Stow BZA Approves Variances for Fire-Damaged Units and Unique Fence Request

STOW, Ohio – The Stow Building and Zoning Appeals Board (BZA) kicked off its 2026 session on Monday night by re-electing its leadership and clearing the way for the city to address several fire-damaged properties. The meeting, held in City Council Chambers, also featured a unique request for a front-yard privacy fence that had previously sparked a zoning complaint. The board began by unanimously re-electing Frank Franks as chairman and Randy Roberts as vice chairman for 2026. Following the reorganization, the board addressed a series of "dangerous building" appeals. Under Stow’s automatic appeal process, the BZA must review cases where the Chief Building Official condemns a structure to ensure due process for property owners. The first four cases involved Units A, B, C, and D at a residential complex on Friar Road. Chief Building Official Tony Valakas (spelled "Tony Salasa" in the transcript, but verified as Valakas) reported that the units suffered significant fire damage and are currently uninhabitable. A representative from Barnett Management , the association responsible for the property, indicated they are working toward demolition and rebuilding. The board voted unanimously to deny the appeals, effectively affirming the city's "dangerous building" designation and allowing the demolition process to proceed. A similar outcome was reached for a property on Kent Road. Valakas noted that while fire damage was a factor, the "dangerous" designation was primarily due to extreme hoarding conditions on both the interior and exterior. The board's denial of the appeal allows the city to move forward with a cleanup, after which a structural evaluation will determine if the building can be saved. In other business, the board approved a variance for a 7-foot-6-inch privacy fence on Port William Road. The homeowner, Phyllis Steinbach , had previously received a variance for a 6-foot fence, but a subsequent zoning complaint revealed the finished height—including decorative toppers—exceeded that limit. Despite some board members recalling that the original approval was for a 6-foot total height, they ultimately agreed the fence was an enhancement to the property, which is uniquely situated with "front yards" on all sides. Finally, the board approved a setback variance for a new garage on Meadowlark Trail. Planning staff noted that while the current code requires a 10-foot side setback, a new zoning code effective Feb. 9 would have allowed the requested 6-foot-6-inch setback without a variance. The board granted the request now to allow the homeowner to lock in contractor pricing and begin work as soon as weather permits.