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Board approves Welcome Home Ohio variance for 1704 Buchanan Street; program representative outlines affordability terms
Summary
The board approved a rear-yard setback variance for a Welcome Home Ohio single-family dwelling at 1704 Buchanan Street. Community Building Partners said the sale price would be about $160,000, supported by roughly $100,000 in state grant funding and a 20-year restrictive covenant to preserve affordability.
The Sandusky board voted to approve a rear-yard setback variance for a single-family dwelling planned at 1704 Buchanan Street under the Welcome Home Ohio program. Staff said the lot is zoned RMF (multifamily residential) and described the site plan, noting the proposed rear setback of 16 feet versus the code-required 29 feet; staff recommended approval provided the applicant obtains all required building and engineering permits.
Joe Ritchie, of Community Building Partners / Welcome Home Great Lakes (the owner of the lot), told the board the Welcome Home program requires the initial buyer to occupy the home for five years and that a 20-year restrictive covenant will keep the property affordable to qualifying buyers thereafter. "The welcome home program requires it to be sold to an owner occupant," Ritchie said, and he described income limits for buyers at roughly 50–80% of area median income.
Ritchie said the buyer price for this house would be about $160,000, the state grant supporting the project is approximately $100,000, and the buyer could expect mortgage, taxes and insurance of about $1,000 per month. He said Savista Bank participated in construction financing and that construction was slated for December 2025 or January 2026.
A board member moved to approve the variance; the motion was seconded. Roll call votes recorded Dan de la Hunt — Yes; Kevin Zier — Yes; William Cienes — Yes. The motion passed.
Board members discussed how the modular two-story design, which includes a first-floor bedroom and bath for accessibility, fits into the neighborhood. Staff noted other Welcome Home units in Sandusky and described the program as a state-supported effort to increase owner-occupied affordable housing in the city.
The approved variance allows the proposed home to move forward under the stated conditions; permits and other agency approvals are required before construction.
