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

This meeting was held in Room 514 in Cleveland City Hall, which has a sign labeling it as “Conference Center.” Twenty-five chairs were available for members of the public in two rows to the side of the members’ tables, and five chairs were at the back of the room. I was the only person in the chairs set to the side for the public, and I had a pleasant conversation with board members after the meeting about my role as a Documenter for Signal Cleveland, as I agreed that we all had witnessed an uncomplicated meeting. 

Board members:

• Alanna Faith, chair 
• Nina Holzer
• Priscila Rocha
• Arleesha Wilson
• Marcus Madison

Faith participated on the WebEx platform, and Wilson said she was acting as chair for this meeting. 

There were two men seated at a table in the back, opposite from the presentation screen. During the meeting, Xavier Bay identified himself as being part of the City Planning Commission staff, and his name and photo were also on the WebEx screen. But the other person was not identified and did not speak at the meeting. 

One person was sitting in one of the five chairs arranged in the back and typing on their laptop during the entire meeting, but it was not clear what their role may have been.

Brittany Jones had a seat at the front of the room, with board members at tables to her left. Her nameplate was on the table in front of her, and she was the board’s administrative assistant for this meeting. 

The meeting started on time at 9:30 a.m., and Jones read the preamble, which was also shown on screen. The roll was called, with Wilson saying all members are present, so there is a quorum.

The agenda had four items listed, but two were consolidated during the meeting and one item was withdrawn. A case regarding the property at 1798 Crawford Road was not heard. 

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Calendar No. 25-089

3533 Carlyle Ave.
Cleveland, 44109

Kyle Cutler, owner of the property, proposes to change use from a two-family dwelling to a three-family dwelling:

• Martin Bielat participated via WebEx with voice and listed name only. He did not provide his title, but a search shows that he is an assistant director of law with the city and the compliance manager for some grant programs. The chair called for “legal,” and Bielat read the legal standard that was also shown on the slide. 

• Chair asked, Jones gave history of property going back to 1926.
  • A permit for establishing use as a three-family unit was applied for in 1970, but no occupancy permits had been given, so that’s the issue today.

• Rocha swore in Cutler, who participated through WebEx video and provided the following information:
  • Purchased in August 2024

• Proposal will have no change to exterior
  
• Has replaced door with drywall to separate the three units on advice of property management company
  
• All three units have separate utility accounts and equipment
  
• Units have separate entrances and separate access to basement
  
• Wilson asked about existing parking
  • Cutler: Driveway, plus a two-car garage that exits into an alleyway
    
• Faith asked, Cutler replied: Yes, can make sure that any addition for parking will have required 10-foot clearance from doors/windows
  
• Faith asked if Cutler can make another exit from the second floor along with existing stairway, Cutler confirmed
  
• Madison asked “just for the record” if hardship would occur with denial of variance request; Cutler said he bought it as a three-family option, would have to make plans for unoccupied third unit
  
• Madison asked, Cutler confirmed units are for long-term leasing
  
• Bay: City Planning concurs with needing additional means of second-floor exiting, and the change will not interfere “with the context of the neighborhood,” which already has three-family units

Motion for approval, all members voted yes. Jones said the variance “will be granted conditionally, and once we have the things we need, it will be ratified.”

Calendar No. 25-093 and Calendar No. 25-094 (combined at meeting)

14923 Waterloo Rd.
Cleveland, 44110

14913 Waterloo Rd.
Cleveland, 44110

Meadow City LLC proposes to install 100% opaque boards on two six-foot-tall fences in two front yard setbacks in a two-family residential district 

Holzer read the proposal that was also shown onscreen, and Rocha swore in Julie Slater, director of Meadow City Native Plant Nursery.

• Jones gave history: No change in zoning since 1925, nothing in other records checked
  
• Bielat read legal standard also shown on slide
  
• Slater:
  • Parcels are along I-90 Marginal Road
    
  • Adding these two local parcels to four existing parcels owned by the business. These two are leased through the Cleveland Land Bank.
    
  • Will grow native trees and shrubs on all six parcels for sale at nursery around the corner.
    
  • Want to put up six-foot wooden fencing, matching neighboring fences; would protect plants from deer and provide security
    
• Bay said Mike Polensek, the ward’s council member, submitted a letter of support for this and previous variances for four neighboring parcels.

Request granted with all voting yes.

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Old Business

• Slide was shown with several past appeals rulings unable to be read onscreen, no written copy available
  
• Wilson said listed items 1, 2, 3, and 5 were ratified without objection
  
• Another appellant was said to have requested an extension to meet conditions, which was granted
  
• Calendar No. 25-080:
  • Request for rehearing re: group home variance at 12812 Lenacrave Ave., which the board unanimously denied, per Wilson
    
  • Wilson: Someone called and said he had a meeting with neighbors to get community input, and a neighbor who was at the board hearing has changed her mind about her support
    
  • Faith: Pivotal issue with case was saturation in area; two existing and one pending group home(s) already within 1,000-foot perimeter
    
  • Rocha: No case for rehearing based on legal/procedural grounds
    
  • Wilson: “No support from the councilman”
    
  • Rocha: “The appellant has an appeal right”

Wilson said “the re-hearing request is denied” after members voted unanimously against it. 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 a.m.

These notes are by Documenter Laurie Redmon.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at [email protected]  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.