July 29: Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals
Covered by Documenters Alyssa Holzkloos (notes) and Marvetta Rutherford (live-tweets)
Neighbors voice concerns about East Side residential facility for veterans
Plans for a residential facility in Ward 10’s Forest Hills neighborhood were halted on July 29. The Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals denied a zoning variance request that would have let RAL Property Management LLC move forward with that aim for the property, located at 698 E. 124th St.
The board’s decision followed testimony from several neighboring residents who expressed concerns about safety and property values. Some also said there is a history of the homeowner leasing to disruptive tenants.
Waynenita Perryman of RAL Property Management said they could not speak to disruptive tenants as the LLC only began managing the property in May of this year. The typical demographic of the home would have included one to five men who are veterans and 55 years old or older, Perryman said.
Darrell Branch, who owns an adjacent home, said he is a veteran. He understands the need for veteran housing, he said, but added that it should not be in the middle of a residential area.
Cleveland neighborhood ‘oversaturated’ with residential facilities
Cleveland City Planning staff also voiced opposition to the variance request.
Xavier Bay, senior assistant city planner, said the neighborhood is “oversaturated” with existing residential facilities. The zoning code states that one residential facility cannot be within 1,000 feet of another. One already exists within 1,000 feet of the property in question.
The home being mid-block is another reason why City Planning staff doesn’t support the plans, Bay said.
Ariel Washington, Northeast Neighborhood planner, echoed what Bay said. She encouraged Perryman to have meetings with community members and Ward 10 Council Member Anthony Hairston.
New member coming to Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals
The board is about to be back to full strength, with a new fifth member set to join shortly. Cleveland appointed Marcus Madison to the board on July 23, according to a board official.
Former Board Member Terri Hamilton Brown left in May to become executive director of the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation. Since then, the board has operated with only four members. In that scenario, a tie vote on a case defaults to denial of the appeal.
