The City of Sandusky Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve an application to reestablish a two-family dwelling at a property listed on the agenda as 1225 West Austin Street; the applicant told the board the parcel address is 1225 West Osborne Street.

Planning staff told the board the property is zoned R-140 (single-family residential) and that section 112903 permits only one-family dwellings in the R-140 district. Staff said the house historically functioned as a duplex but had been vacant for more than a year, which removed its certificate of legal nonconformance. Staff recommended approval “with the following condition: 1, all applicable permits are obtained through the building department, engineering department, and any other applicable agency prior to construction.”

Applicant George Scott Brown told the board he acquired the property through the city's foreclosure process and that the building previously had two meters, two kitchens and two front doors. Brown described planned repairs and upgrades, saying: “The idea is to bring it up to code so it's usable and better for anybody living in it.” He said electrical work is already under way, including a replaced meter and rewiring of the upper floor, and that he plans to upgrade plumbing and HVAC, add central air and replace fixtures.

Brown said he does not plan to live at the property and intends to operate the units as long-term rentals, not short-term or Airbnb use, and estimated market rents of about $1,000 to $1,500 per unit for two-bedroom apartments. He said he manages rental properties in Medina, Ohio, and will either manage this property himself with local help or hire a local property manager. He also described exterior cleanup already completed, including removal of a portable pool and a hazardous tree.

Board members asked how the matter reached the Board of Zoning Appeals rather than a rezoning process. Planning staff explained that a rezoning would go to the Planning Commission and ultimately the City Commission, but staff prefers the “least amount of intervention” when a property owner’s request is consistent with neighborhood character; because the duplex status had lapsed after more than a year of nonuse, the variance process was required to reestablish the two-family use. Staff also said county tax records showed the property had been taxed as a two-family unit for some time, but noted tax classification was background information, not dispositive.

The board voted on a motion to approve the variance, with the stated condition that all applicable permits be obtained. The roll call in the record shows William Siemens, Dan Delahunt and Greg Bujold voting yes and John Fike voting no; the motion carried.

The board noted that short-term transient rental rules do not apply to the R-140 zoning in this case; staff said long-term rental is a permitted land use but that any required registrations or inspections are handled by the Code Compliance Division and the building department. Planning staff and the applicant repeatedly clarified that no occupancy approval or final building permits are in place yet and that the project remains subject to those inspections and permits before units may be occupied.

Less-critical items discussed at the meeting included a preview of a September agenda item at 413 Anderson Street for a front-yard setback related to a boathouse; no formal action on that matter was taken at this meeting.

The board adjourned after approving the variance and confirming next steps for permitting.