The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a quasi-judicial board consisting of 5 appointed members and 2 alternates. Their responsibilities include hearing requests for Appeals, Area Variances, Conditional Uses and Special Exceptions.
The Board of Zoning Appeals meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month unless there are no cases to be heard. Their meetings are held in the Township Hall and begin at 6:00 PM.
The following Danbury Township residents serve on this Board:
Greg Huffman, Chair
Joseph Fetzer, Vice-Chair
Joseph Kruse, Secretary
Clyde Shetler, Member
Sherry Roberts, Member
Julie Cottingham, Alternate
James Switzer, Alternate
Anyone interested in serving on the BZA can submit anAppointed Position Applicationas well as their resume to the Zoning Inspector’s office.
BZA Applications & Deadlines
Board of Zoning Appeals applications are due the last Friday of each month by 12:00 PM noon. Complete applications will be place on the following month’s agenda.
The Danbury Township Board of Zoning Appeals meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted**, at 6:00 PM in the Danbury Township Hall located at 5972 E. Port Clinton Eastern Road, Marblehead, Ohio 43440.
The only official public record of Danbury Township Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Minutes is the paper file(s) located at Danbury Township Hall in the Zoning Department. The official approved copy of township minutes including attachments and references is available for review or purchase. Contact the Township Fiscal Officer at(419) 732-3039or via e-mailfiscalofficer@danburytownship.comor the Danbury TownshipZoning Inspector at(419) 734-6120or via emailzoning@danburytownship.comto make arrangements for record review or purchase or fill out & submit thePublic Records Request form.
BZA (Legal) Hearing Notices
All Board of Zoning Appeals Hearings are at the Township Hall located at 5972 E. Port Clinton Eastern Road, Marblehead, Ohio 43440 and start at 6:00 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted in the notice.
** Due to recent scams involving our applications, we are redacting email and phone number contact information from packets posted to our Website and Facebook page. All other information regarding these applications is whole.**
The Danbury Township Board of Zoning Appeals will hold adjudication hearings at the Danbury Township Hall, 5972 E. Port Clinton Eastern Road, Marblehead, Ohio 43440 on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the following applications:
BZA-2026-082Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 170 Laser Lane. Request for Area Variances to Section 5.7.3 to allow for a deck to encroach into the east, front-yard setback (15' required/ 10' proposed) and to Section 5.1.7 to allow the deck to encroach into the south, side-yard setback (5' required/ 3' proposed). Brandon Prenzlin, Owner/Applicant.
BZA-2026-092Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 615 S. Bridge. Request for an Area Variance from Section 6.8.3.A.v. to replace a nonconforming off-premises sign. Also requesting an Area Variance from Section 6.5.1 to allow more off-premises signs than permitted (2 allowed/ 3 requested) and to allow the proposed sign to encroach into the front setback (3' proposed/ 40'-55' required) and to Section 6.5.1.A.iii to allow the proposed sign to be closer than 250' from another on-premises and off-premises sign. Bradley Prokop, Owner/Applicant. Â
BZA-2026-093Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8786 Northshore Blvd (Camp Runinmuck). Request an Area Variance from Section 5.2.1.A.ii.a. to allow for a 720s.f. pavilion addition that results in the cumulative accessory building space on the property to be exceeded (4,892s.f. allowed/5,644s.f. proposed), Section 5.2.1.B. to allow a pergola, shed and pavilion to be located in front of the principal structure where accessory structures are required to be in the side or rear yard, and to Section 5.2.1.D.iii to allow for a pavilion accessory structure to be separated less than 5' from the principal structure (3'10" proposed). Camp Runinmuck New Generation (C.R.N.G), Inc., Patrick Teresi, Owner/ Applicant.
Parties wishing to give testimony may appear in person or by attorney. Said hearing(s) may be continued from time to time as necessary. A copy of the aforementioned application may be viewed at the office of the Zoning Inspector at Danbury Township Zoning Department during normal business hours or by clicking on the case information above. Posted 05.05.26 @10:15a.m.
BZA Process
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a quasi-judicial board consisting of 5 appointed members and 2 alternates. Their responsibilities include hearing requests for Appeals, Area Variances, Conditional Uses and Special Exceptions.
For a detailed explanation of the BZA process, please refer to Article 7 of theZoning Resolution.
Typically an appeal process is started once a zoning permit has been rejected by the Zoning Inspector. This is done if a property owners drawings submitted for a permit do not meet all of the zoning requirements. Before formally rejecting the permit, the Zoning Inspector will explain to the owner the deficiency and allow them the opportunity to revise the drawings in accordance with the requirements. If the owner wishes to proceed with an appeal, or if there is no other option other than to apply for a variance, the Zoning Inspector will formally refuse the zoning permit application and send a letter to the property owner outlining which sections of the zoning resolution variances will be required. Property owners do have the right to file an appeal directly to the BZA, however the owner will be responsible to ensure that all sections requested in the appeal are the only variances needed to complete their project.
The BZA's primary function is to:
1. Hear relevant, sworn testimony from the Appellant, his/her duly appointed agent or attorney, and any other person with standing to testify in a particular matter. 2. Determine the merits of the request as it pertains to the Danbury Township Zoning Resolution, adopted November 1975, with subsequent revisions, the most recent of which went into effect August 18, 2023, and; 3. Issue a decision and findings of fact based on the merits presented and decision standards to Approve, Deny or Approve with Conditions.
BZA hearings are referred to as adjudication hearings and are open to public attendance, but public comment will only be heard from a person who has standing to testify, or their representative. A person of standing is one whom has a substantial interest that will be directly affected, in a manner that is different from the effect on the general public, by the determination under consideration by the Board. All testimony shall be statements of fact and directed to the Board. Opinions, hearsay and discussion are not considered testimony and will not be heard. The right to cross examine is honored, however, the Chair may interject to ensure cross examination is conducted properly.
To attest to the honesty of all testimony given in this/these adjudication hearing/s, all appellants & persons of standing will be sworn in when they give testimony. When recognized by the Chair, the person may proceed to the podium, and state their name and address so that comments may be properly recorded. Appellants are asked to try and limit their testimony to fifteen (15) minutes, including any information presented by his/her duly appointed agent or attorney. Other persons with standing to testify are asked to try to limit their remarks to three (3) minutes or less. These limitations may be extended if the Board requests or approves further testimony.
At the conclusion of the adjudication hearing(s) the Board will close the public comment portion and move to deliberate and vote on each appeal. The public may not participate in this section of the meeting except upon request of the Chair or any member of the Board. Deliberations will occur in executive session. The vote, including the Findings of Fact will be made openly.
All visitors are asked to sign the register upon entering the hearing room and turn off any cell phones. At the conclusion of the hearing one is present for, you are welcome to leave, but are asked to do so quietly so the Board may continue on to the next order of business.
Hearing Notices can also be found on the Danbury Township, Ohio Facebook Page