Wells Sherman House Relocation Slowed by Temporary Injunction

The court battle over the relocation of the historic Kent Wells Sherman House has so far slowed the project with a temporary restraining order.

Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge John Enlow issued a temporary injunction on behalf of the Kent citizens' group titled "Save the Standing Rock Garden," comprised of supporters of the Standing Rock Cultural Arts, that temporarily stops site work at 247 N. Water St. for relocation of the historic house.

Enlow issued the temporary order this month. The group originally filed an appeal to the September planning commission ruling that approved a site plan for the historic house at 247 N. Water St.

Roger Thurman, vice president of the Kent Wells Sherman House Inc. board, which is working to relocate the house, said the restraining order is only valid for 10 days and is set for a hearing on Tuesday before a Portage County magistrate.

"Basically what they stopped was any activity on the lot or changing the circumstances of the lot from what was on there before," Thurman said. "But I don’t think (the judge) realizes we actually own the land."

The original appeal, filed Oct. 7 by Kent attorney John Plough, alleges that the city of Kent violated some aspects of the Ohio Sunshine Law with regards to a Kent Architectural Review Board meeting about the house that Regula-Meyer said was not properly advertised to the public.

The updated appeal, submitted Nov. 5, names the KWSH board among the case defendants.

Lisa Regula Meyer, lead organizer of the Save the Standing Rock Garden, said previously the goal of filing the appeal is the same goal the group has over the past six months or more — find another location for the house.

"At the very least we hope to point out that the process that the city of Kent has been engaging in has not been up to par," she said.

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• Residents Appeal Wells Sherman House Decision by Planning Commission
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