The City of Lorain Zoning Board of Appeals on July 2, 2025 approved a variance to allow a 10‑by‑20 addition that would encroach 2 feet into the required 10‑foot setback from an existing in‑ground swimming pool at 3843 Reserve Trail.

Applicants Frederick “Eric” Kramer and his wife, Rose Kramer, told the board the pool pre‑dated their ownership and cannot be moved. They said the enclosed addition will be a permanent, four‑season extension of the home to provide accessibility and allow for future caretaker uses; Frederick Kramer said the extra depth is needed so a hospital bed and standard furniture will fit and to avoid a long, narrow corridor that would result from shifting the addition away from the pool.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Emily Sackenson questioned whether the application met the legal standards for a variance and asked whether the applicants could extend the addition along another portion of the rear yard instead of encroaching. Building official Dave Faziano said he had no structural or fire‑code concerns with the proposed placement but advised that fireplace specs and building‑permit documents must comply with code. Board members explored alternatives to shifting the addition toward an area shown on plans as 31 feet of available depth, but the applicants and a reviewing board member said moving the addition to avoid encroachment would either eliminate the dining‑room access or conflict with pool mechanical equipment and other site constraints.

Councilwoman Henley, present at the hearing, said from her construction experience that the proposed layout would create practical difficulties if the addition were moved and expressed support for approval. After public comment yielded no opposition, a board member moved to approve the variance; the motion received a second and the board voted “aye.” The board advised the applicants to submit full construction documents to the Building Department before starting work.

The project was filed as BA‑13‑2025, described on the agenda as a variance to build a four‑season addition that would encroach two feet onto the required setback measured from an existing pool (agenda reference: Section 11.41.29). The building department will review the submitted construction documents for code compliance before permits are issued.