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BRECKSVILLE, Ohio – The Brecksville Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) moved forward with several property requests during its February 9 meeting, including a significant variance for a new home on a steep 26-acre lot and a compromise for a resident seeking to store a trailer on his property. The board also navigated a neighbor dispute regarding a detached garage on Greenhaven Parkway, ultimately recommending approval for all four appeals presented.
The Brecksville Board of Zoning Appeals serves as a recommending body to City Council, requiring four out of seven votes to move a variance forward. During the session, the board first handled administrative duties, electing Dennis Rose as Chairman and Mr. Collin as Vice Chair, before diving into public hearings that highlighted the balance between property rights and neighborhood aesthetics.
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Mansion on the Hill Faces Scrutiny
One of the most discussed items was Appeal 2026-04, involving a request from David Hess of Payne & Payne Builders on behalf of a client at 8322 Settlers Passage. The project required three variances: a massive front yard setback of over 1,200 feet (well beyond the 420-foot code), an oversized detached garage, and a slight height increase for that garage to accommodate a car lift.
Hess explained that the 26-acre parcel features a 125-foot elevation change, leaving only one flat spot at the top of the hill suitable for construction. While some neighbors expressed support, PJ Stasek of Greenhaven Parkway raised concerns about the visual impact. “Seeing what amounts to a mansion on a hill behind my house would be disturbing,” Stasek said, noting he purchased his home for the wooded view. Despite these concerns, the board found the requests modest given the unique terrain and voted unanimously to recommend approval.
Compromise Reached on Oaks Road Trailer
In Appeal 2026-02, resident Dan Hudak of 6742 Oaks Road sought permission to park an enclosed storage trailer on the side of his house rather than the rear. Hudak cited a “swamp-like” backyard and a nearby creek that made maneuvering the trailer impossible without getting his vehicle stuck.
The board recommended approval with a specific condition: the trailer must remain screened from street view as proposed by the applicant. “It’s a good compromise,” noted one board member, acknowledging that the screening addresses the concerns of the neighbor who originally filed a complaint with the city.
Greenhaven Parkway Garage Dispute
The final hearing, Appeal 2025-68, brought a neighbor-to-neighbor disagreement to the floor. Samantha and Ryan Erdman requested to build a detached garage in their side yard to accommodate larger vehicles and provide easier access due to a disability. While they presented a petition with 18 signatures of support, their immediate neighbors, Daniel and Sherry Marion, formally opposed the move.
The Marions argued that the garage would encroach on the open space between the homes and did not meet the legal definition of a “hardship.” After a period of mediation where the board suggested moving the structure back a few feet to satisfy the code’s “rear yard” definition, the board ultimately voted to recommend the variance as originally requested.
All recommendations from the Brecksville Board of Zoning Appeals will be heard by City Council at their next meeting, where a final vote will determine if the variances take effect.