letter from Jenny Spencer, ward 15. These include traffic patterns and proximity to the school. @jennyspencercle

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 15/21

This is the site in question. There is a park near the gas station, and therefore children would be playing near the gas station as well. There is evidence that it is a dangerous intersection.
Also captured are the other gas stations nearby, within 2 miles.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 16/21

Motion was entertained & 24-024 was denied and ratified next Monday, 5/13/24.
There was a brief break 12:30 pm-12:39 pm🧐
Moving onto Calendar No. 24-027: 14930 St. Clair Ave., POSTPONED FROM MARCH 11, 2024 - Five Points Center LLC, owner, proposes to change of use building

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 17/21

It is an addiction therapy center, 8am - 4pm -- The primary use is group / individual therapy. Partial hospitalization (outpatient) & intensive outpatient make up the uses. Saturdays & Sundays 8am-2pm
--
Motion was entertained, role was called, & this order was granted.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 18/21

Calendar No. 24-051: 2429 Superior Viaduct Ave, motion was made, vote was called, no 24-051 was granted. Brandon Kline of Geis said hopefully they will break ground in the summer.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 19/21

Calendar No. 24-036: 1695 Bradford Ave.; motion was made, vote was called, No. 24-036 will be ratified next Monday.

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 20/21

Calendar no. 024-017, residential facility was already postpone once, motion was made to be dismissed. This was seconded.
Adjournment was made. The meeting ended at 2:00 pm. This ends my coverage for Documenters @cledocumenters

Nick Ventura @Nick_Ventura11 21/21

Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send inquires on the meeting or these tweets to @Cledocumenters. Or email us at Cledocumenters@gmail.com ✅

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Agency Information

Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals

planning.city.cleveland.oh.us

(216) 664-2580

See Documenters reporting

The Board of Zoning Appeals is a 5-member body responsible for hearing appeals from individuals who are requesting exceptions or variations for city ordinances in regard to land use and building requirements or from individuals who are questioning the appropriateness of orders made by city officials.

Find live streams of meetings here: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandPlanningCommission/streams