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Warren City Zoning Board approves three variances, denies front‑yard RV request and accepts withdrawal of storage‑pod plan
Summary
At its May 27 meeting, the Warren City Zoning Board of Appeals approved a backyard shed variance, a reduced greenbelt for a gas station and industrial‑site variances (with a condition limiting outdoor storage to landscaping materials), denied a front‑yard RV variance, and the board accepted the withdrawal of a storage‑pod/10‑ft wall application after concerns about enforcement and site condition.
The Warren City Zoning Board of Appeals met May 27 and decided on several zoning variances affecting residential and commercial properties across the city.
The board approved a variance for an accessory structure at 8331 (applicant Susan Elliot, represented by Melissa Melanch), allowing the applicant to retain a small shed and to exceed the total accessory‑structure floor area cited in the application. Zoning staff said the case originated with a complaint and that an open enforcement file remains; the applicant told the board the shed is on a temporary wooden platform and that a proper foundation will be installed if the variance is granted. Chairman Stovich stated, “Your request is approved,” as the board voted in support of the motion by Mr. Safia with support from Mr. Jersey.
In a separate decision, the board unanimously denied a request from Paul Bay to store an RV in the front yard of his property at 27676 Milton. Bay said the RV sits about 100 feet off the road and that lot configuration prevents moving it to the rear; neighbor Lynn Bini told the board she and other neighbors supported Bay. Multiple board members characterized the condition as largely self‑imposed and cited precedent concerns and available off‑site storage. Mr. Watts moved to deny the request and the motion carried on roll call.
The board granted a variance for a gas station site (applicant Muhammad Hassan) to reduce two required 8‑foot greenbelts along a street edge to approximately 5.7 feet to reflect an existing condition and an updated site plan. Planning staff told the board the petitioner had received planning commission approval for a minor amendment on March 23, 2026, and recommended the variance to correct landscaping and curb configurations that predated the current owner.
For a property at 242000 Dwinder Road, applicant Matt Caruso received approval for three variances to allow an approximately 35,180‑square‑foot gravel area for maneuvering and storage, to permit about 9,169 square feet of open storage where 5,830 square feet is normally allowed, and to retain 26 parking spaces within 5 feet of the south property line. The motion was amended on the floor to limit allowed outdoor storage to landscape‑related materials and supplies; that condition was included in the board’s approval.
A more contested application for storage pods and a 10‑foot masonry wall at a commercially configured property on Shaina Road (applicant Randy Polus, represented by Jeffrey Graham) prompted lengthy public comment and board questions about enforcement history and site condition. Neighbor David Draper urged a taller wall for safety, but planning and zoning staff records showed open enforcement and a prior failure‑to‑appear ticket for the address. The applicant withdrew the application to revise plans and meet further with planning staff; no vote on the merits was taken.
What happens next: approvals take effect as provided by city procedure and may require building permits and follow‑up inspections; the withdrawn item may be resubmitted after redesign and additional review. The board scheduled a continuance of some administrative items to the June 10 meeting.
Board members and staff quoted in this report are drawn from the meeting record of May 27, 2026.
