Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Appeals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Zoning board denies appeals for fence and shed on vacant Delaware parcel; code violations may be referred to municipal court
Summary
Catherine Wise’s appeals to allow a fence and a small shed on a vacant lot on Delaware Avenue were denied by the Lorain Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 7. Staff noted the lot has no principal dwelling and the structures were placed without required approvals; unresolved violations could be forwarded to the municipal prosecutor.
The board denied two appeals by Catherine (Catherine/Kathleen) Wise seeking approval for a fence and a small shed on a vacant parcel on Delaware Avenue. Staff explained the denials were grounded in the city’s zoning code: accessory structures and fences are incidental to a principal use or dwelling on the same lot, and no principal building exists on the parcel. Photographs from code enforcement were entered as exhibits showing a screening or privacy cover, stacked material and an attached shed-like structure.
Wise told the board she intended to use the lot as a garden to share with neighbors and said the shed is under the 120-square-foot exemption threshold. Code enforcement testified that multiple notices of violation remain open, including allegations the lot had been used for temporary habitation (tent/camper), unpermitted fencing and an accessory structure constructed without proper approvals. The officer estimated the initial notice was issued in approximately October 2025.
After discussion the board moved to deny both appeals. Staff said if the board affirms denial, unresolved violations will be referred to the municipal prosecutor’s office and the applicant may then be summoned to municipal court; the applicant was told she may appeal the board decision to the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.
Next steps: If the city prosecutor pursues enforcement, the case will proceed to municipal court; the applicant may seek judicial review in county court.
