Far Northwest Coalition

JAN 2004 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

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

January 28, 2004


The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, Kelly Thompson, Mark Seeger, John Murley and Rich Herner.

John Best opened the meeting with a description of the FNWC boundaries and a short explanation of what the FNWC does and its makeup. Members present of the FNWC were then introduced to the group in attendance.

Best then discussed some of the issues that the FNWC had dealt with in the past year, specifically mentioning the CarMax application. He reported to the group that the Development Commission modified the CarMax’s graphics request; reducing the I-270 signage to a max height of 35’ and the directional signs to no more than 6’ high. This is essentially what the FNWC had requested. Best also noted that the Charlie’s Steakery graphics request was approved but with size limitations; again in line with the FNWC recommendation.

The Hard Road project was discussed briefly, with the acknowledgment that travel in the area is difficult but will get better as the project progresses. Best also apprised the group of other traffic signal issues in the area in which the FNWC had been involved. The widening of Sawmill Road north of I-270 to Billingsley Road was touched upon briefly, as was the I-270 North Central Outerbelt Study.

Best also mentioned to the group the TND proposed for the south side of 161 near Linworth. It will be a mixed use development, with both residential and some commercial properties in the project. It was noted that this will be going back to the Northwest Civic Association at their regular meeting on Wednesday, February 4 at the Carriage Place Reek Center for further consideration by that group.

Lisa Thurber of the FNCCC briefly addressed the group on the possible closing of Sutter Park Elementary in the Worthington School District and the fact that they had spoken to the City of Columbus about Columbus possibly taking over the school building to be used as a rec center.

Jill Tangeman and Mike Kenney, representing the owner, Preferred Real Estate Investments, made a presentation to the group for a rezoning application. The rezoning request was for 4.48 acres located at 8354-8400 Sawmill Road to be rezoned from the current R to L-AR-12 to allow Kenney’s company to build a 54 unit condominium project on the property. The request is for a limited text zoning rather that just the general apartment district; the owner’s feeling that the residents in the area would rather know what they were getting with this project, with the limitation text. She noted that the property was being annexed into the City of Columbus from Perry Township and that is another reason for the zoning change request.

The units are to be 2 story town house type, single family, owner occupied condo units ranging in size from 1,000 square feet, one bedroom units up to 2,000 square foot 3 bedroom units. Prices are to range from $150,000 to $170,000 per unit. Kenney said the property would be professionally managed, in conjunction with the condo association. The condo declarations would require single family units with no on-site amenities (rec center, swimming pool, etc.). The property would be screened from the other homes in the neighborhood per City code (75% opacity) for apartment areas adjacent to single family areas and would adhere to the Sawmill Road Corridor standards for lighting and the like. There would be the normal 25’ setback requirements and a maximum height for the buildings of 35’. The build out for all 56 units will be done in one phase. It was also noted that the developer will have to pay a park fee to the city and some residents wondered if those funds could be earmarked for the local park in the area. Tangeman said they will look into the request. Tangeman thought the rezoning application would go to the Development Commission in March.

There appeared to be extensive resident opposition to the development project. Concerns expressed ranged from a concern with the neighborhood property values, the fact that the units would be immediately adjacent to an elementary school, a single access to the site and the development’s impact on Sawmill traffic, water detention and drainage in the area, the overall density of the project and the problem of non-owner residents in the project.

The developer said all water would be detained on site and would not impact the local residents at all. He agreed to provide additional screening and mounding as requested, while attempting to maintain as many trees as possible on the site. He also agreed to try and couch the language in the condo declarations requiring all units to be owner-occupied, with the unit being the owner’s primary residence. The units will be marketed primarily to young professionals and empty nesters. The question of school district came up and was not fully clarified, but the consensus was that the property would eventually end up in the Columbus City Schools.

Other possible uses of the property were discussed, with the overall feeling being that the only viable alternative would be some kind of commercial use. It was noted that the property across the street is in the City of Dublin and is already zoned for commercial use. The developer thought the condo use would be a somewhat happy medium between single family home residential and other possible commercial uses. He felt this would be better accepted by the local neighborhood than some other possibilities.

The developer (Kenney) said they would go back and look at the landscape detail, ensure sidewalks on Sawmill, look into the possibility of deed restrictions to require owner occupied residences with the units being the owner’s primary residence. The limitation text would also be provided. It was agreed with the residents that the developer would come back to the FNWC at the next meeting with these additional items and would again address these issues, and other concerns, with the local residents.

The FNWC members then discussed these various items, including the possibility of the developer reconfiguring his plans for a fewer number of units and freeing up more green space in the project. It was also requested that the limitation text be provided in such form that it could be posted on the FNWC web site for review by the local residents. After discussion, it was moved and seconded to table the rezoning request for the property located at 8354-8400 Sawmill Road until the next regular FNWC meeting in February, to afford the developer the opportunity to provide the FNWC and the local residents with a more detailed plan, as well as the limitation text. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary