Lakewood Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting – February 19, 2026

The Lakewood Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met on February 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. (pre-review) and 6:30 p.m. (review) at 12650 Detroit Avenue. The board considered two variance requests, elected officers for 2026, approved prior meeting minutes, and heard public testimony.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the December 18, 2025 regular meeting and the January 30, 2026 special meeting – unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nora Blackman, neighbor to the south at 1270 Edwards Ave., expressed concerns about the proposed two-story garage, including the shadow it would cast on her yard, the large footprint (leaving only 3 feet from her property line), and the condition of the applicant’s property (broken windows, trash piles, broken fence).
• Two letters of support were submitted for the Shaw Ave. application: from John & Kathy Jones (17816 Shaw) and Matt & Liz Huber (17824 Shaw), both stating they do not object and support the applicant’s request. No public comment was offered in person for either agenda item.

Election of Officers for 2026

• Chair: Jeffrey Pickett was elected unanimously.
• Vice Chair: Gillian Bellino was elected unanimously.

Discussion Items

Docket No. 02-01-26 – 1270 Edwards Ave. (Two-Story Detached Garage)

• Applicant Mark Ieropoli (represented by Andy Airpoli) requested a height variance to allow a 34’ x 34’ detached garage with a second-story home office. The variance would increase the maximum permitted midpoint height from 15 feet to 17 feet 4 inches.
• Administrative comments from Michelle Nochta noted that the owner’s primary residence is in Avon Lake, that a home occupation cannot be conducted from a garage, and the structure cannot be a dwelling unit. The board discussed the substantial nature of the variance (2 ft 4 in above the limit), the lack of demonstrated practical difficulty (e.g., inability to build a compliant structure), and concerns that the presentation (with conference room and bathroom) appeared to be for a business use.
• After board members indicated insufficient support for approval, the applicant requested a deferral. The board granted the deferral unanimously (5-0). The applicant may return to a future meeting with a revised proposal.

Docket No. 02-02-26 – 17820 Shaw Ave. (One-Story Rear Addition)

• Applicant Aaron Lemley, owner-occupant, sought a variance to reduce the required rear yard setback from 40 feet to 20 feet for an 18’ x 27’ single-story great room/sunroom addition. The lot is 45 ft wide by 100 ft deep (4,500 sq ft, below the 5,000 sq ft minimum) and currently has no garage due to a prior variance.
• Michelle Nochta noted the lot’s asymmetrical shape and the lack of a house directly behind the property (abutting Horace Mann Elementary School). Two neighboring letters of support were submitted. The board found the unique lot size and shape created a practical difficulty, and the modest addition would not adversely affect neighbors.
• The board approved the variance as proposed unanimously (5-0). The approval is limited to the dimensions presented (18 ft depth, 27 ft width, single story); any changes may require further review. Construction must begin within one year and permits obtained within six months.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: Unanimous approval of December 18, 2025 and January 30, 2026 special meeting minutes.
• Officers Elected: Jeffrey Pickett (Chair) and Gillian Bellino (Vice Chair) for 2026.
• Deferral Granted: Docket No. 02-01-26 (1270 Edwards Ave.) deferred at applicant’s request; no reapplication required.
• Variance Approved: Docket No. 02-02-26 (17820 Shaw Ave.) – rear yard setback variance approved as proposed (5-0).
• Adjourned: Meeting adjourned after the second agenda item.