The North Ridgeville Board of Zoning and Building Appeals voted 3-1 to grant a variance allowing a six-foot, 100% opaque privacy fence on a corner lot at 9095 Nash Lane, where the code allows a maximum 4-foot height and 50% openness in the front yard. The board found the fence presented minimal visual impact to neighbors and accepted staff testimony that a permitting wording issue had contributed to the situation.

City planning notes and the building department told the board the original permit record included the phrase "approved as noted," which staff said created confusion over whether the installed fence complied with the zoning code. The applicant, Richard Faulkner, told the board he followed the building-permit process, had inspections during construction, and that the installation reflected a misunderstanding of the ordinance's openness and height requirements.

Staff described the request as needing two variances: a two-foot height variance (6 feet proposed vs. 4 feet allowed) and an openness variance (100 percent closed proposed vs. 50 percent openness required), citing Chapter 1282 and Section 1294.01(h)(2)(a). A planning staff member told the board the configuration is not unusual for corner lots and characterized the fence as a “minimal impact on surrounding properties.” One board member said a site visit showed no visual obstruction. The building department confirmed the permit issuance process, and staff had asked the property owner to seek a variance after discovering the fence exceeded the zoning standard.

After discussion, the board made a motion to approve the variances. The clerk recorded a 3-1 vote (Grotman: yes; Weaver: no; Toth: yes; Masterson: yes). The board noted the owner could pick up final sign-off from the building department next week.

The action resolves the zoning nonconformity for that corner lot but does not alter the underlying code for other properties; the board’s vote reflects a finding of limited neighborhood impact and staff’s explanation of permit-process confusion.