Home | Back

Indoor soccer field closed for building code violation

Share_print Print Story    |    Comments    |   

March 14, 2010

by Steve Wiandt

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- The city shut down a local business for violating the building code, officials said.

Falls Indoor Soccer was operating in a warehouse at 3976 State Road until last month when the owner, Fred Balkanloo, appeared in Cuyahoga Falls Mayor's Court and pleaded guilty to failing to obtain city approval of his change in use of the building, said City Law Director Virgil Arrington Jr.

Messages sent to the company's Web site and Facebook page and a call to Balkanloo's other business were not returned at press time.

He was given a fine of $500 with $400 of the fine suspended on the condition that he cease operations. His net fine was $100 plus $69 in court costs.

A notice posted on the company's Web site (fallsindoorsoccer.com) states: "As of 3:15, 2/22/2010, Falls Indoor Soccer is closed." It goes on to state that the company is offering for sale its indoor soccer field, including dasherboards, posts, acrylic panels, carpet with crumb rubber, nets and a scoreboard.

"They were closed because they were using a storage facility for an indoor sports facility," said the city's Chief Building Inspector Peter Bell. "This is not permitted by the Ohio Building Code unless they request a use and occupancy change for the building." Changes in use must be approved by him, he said.

Bell said he sent a letter to Balkanloo in early October and told him he had 30 days to get a certificate of occupancy to legally stay open. Bell said the business was still open in late November and Balkanloo had never requested the certificate.

At 5:06 p.m. Feb. 22, Falls Indoor Soccer stated on its Facebook page, "Hi my friends. There will not be a pickup game tomorrow. The city of Cuy Falls shut us down today due to an issue with the building & zoning."

Several people posted comments on the Facebook page sharing their feelings of disappointment.

Judging by the announcements on the company's Facebook page, Falls Indoor Soccer apparently served as a location for "pick-up" soccer games. No mention of league games is made.

E-mail: swiandt@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3141




Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed. Fallsnewspress.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.

Login above or Register to comment.
 0 Total Comments Home | Back