Two variances granted by zoning board

STEUBENVILLE - The city's Board of Zoning Appeals approved two variances Monday but rejected a third variance request by a split vote.

The board voted three to two against a variance requested by Rob and Michelle Gribben of Braybarton Boulevard after a neighbor spoke against the Gribbens' plans for a new garage.

Rob Gribben indicated he will appeal the negative decision to city council.

The Gribbens were seeking a zoning variance in order to build a new garage at the rear of their existing driveway.

"We plan to move the existing retaining wall to bring it completely onto our property. We also plan to match the veneer of the new garage to the masonry veneer of the house," explained Rob Gribben.

His father, Robert Gribben, said his son looked at a lot of different ways to put a new garage on the Braybarton property, "and this plan was the best possibility.

"They have put on a new roof and new windows since purchasing this house. They have renovated the interior and have put a lot of time and effort into the house," he added.

But the variance request was opposed by neighbor Charles Aeschliman of Braybarton who said the garage, "would be detrimental to our view and lower the value of our home."

"The Gribbens are good neighbors, but the garage will affect our privacy," Aeschliman told the zoning appeals board.

The board approved a variance request from John Kirlangitis of Martha Place, who wants to have a storage shed built in his side yard to house a riding lawnmower.

"We have about three quarters of an acre but unfortunately most of the yard is in the front and side with little back yard.

"I would like to put an Amish-built 12 foot by 12 foot shed in the side yard for a riding mower.

"My wife has already picked out curtains and flower boxes so this will be a nice building," Kirlangitis explained.

And Alysia Basluke of Buena Vista Boulevard was approved for a variance to replace an exiting porch with a larger deck.

"I want to replace the existing six foot by 12 foot porch with a 16 foot by 12 foot deck," said Basluke.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)