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Board upholds demolition permit for 'The Temple' at Lancaster Campground, denies appeal
Summary
The Board unanimously denied Cheryl Wymer’s appeal of zoning permit ZC‑2500205 and found the Lancaster Zoning Office properly issued the demolition permit for 'The Temple' at Lancaster Campground; the record shows contested accounts on structural condition and governance.
The Lancaster Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Oct. 14 to deny an appeal of an administrative demolition permit (ZC‑2500205) for a building known as "The Temple" at Lancaster Campground, concluding the zoning inspector properly issued the permit under LCO §1155.03.
Appellant Cheryl Wymer, represented by attorney Ryan Shepler of Saving & Shepler Co., L.P.A., asked the Board to temporarily stay demolition so that the Historic Lancaster Commission might consider designation and the parties could pursue state or federal preservation funding. Wymer and resident witnesses described the building’s history and urged preservation. Wymer said an architect had inspected the structure but there was no written evaluation or cost estimate in the record.
Campground counsel Jason Donell and General Manager James Ellinger told the Board the campground’s governing board voted unanimously to demolish the structure after contractors reported the building shifted during roof work and deemed it unsafe. Donell said the association’s board is elected under established bylaws and has authority to make such decisions; Ellinger said the contractor’s report and the insurer’s position supported demolition. The demolition permit was later pulled by Stache Junk Removal & Property Services, according to Ellinger.
City Assistant Law Director Mitch Harden clarified for the Board that its sole role was to determine whether the zoning inspector properly granted the clearance permit under LCO §1155.03 and not to weigh competing assessments of structural safety or internal campground governance. The City argued the administrative approval complied with ordinance requirements and asked the Board to deny the appeal.
After deliberation the Board voted unanimously to deny the appeal and signed an entry upholding the zoning inspector’s issuance of permit ZC‑2500205. The Board’s record includes written communications from the campground and statements by residents and representatives; the Board did not direct a stay of demolition. Members present also recorded that disputes over campground governance and possible historic commission actions are matters outside the Board’s jurisdiction.
