Toledo — The Toledo Board of Zoning Appeals on an agenda hearing approved a series of variances for property owners across the city and deferred one request for more technical review.

The board granted accessory-structure and fence variances for multiple homeowners, approved a request by a business sign contractor to replace sign faces, allowed a dumpster enclosure adjustment for a convenience-store property, and conditionally approved a replacement garage for a homeowner while asking staff to examine the driveway surfacing. The board deferred final action on the driveway surfacing pending a review of the material and drainage.

The actions matter because each variance changes how property lines, setbacks and new sign rules apply on individual lots in Toledo. Approvals allow property work to proceed; the driveway deferral shows staff and the board will require technical confirmation that a nonstandard surfacing will meet dust-control and drainage expectations.

Votes at a glance

- BZA case 25-00038, Rashawn (Roshan) Jones, 1905 North Summit (zoning RS-6). Request: allow an accessory building/garage closer than the 10-foot rear-yard setback and greater than 3% rear-yard coverage. Outcome: variance approved by the board.

- BZA case 25-00043, Wilford Duquette, 205 Lancaster Avenue (zoning RF-6). Request: after-the-fact variance to maintain a fence with the finished side facing the neighboring property (a corner lot and an exposed frontage). Outcome: variance approved by the board.

- BZA case 25-00044, representative Scott Hartman for a 7-Eleven property at 537 Woodville Road (zoning CR). Request: move an on-site dumpster enclosure more than 10 feet to accommodate a new dumpster location across combined lots. Outcome: variance approved by the board.

- BZA case 25-00046, Jeremy Hopkins, 201 West Crawford Avenue (zoning RS-6). Request: install a fence with the finished/“good” side facing inward rather than outward. Outcome: variance approved by the board.

- BZA case 25-00048, Glass City Signs (120 East Lasky Road, zoning IG). Request: replace sign faces and maintain an existing multi-faced sign that the city deemed abandoned under the new sign code (continuous use absent for more than six months). Outcome: variance/approval granted by the board; planning staff explained the new sign code and said the applicant could have used alternatives such as a 12-foot monument sign if the sign had been continuously in use.

- BZA case 25-00042, Ronald Wagon, 440 Daniels Avenue (zoning RD-6). Requests: (1) replace a previously removed garage with a smaller metal garage (appeal to reduce required setback); (2) allow a gravel-based driveway area using a compacted “4-11 berm” product rather than a permanent asphalt or concrete surface. Outcome: the board recommended approval of the garage setback but tied that approval to resolution of the driveway surfacing. The board deferred final action on the driveway material so staff can consult other departments and verify whether the composed surfacing meets the city’s dust-control, drainage and site-stability requirements. If staff determines the material is suitable the garage approval would proceed; if not, the board indicated the garage approval would remain conditional on a paved driveway.

Details and discussion

Board members and planning staff repeatedly emphasized that approvals must align with the city’s current codes and with consistent precedent. Planning Commission staff (identified in the meeting as Esther) advised against approving some after-the-fact fences where no hardship was documented, noting that approving one case could create pressure to approve many similar after-the-fact installations citywide. Despite that comment, the board voted in favor of the Lancaster Avenue and Crawford Avenue fence variances after neighbors and applicants said the fences improved property appearance and addressed safety or nuisance concerns.

For the Lasky Road sign, multiple speakers described the property improvements and argued the sign is necessary for visibility because the site sits on a corner and existing fence and site geometry limit sightlines. Planning staff said the property’s sign had been abandoned for more than six months under the new city sign code; they outlined alternatives that would comply (a lower, 12-foot monument sign with faces oriented toward the streets) and noted moving the fence or lowering the sign could reduce the visual impact while meeting the new code. The board nonetheless approved the requested sign faces.

On the Daniels Avenue (Wagon) matter, the applicant told the board he and his wife face health and mobility challenges and asked to replace a previously demolished 18-by-22 garage with a smaller 14-by-22 garage to improve safety and access. Wagon also described the driveway build: a compacted base of larger rock topped by approximately 6 inches of a commercial “4-11 berm” mix that, according to the applicant, compacts to a near-solid surface when watered and tamped. Planning staff and board members said they needed to verify whether that material qualifies as a permitted “dust-free” surface and whether it causes off-site migration of material or drainage problems. The board recommended the garage but deferred final action on the driveway until staff could confirm compliance; staff will report back to the board and the applicant need not appear in person for the follow-up unless requested.

Quotes

Ronald Wagon, applicant for 440 Daniels Avenue: “I apologize to the building department for my unacceptable outburst last month… I accept responsibility and apologize for it.”

Wilford Duquette, applicant for 205 Lancaster Avenue: “If I had to redo that ... it’s gonna cost a large sum of money.”

Mustafa (owner, 120 East Lasky Road): “If I drop this sign, nobody will see it… I spent a lot of money there. I came here to fix [the property].”

Outcome follow-up and conditions

- The board’s approvals allow applicants to proceed with filing for required permits and to complete the approved work, subject to any building-code compliance and permitting processes handled by the city’s building department.

- The garage approval (440 Daniels Ave.) was conditional: the board tied the garage approval to a resolution of the driveway surfacing. Planning staff will consult engineering and building departments about whether the compacted 4-11 berm qualifies as a dust-free, stable surfacing that prevents off-site migration and meets drainage requirements. If staff clears the material, the garage variance will proceed; if not, the applicant will need to provide a paved surface or an approved alternative.

What’s next

Staff indicated they will research the driveway surfacing on Daniels Avenue and return their findings to the board at a future meeting; the applicant will be notified of staff’s recommendation. Applicants with approved variances were told to expect a letter from staff confirming approval and next steps for permits and inspections.

Corrections and administrative actions

An administrative reasonable-accommodation variance (BZA 25-00047) for an accessibility-related addition at 4520 McCain Drive (applicant Jennifer Burnett) was recorded as granted by staff; the board approved minutes for the prior meeting and then adjourned.