Details And Documents Of The Cleveland Hall Trial

Licking County Judge Jon Spahr ruled Monday, March 10, that a modernist glass addition to Cleveland Hall violated Granville's planning code for its historic village district. He reversed a 3-2 decision by the Village Council. Denison stopped construction on the building Wednesday afternoon. The complete court record, including the judge's five-page decision, can be found in the story below.

The trial before Judge Spahr began when a Notice of Appeal was filed July 19, 2007. The Court then published a schedule of filings that occurred over the next four months.

On September 5, 2007, the Village of Granville asked that only the Village be named as an appellee and that the Council and the Planning Commission be dropped. The Court agreed on October 3, 2007.

Appellants filed their Brief on September 24, 2007. On the schedule set by the Court, on October 24, 2007, Appellee, Village of Granville filled a Brief.

Also on October 24, 2007, Denison University requested to intervene as an Appellee. On November 6, 2007, Appellants objected to the entrance of Denison into the trial on the grounds that it was too late and it would delay the schedule.

Appellants filed their Reply Brief to the Brief of Appellee Village of Granville on November 7, 2007.

On November 8, 2007, the Court permitted Denison to intervene as an Appellee.

Denison filed their Brief on November 16, 2007 and Appellants filed a Reply Brief to Denison's Brief on November 30, 2007 concluding the trial.

On March 3, 2008, Judge Spahr ruled in favor of the Appellants and ordered the reversal of the decision of the Village of Granville to grant a Zoning Permit for Denison's proposed Cleveland Hall renovations and additions. Without a Zoning Permit, Denison must now cease work on the project.

Presumably, Denison will re-design the proposed additions and submit a new application for a Zoning Permit.

Note: John Thornborough, Editor of The Granville Press, was an appellant in this matter.