Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbus appeals board upholds code-enforcement order for 187 S. Ashburton Road
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals upheld a city code-enforcement order finding multiple parking and storage violations at 187 South Ashburton Road. City inspectors cited trailers, a boat and construction equipment stored on unimproved surfaces and in rear-yard open storage. The property owner had argued equipment was for a short-term retaining-wall job;
The Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday upheld a city code-enforcement order that found trailers, a boat and construction equipment parked on unimproved surfaces at 187 South Ashburton Road.
The board—s order restated findings of fact that city inspectors documented recreational and trailer vehicles and a mini excavator in the backyard and a car on an unimproved surface. The violations were cited under Columbus zoning provisions listed in the enforcement notice as 33.12.35 (parking and storage of recreational and commercial vehicles in residential districts) and 33.12.43 (improved surface required), and the board voted to uphold the enforcement order.
City code-enforcement inspector Joe Bricker reviewed the written notice and photographs admitted as exhibits, describing an initial inspection and a reinspection that showed a boat and boat trailer parked on grass at the side yard and two trailers plus a small excavator in the rear yard. Bricker told the board he served the notice and returned for a reinspection that recorded those conditions.
Property owner Brent Newman told the board the equipment belonged to his construction effort on the parcel, saying the machinery and trailers were on site while he built a retaining wall. Newman told the board the boat shown in photos had been removed and called the enforcement action selective and ‘‘targeting harassment.’'
Neighbors and the owner exchanged testimony about disputes over parking and past interactions with enforcement; one commenter alleged threats to a neighbor over parking enforcement. The board limited public commentary to factual testimony and moved to the deliberations stage after hearing evidence.
After reviewing the exhibits and oral testimony, the board made a formal finding that a boat and boat trailer had been parked on an unimproved surface in violation of 33.12.35, that two trailers and a recreational vehicle were parked in the backyard in violation of 33.12.35, and that a car had been parked on an unimproved surface in violation of 33.12.43. Chair Palmer Bailey said, "The violations have been upheld. The appeal is over." The board—s roll-call vote was recorded in the affirmative and the enforcement order stands.
The board—s action is an administrative determination on the enforcement notice; any further compliance schedule, fines or timelines follow the city—s enforcement procedures as stated in the notice, not in the board record.
The board—s order does not itself contain criminal penalties but reaffirms the administrative finding that the property was not in compliance with the cited provisions as of the inspection dates. The owner was given the ruling and the appeal record is closed pending any subsequent administrative steps listed in the enforcement notice.
