ZONING Developer suspects bias in board ruling

Trustees will hear the matter Thursday.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Township trustees will have to decide whether a zoning board of appeals decision was rendered without bias.
Bob Monus, zoning inspector, said local real estate investor Ron Eiselstein sought a variance from the board for property being developed on Annie Street and Kennedy Road. Monus said the property is required to have frontage of 125 feet, but Eiselstein wanted that reduced to 25 feet facing Annie Street.
Questions motives
The board of appeals denied the request, but Eiselstein says one board member's motives for the denial should be questioned. Eiselstein has asked trustees to grant him a new hearing minus board member Hank Grover.
According to Eiselstein, Grover should have removed himself from the hearing because of several conflicts of interest. Grover could not be reached for comment, but Eiselstein said Grover has removed himself from hearings in the past because of conflicts of interest.
Eiselstein said the primary conflict comes from a property dispute he is having with a neighbor in Poland Village.
A letter Eiselstein submitted to township trustees says Grover, a surveyor with Western Reserve Land Consultants, has business ties with a village woman who is draining water from her property onto Eiselstein's property in violation of village zoning codes. The letter says Grover has spoken to Eiselstein several times by phone regarding the situation.
"That is a conflict of interest and that is why [Grover] gave me such a hard time. It was blatant. I am surprised he did that," said Eiselstein. "They didn't even addressed the frontage issue. My case was never heard because of the conflict of interest."
Other reasons
Eiselstein said there are other reasons Grover should have excused himself from the hearing.
Eiselstein said Grover represents a company that owns land that one of Eiselstein's clients is attempting to buy. Eiselstein also said he rents property to Grover's ex-wife and children.
According to Eiselstein, the land for which the variance was requested is 17 acres. Without the variance, he said, two or three homes will be built on the land, but if the variance were to be granted he could build four to five homes on the land.
Eiselstein, in the letter, said Grover influenced other board members into ruling against the variance.
Trustees will hear the complaint at a public hearing Thursday evening in the township government building.
Monus said the appropriate thing for Eiselstein to do, if he is unhappy with the board's decision, is to take the matter to common pleas court.
jgoodwin@vindy.com