MINUTES OF THE CATAWBA ISLAND BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
August 12, 2026
Attendees
Greg Stayer Sharon Smith
Gary Griffin Thomas Ressware *
Terry Rodwancy Cathy Colleran
Alison Perlaky Sandy Griffin
Peggy Saydell Joyce Raymond
Robert Crawford Laura Enderle
Don Rodwancy Lee Short
Kurt Newman Sherrill Bryson
Paul Perlaky Becky Arron
David Arron Susan Reljin
Deann Newman DiDi Milla *
Tab Smith
*Sign in sheet legibility was difficult
Chairman Brian Caldwell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Board members in attendance included: Brian Caldwell, Doug Blackburn, Bill Baker, Mike Schenk, Rebecca Dubber and alternate Flint Heidlebaugh. Jean Hartline, Zoning Inspector/Secretary was also in attendance.
Chairman Caldwell read through the meeting process.
New Business
Case #233097: Jeffrey Simerl (Lee Short) – 5305 East Port Drive
This case was withdrawn at the owner’s request and is not expected to return for many months, thus, tabling the case was not considered by the applicant. A vote was not required for a withdrawn application.
Case 233103: Kurt Newman (Lee Short) – 5258 East Lawrence Drive
Applicants propose an addition to a single family home with an attached garage. The applicant is requesting an area variance for the rear yard setback (water side is front yard) of 21 Ft. Rear yard setback is 25 feet by code. The property is located at 5258 East Lawrence Drive and is known as Lots 11 and 12 of the Maplewood Subdivision. The property is zoned R-3. Additional Information: The property does not appear to have a previous variance.
There were no conflicts of interest from the Board on this case.
Mr. Lee Short represented the owner for the case and was sworn in. Mr. and Mrs. Newman were at the hearing. Mr. Short provided three statements from neighbors in favor of the project. Mr. Short provided that there is an older garage that is detached and will be removed. Mr. Short indicated that the owner preferred an attached structure that offered direct access between the garage and the house. The roof pitch is proposed to be matched to the existing home. Mr. Short explained that the practical difficulty is the fact that the existing home is a log cabin and the connection has to work around the cabin notched corners and that there is also a window in the way.
Mr. Baker asked on the garage door height and Mr. Short responded that it is 7 or 8 feet. Ms. Dubber noted stairs in the garage and ask what is on the second floor. Mr. Short indicated that it is storage on the second floor. A lift might be added to transfer patio furniture to the second level. The second floor of the structure will not have a doorway to the home. Mr. Short indicated there is no intent to make the second level a bunk room and there is not a bathroom in the addition. Antique cars are intended to be stored in the garage (first level). Lawn furniture can then be stored on the second level.
Mr. Baker indicated that if closets go in the second floor, then the tax structure changes to list it as a structure with added bedroom(s). Ms. Hartline indicated that the closet issue is not in our zoning code but is part of the auditor’s appraisal for number of bedrooms.
Mr. Caldwell asked for questions from the floor.
Mr. Heidlebaugh asked how the addition is affixed to the house. Mr. Short provided that the proposed and existing structures will be structurally attached.
Chairman Caldwell asked if there were further comments, of which there were none, and thus closed the floor.
The Finding of Facts was reviewed with the following results:
Finding Of Facts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Owner’s Responses: Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Board’s Responses: Yes/Agree 5 0 0 0 5 5 5
No/Disagree 0 5 5 5 0 0 0
Chairman Caldwell requested a motion for a vote be made. Ms. Dubber made a motion to approve the case. This was seconded by Mr. Schenk. The case was approved with a 4 – 0 vote. Chairman Caldwell did not vote as there was not a tied vote.
The approval of the area variance will be complete with the approval of the minutes next month.
Old Business
Case #233082 Gary and Sandy Griffin 5639 East Eagle Drive
Applicants propose a new Accessory Building (garage with storage). The applicant is requesting area variances for building height of 32 feet and lack of subordination of accessory structure/garage to house. The garage is two (2) stories. First Story is 1800 SF (garage) with 2nd story of 1,380 SF (storage) for a total of 3,180 SF total. The Property is located at 5639 East Eagle Drive and is known as Lots 116 and 117 of Harbor Estates Subdivision. The property is zoned R-3. Additional Information: The definition for Accessory Building (Zoning Resolution page 8) is that the accessory structure “is of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use”. The principal structure is 1400 SF.
Ms. Dubber asked what were changes on the case from the tabled case last month to this month. Ms. Hartline indicated that the case had to be tabled last month as additional drawings involving elevation views and floor plans were needed to make the application complete.
Ms. Hartline indicated that we received two (2) letters from East Eagle Drive neighbors in opposition to the case and one notarized letter from a Township resident not living on East Eagle Drive.
Chairman Caldwell identified he had a conflict of interest and thus recused himself from this case with Vice Chairman Blackburn leading the hearing for this case. The remaining members did not have a conflict of interest.
Sandra Griffin presented the case and was sworn in. Ms. Griffin indicated the public notice listed only one lot and that there are actually two (2) lots under their ownership. Ms. Griffin desires to address comments she heard through social media and presented drawings that there are already numerous “tall buildings”. She also indicated that their structure does not block views as they back up to Foxhaven Marina boat storage buildings (to the south). The proposed structure meets setbacks and lot coverage. This also included discussion of other Harbor Estate homes and township homes with higher than 15 foot accessory buildings. Ms. Griffin indicated that the structure is intended to be aesthetically pleasing with a residential appearance, not look like a storage building. Ms. Griffin also presented written and notarized testimony and read same into the record discussing the aesthetics of the accessory building. This document is provided in the property file. She noted a six (6) garage building was erected previously without a variance. She discussed architectural design and roof lines as aesthetically pleasing. She attests that the structure will remain residential use by them. Ms. Griffin also provided three (3) signed statements from East Eagle Drive neighbors in favor of the project.
