Far Northwest Coalition

AUGUST 2003 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION
P. O. BOX 340285 COLUMBUS, OH 43234

August 27, 2003

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, John Murley, Kelly Thompson and Rich Herner. This was not a quorum to conduct full business.

John Best opened the meeting with a description of the FNWC boundaries and introductions of the Board members present to the residents present. The Minutes from the last meeting were tabled.

Best reported to the group that the Hared Road project was now well under way but that he had not heard anything new about the addition of another lane on northbound Sawmill from I-270 up to Billingsley Road.

Rich Herner reported on the North Central Outerbelt Study Advisory Committee meeting that he had attended. The Study is to consider options to reduce the heavy traffic and reduce accidents in that area. Additional information is available to the public at www.dot.state.oh/i-270.

Best advised the group that the CarMax application for rezoning, that the FNWC had initially opposed but had later given conditional support to after much negotiation, had been recommended for approval by the Development Commission. It was also noted that the FNWC had heard several zoning issues of late around Snouffer, Caine and Farmers Drive and that all should help enhance the local area there.

Patsy Thomas, Columbus City Council member spoke briefly to the group. She was a former Assistant City attorney for several years before joining the Council. She is the Chair of both the Public Utilities and Refuse Committees. She recalled some of her accomplishments in helping to clean up housing in local neighborhood areas. She noted that the City Council web site was http://council.ci.columbus.oh.us and that the next meeting would be September 15.

Dave Perry, as the representative for owner Pat Bigler, then presented to the FNWC the rezoning request for 7140 Linworth Road. The request is to change the zoning from PUD-4 to L-R-1. Perry and Bigler had met with the FNWC back in June and had discussions with the local property owners. Perry noted that they had met again with the local residents the prior week at the Library. He said after these discussions, the rezoning request was changed to the L-R-1 from the original R-1 request. Perry noted that numerous changes had been made to the initial plan, including an agreement to make a concerted effort for greater tree preservation, as well as a band of trees down the center of the property.

Perry told the group that the minimum home size was to be 1600“ and start in the high $300,000’s in price. They had agreed to headlight screening for the neighbors because there were to be no front load garages in the plat. There will also only be one access from the plat onto Linworth Road from the public street and there would be on driveway access onto Linworth either. The homes will be of all natural materials (stone, brick, stucco, etc.) with a larger minimum setback to the rear for any 2 story homes adjacent to other residential areas. In lieu of the absence of room for any parkland, the developer will make the required payment to the City. Water and electric utilities will come from the front of the property on Linworth Road, while sewer lines will come from the southeast corner of the property. An easement will be required on the side yards of a couple lots but the developer plans to keep as many trees as possible in that area.

It was also noted that there will be extensive other deed restrictions on the lots and that the owner will retain all architectural rights. There was minimal comment from the residents present and apparently no more opposition to the plat development concept or to the zoning request change. The request will go before the Development Commission on September 15.

There being no further business to come before the FNWC, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary