Stow City gives property owners one month to install siding on accessory building at 2391 Smyrna Road

Stow City code-enforcement staff on record in an administrative hearing directed property owners Caitlin Thomas and James Ferris to install siding on an accessory building at 2391 Smyrna Road and set a one-month compliance deadline, with a follow-up inspection scheduled for Nov. 24.

The ruling came after Zoning Department staff reported repeated inspections and notices this summer and fall for violation B25122. Zach, a Zoning Department staff member, told the hearing: “We inspected on August 5. Got a picture just showing that the accessory building still had exposed plywood,” and that follow-up photos showed the structure remained in violation after a September compliance date and a final notice sent Sept. 4.

The hearing officer (Code Enforcement Hearing Officer) said a written ruling would be issued and described the timeline: “It’s gonna say you have a month to get this done,” and added that Molly from staff would reinspect the property on Nov. 24 to confirm compliance.

Why it matters: exposed, unfinished plywood on an accessory building is a safety and maintenance concern in Stow City’s code system. Zoning staff said the exposed plywood is likely to rot within a year or two if not covered, creating structural and safety risks. The order gives the owners a limited period to correct the violation before the city considers enforcement steps that could include fines.

Details and timeline: Zoning staff reported an initial complaint and inspection in early August, a compliance notice with an initial Sept. 3 deadline, follow-up photographs on Sept. 4 and Sept. 12 showing continued violation, and an administrative hearing notice after the city held the matter until Oct. 9 to allow additional time. At the hearing, the property owner, Caitlin Thomas, said siding material is available but work was paused because of disputes with neighbors and safety concerns for her family. Thomas said she expects the work to take “a month.”

During the hearing, staff emphasized that the immediate compliance issue is the missing siding; doors and windows were discussed as related but not required to resolve this specific violation. The hearing officer instructed staff to prepare and send a formal letter documenting the ruling and reinspection date; staff said they will inspect the property on Nov. 24 and close the matter if the siding is installed.

What was not decided: The hearing focused on the accessory-structure siding violation. Complaints Thomas raised about neighboring properties and alleged harassment were not adjudicated on the record; the hearing officer offered to review those separately off the live record and perform inspections if new violations are reported.

Next steps: The owners were given until the reinspection date to complete siding installation. If the structure remains in violation after the reinspection, the city indicated it would pursue enforcement options consistent with its procedures.