An appeal must be filed within 20 calendar days of the action being appealed (O.R.C. 519.15.) A person filing an appeal must have a legal and/or equitable interest in the property affected in the appeal or be an attorney representing the person having legal or equitable interest. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) requires the legal owner or his counsel to be present at the public hearing. An officer or an employee of a corporation may file an appeal on property in which the corporation has a legal and/or equitable interest; however, a corporation must be represented by legal counsel at the public hearing.
The hearing in front of the BZA is a quasi-judicial process. All those speaking in favor of or against the appeal are sworn in. Attorneys for the appellant or the Township may question and cross-examine those giving testimony.