Vice Chairman Blackburn ask for questions from the Board.
Ms. Dubber asked about the approximately 1000 SF for a subordinate structure noted in the case notes. Code, however, is 750 SF. Ms. Hartline provided that ~1000 SF is an interpretation of the word “subordinate” to the primary structure on the property is 1400 SF. Anything over 750 SF would still require a variance per code. Ms. Dubber asked for the confirmation of the first floor at 1800 SF and 1380 SF for the second level.
Mr. Tom Reinhart, builder for the Griffin’s, was sworn in and spoke to the case pertaining to Ms. Dubber’s question on the 750 SF comment in the Finding of Facts. Mr. Reinhart indicated that 750 SF would not hold one vehicle. Ms. Dubber asked on what looks like a front yard setback issue. The front (road side) was conducted under Code Section 7.0, front yard averaging. Ms. Dubber asked for clarification of the floor plan. Ms. Dubber asked for the bump out on the golf cart garage area. Mr. Reinhart confirmed this.
Mr. Baker asked if the garage doors exceed 8 feet. Mr. Reinhart indicated they would be 8 feet. Mr. Baker asked about their concern of neighbors. Ms. Griffin clarified that a misconception circulating around was the building was 5 foot off the water (channel). Ms. Griffin indicated that it is 25 feet off the water. Mr. Baker asked if they would consider a Gambrel roof to lower the height. Ms. Griffin said they could consider that.
Ms. Dubber noted that the side of the building to the west would be without any windows. She also noted that the application noted garage and storage, but noted that there is living space on the floor plan as well as a bathroom. Ms. Dubber asked if the 2nd floor area will be finished. Mr. Reinhart indicated it would be finished (drywalled) but for storage. Ms. Griffin does not consider that there is living space as they won’t be living in the structure. Ms. Griffin indicated they sold their primary home in Toledo and hence need the storage (for the house consolidation).
Mr. Baker asked if this structure could be made into a home. Ms. Hartline said they would not likely be coming in for a zoning application for an interior remodeling.
Ms. Dubber asked if the garage could be attached. Ms. Griffin said they had not considered the structure attached to the garage.
Vice Chair Blackburn open the floor to questions.
Peggy Saydell was sworn in and spoke in opposition to the project. She owns two houses to the east of the applicant. Ms. Saydell noted the structure should be approved and not placed in front of the house and cited the Township website on zoning established in 1965. She also noted that there are no accessory buildings on their street, all garages are attached. She also indicated the structure would have to raises above ground level that would give the structure an apparent height of 32 feet. She also questioned the area coverage. The calculation for area coverage of 32.5%. (Ms. Saydell appears to be using both first and second floor area in area coverage and thus a higher number for coverage resulted). The drawing that noted the garage forward by a few feet to the house which would violate code. This was clarified that drawing was an early sketch and the final plans indicate the structure setback from the front face of the house. She also noted concerns for power line height.
Cathy Colleran was sworn in and is not a neighbor but is a township resident. She spoke in opposition to the project as being too tall. She spoke to attaching the structure to the existing home.
Joyce Raymond, who lives at 5543 East Eagle Drive and was sworn in. She is opposed to the building as setting a precedent for other like buildings.
Alison Perklaky was sworn in and noted as resident and not an adjacent property owner. She spoke to the procedural matter on time limits and is requesting equal time. She stated that the township BZA has no jurisdictionally authority to vote on this case due to excessive deviation of Township Code and Ohio Revised Code misrepresentation on the application that this was a garage and storage when the building. She spoke to the fact that the garage is not subordinate to the existing home and is a second principal building and cannot be approved.
Since there were no further questions from the floor, the floor was closed as there were no further speakers.
Mr. Baker made a motion that the committee go into executive session. This was seconded by Ms. Dubber. Roll call was taken before to move executive session.
Executive session ended at 7:15 PM. Ms. Dubber made a motion to return to session which Mr. Baker seconded. The vote was unanimous to return to the hearing. The meeting reconvened with roll call again taken.
The Finding of Facts was reviewed with the following results:
Finding Of Facts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Owner’s Responses: Yes No No No Yes No Yes
Board’s Responses: Yes/Agree 5 5 5 0 5 5 0
No/Disagree 0 0 0 5 0 0 5
Ms. Dubber made a motion to deny the application which was seconded by Mr. Blackburn. Three voting members (Mr. Caldwell was recused) voted Yes to deny the application.
Case #233086 William and Laurie Halm E. Twin Beach Road
The applicant intended to come to the meeting to request the case be tabled for another month but due to a family matter could not attend the August 12, 2026 BZA meeting . He called Ms. Hartline about an hour before the meeting to request the case be tabled.
Ms. Dubber made a motion to table this case and was seconded by Mr. Schenk.
Other Business
No other business to conduct.
Approval of Minutes – July 8, 2026
The minutes for the July 8, 2026 meeting was provided to each member. There was a clarification that while Ms. Dubber was mention in the July meeting in reference to the May meeting. Ms. Dubber was not present in July. The motion was seconded by Mr. Baker. The minutes were approved.
Adjournment
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting, was seconded and passed and the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________ _________________
Brian Caldwell, Chairman Jean Hartline, Secretary