COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Transportation reversed itself and announced Thursday it has approved a permit for the Cleveland Browns to build their proposed stadium next to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

ODOT on Aug. 1 had rejected the permit, citing height concerns, but that rejection came with an opportunity for the Browns to appeal.

ODOT and the Browns have been in talks for weeks, though a formal appeal had not been filed.

Key to the decision by ODOT to waive the height limit, which is 150 feet above the airport’s ground elevation , was that ODOT determined the stadium would not require any changes to the airport’s current flight operations. ODOT also noted that there would be required lighting on top of the stadium.

The approval eliminates one of the remaini

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