BOARDMAN Apeal of board's zoning decision is dropped

A letter said the addition will be removed by June 15, but the owner says that's not the plan.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A township man failed to obtain proper permits for an addition to his business in 2000 and officials say that addition will likely be removed.
Ed Swaneck, owner of Swaneck Graphic Equipment on Simon Road, recently put an end to a common pleas court appeal of a decision by the township zoning board of appeals not to approve a variance for the addition to the Simon Road property.
Swaneck added onto the building without obtaining the required permits, then took the matter before the board of appeals.
Lou Rescineto, zoning inspector, said a variance was needed because the building, which is zoned for industrial use, needs a minimum of 40 feet of space at the rear. After the addition was completed, there was only 28 feet.
What problem was: John Schultz, a member of the zoning appeals board, said at the time of the variance denial that there were problems such as pipes hanging over ladders and inadequate room for a firetruck to get around some areas of the property.
He said neighbors also experienced certain problems such as flooding, which influenced the board's decision not to approve the variance.
Rescineto said his office became aware of the situation when property owners complained that water from a retention pond on the property was rerouted onto neighboring properties.
When zoning officials arrived to investigate the problem, the addition was discovered.
Township officials have said that should Swaneck work out the flooding problem with his neighboring property owners, the appeals board could revisit the issue. However, the board could still deny the variance request.
What's in dispute: Swaneck appealed the board's decision, but that appeal was recently withdrawn. Rescineto said he received a letter from Swaneck stating that the addition would be taken down by June 15.
Swaneck left a message with The Vindicator saying there are no plans at this time to remove it.
Zoning officials said should the addition not be removed by June 15, enforcement procedures will likely be started.
jgoodwin@vindy.com