Toledo Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing – July 20, 2026
Toledo Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing – July 20, 2026
The Administrative Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of Toledo, Ohio, met on July 20, 2026, to consider four variance requests. All cases had received prior approval from the Planning Commission. A quorum was present with members Christy Sonkrant, Denise Williams, Robert Pasker, and Nathan Natke (Devon Oberton and Eric Craig excused). All variances were approved unanimously, and minutes from the last two meetings were adopted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 1271 Tecumseh Street (BZA 26-00006): Applicant Eric L. Lyons, owner of the property, testified that he wished to install a four‑foot black aluminum fence in his front and side yards to enhance the property’s appearance and value. The home is his late grandmother’s, and the property has increased in appraised value from $10,000 to $65,000. No opposing testimony was given.
- 1624 Lombard Avenue (BZA 26-00021): Kenya Cunningham, personal assistant of owner Arlena Alexander, explained that the requested variance was for a replacement fence in the backyard, not a new front yard fence. The property fronts both South Detroit and Lombard (double frontage lot), causing confusion. Neighbor Mark Phyllis of 1612 Lombard expressed that the city’s notice created unnecessary neighborhood anxiety, as the fence was not intended for the front yard. He supported the replacement.
- 2007 Scottwood Avenue (BZA 26-0002): Michael Clark, owner of the property, stated that he wanted to install a seven‑foot privacy fence along his side yard to match an adjacent commercial property’s existing seven‑foot chain‑link fence with barbed wire. No public opposition was noted.
- 1702 and 1710 Oakdale Avenue (BZA 26-0027): Matt Hittle and Rudolph Augusty of Rudolph Lou to Inc. testified that the fence (six‑foot chain‑link with one foot of barbed wire) would extend an existing fence line to enclose newly purchased adjacent lots and prevent illegal dumping. No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- The board reviewed each variance, noting that all had Planning Commission approval.
- For the Lombard case, the board clarified the definition of a double frontage lot and confirmed the fence would only be in the backyard, addressing neighbor concerns.
- The board approved the minutes from the last two meetings (the prior meeting had lacked a quorum).
Key Outcomes
- BZA 26-00006 (1271 Tecumseh St.): Approved unanimously (4‑0) to install a four‑foot fence with non‑standard materials in front and side yards.
- BZA 26-00021 (1624 Lombard Ave.): Approved unanimously (4‑0) for a six‑foot fence; clarified as a replacement backyard fence on a double frontage lot.
- BZA 26-0002 (2007 Scottwood Ave.): Approved unanimously (4‑0) for a seven‑foot privacy fence in the side yard setback.
- BZA 26-0027 (1702/1710 Oakdale Ave.): Approved unanimously (4‑0) for a six‑foot chain‑link fence with one foot of barbed wire in the front yard setback within 50 feet of a residential zone.
- Minutes: Approved from the last two meetings by motion and second.
Meeting Transcript
I think everybody's just running a little late, which happens, so yeah, not in not including this gentleman, but there'll be need to be three more of us in order to kind of vote and do this, and um and if that doesn't happen, we'll figure something else out so you guys don't have to come back. Um but so planning commission looks at all of these um all these cases and I think there are printouts right up here that kind of give Planning Commission's recommendation. Fortunately, all of them have Planning Commission's approval or suggesting that we approve them, and it's really up to us to vote on what Planning Commission recommends based on what the situation is. So if you want to review their recommendation just to understand kind of where they're coming from. Like I said, they're all approved this week. That doesn't typically happen, and um so I would I think things are gonna go fairly well, but I don't want to thank you. Don't want to overpromise anything. So um, but with that also while we're waiting, um if you plan on tending to speak, there's a sign-up sheet um right up here. It's just kind of a name and address, and yeah, if you're yeah, like I said, if you intend to speak, please sign in now just to save time when we kind of hopefully kick things off here soon. You have an extra paper. Are they all gone? Yes. One copy per case. Okay. So if there are multiple people coming for one case, if maybe just share one copy. Right. Well, and we have planning commissions approval, so it's I don't think I'm gonna be ruffling too many feathers. Good morning. Oh, Julia Randall, so used to be on the board. Oh, okay. Um I would like to call, I would like to call to order the hearing of the administrative board of zoning appeals at this time. I would request that the staff be sworn in. Carl Copenhagen. Mr. Secretary, would you please call the role of the members present to determine if we have a quorum? Christy Sonkrant. Here. Denise Williams. Here. Devon Oberton, excused. Eric Craig, excused. Robert Pasker? Here. Nathan Natke. Here. We have a quantum. As I see there's a couple people that may have came in just recently, but if you intend to speak or provide testimony, please sign in up at the sheet. The sign-in sheets. And before you do speak, just please raise your right hand. You'll get sworn in. And the microphone does go up and down, so please speak into the mic as it's being recorded for record. That's it. Mr. Secretary, please read the first case. BZA 26-00006. 1271 Tecumseh Street. Applicant request variants in order to install a four-foot fence with non-standard materials in front and side yards. Hi, I'm Eric L. Lyons, the owner of 1271 Tecumsey Street. Yes, I do.
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