Far Northwest Coalition

MARCH 2006 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

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

March 29, 2006

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, Joe Maccomber, Mike Brown, Chris Anderson & Rich Herner. John Best opened the meeting with an introduction of the FNWC Board members to the group in attendance. It was noted that dues for FNWC membership should be paid as soon as possible.

Best & Maccomber discussed the last Northwest Plan meeting that had been held. The OSU airport changes were talked about, as well as the St Rt 161 project. It was noted that residents may visit columbusinfobase.com on the Internet for more information on the proposed Northwest Plan. Best also mentioned the purchase of parkland near Sawmill Forest by the City and the possibility that it could connect to the Olde Sawmill area. This would be a passive use park. Columbus is currently in negotiations for the purchase.

Best informed the group that homes on the south side of Hard Road, east of Linworth Road, have all been purchased by the City and that some excavation work has already begun for that part of the Hard Road Project. The North Central Outerbelt Interchange Project was also briefly mentioned, and the fact that the I-71/I-270 interchange work will start this summer.

Ryan Shrimplin, as representative of the ownership of the property located at 7310 Sawmill Road (BP station at the corner of Sawmill & Sawbury), made a presentation to the FNWC concerning a change in the CPD text language. The change would allow BP to make graphics and color scheme changes without having to go back and amend the CPD text each time. The text changes had been previously provided to FNWC members. The CPD text currently includes restrictions that commit to building elevations, colors, graphics and the like. Any planned changes would have to go back through the zoning process or get a variance to be allowed. The applicant has spoken to City staff, and the staff agrees that the language should be modified to allow these types of changes as necessary. Shrimplin noted that the site plan, landscaping and lighting would all remain as currently outlined in the text. FNWC members were concerned about the possibility of electronic or changeable signs on the premises. Shrimplin noted that a prohibition of electronic signs could be added. He said the application is scheduled to be filed next Tuesday.

Dan Schoedinger, attorney for the Dan Tobin dealership, requested that their graphics variance request be dropped from the FNWC Agenda on March 29. Rob McNeal, City Code Enforcement Officer, talked about the variance request and some of the discussions going on, such as the phone number & email address being removed from the building facing the interstate, leaving the owl but dropping the other verbiage. He wasn’t sure about other the other issues of the request.

Dennis Hyundai putting cars on the grass facing Billingsley Road was again discussed. McNeal said he could be contacted at rcmcneal@columbus.gov. He also told the group about the 311 number which SBC subscribers can dial to report complaints or other issues to the City. You can also get tracking information to follow up on the concern. Non SBC subscribers would have to dial 645-311 to get to the system.

Don Plank and Dave Perry, representatives for Centex Homes then made a presentation to the group for a zoning variance of property located at 7324 Skyline Drive (CV06-018). The variance request would allow the construction of 121 condo units on 10.9 acres (5.4A & 5.5A on the east and west sides of Skyline Drive, just north of Snouffer Road). This results in a density of a little over 11 units per acre. The property is currently zoned C-2 Commercial. This zoning allows residential use when located above a ground floor commercial use. The variance request is to allow a residential use on the ground floor, instead of the required commercial use. This actually would become a Council Variance, and go before City Council, without going through the normal zoning channels. The associated information had been previously provided to FNWC members for prior review. The project would allow 121 condo units with a combination of 4, 5, 6 and 7 unit buildings with 3 stories each, ranging from 1800-2200 square feet in size. They would require approximately 240 parking spots. The variance also includes a request to allow cars to be parked in the driveway of each double car garage, effectively allowing four spots per unit. Plank noted that City staff has already indicated their disapproval of the project because it is not in line with the comprehensive plan for that area, which is for an office use. He noted that this property has been zoned C-2 since 1980 and no office buildings have been built there yet.

Several residents of the Skyline Drive area were in attendance. It was noted by all that traffic would be increased at the Skyline/Snouffer intersection. Also, the proposed location of ingress/egress points to the units is very close to the intersection and that they should perhaps be moved back away from the intersection farther. It was noted that sidewalks would be added to the perimeter of the property. Plank said that the City has asked only for an access study, not a full blown traffic study and that the Statement of Hardship provided to the group is necessary for a variance to go directly to Council.

Members of the FNWC then asked about pricing of these units and the target market for them. Terry Andrews, a representative from Centex Homes, said that the units would be priced in the $160K to the low $200K range, which should ensure an owner occupied base with this price point. Monthly condo dues would be in the range of $140-$150 per month. Andrews said the units will be marketed to young professionals and empty nesters.

The units will have vinyl siding and he felt down lighting issues could be addressed in the text. There would be no community center; not enough units. The proposed ponds are to be more decorative that just detention ponds, which would actually be their purpose. The units should be in the Dublin Schools. The operation of the condo units will be turned over to the HOA once the units are 75% occupied. They plan to build 10-15 units at a time, which would result in multiple phases, with construction commencing at the end of this year.

Local residents were concerned about drainage from the site, since it is apparently very wet now. The presenters noted that they must provide storm water detention. In addition, location of sanitary sewers and city water at the site was discussed. It was noted that there is a 25’ setback requirement that the developers plan to adhere to. The presenters also noted that they plan to keep as many of the mature trees as possible, as well as adding evergreen landscaping on the perimeter of the property. The Centex representatives said they would share the access study results with the FNWC when available, though it had just been requested by the City that day.

Best advised the group that he hoped to have representatives from the City Transportation Division to the FNWC meeting in April give an update on the Hard Road and Sawmill/Billingsley Road projects.

The FNWC then briefly discussed the CPD zoning text amendment request for the property located at 7310 Sawmill Road (BP station). The electronic/changeable sign issue again came up. It was then moved, and seconded, to conditionally approve the CPD zoning text changes for 7310 Sawmill Road as presented, subject to the addition of language that would prohibit electronic or changeable text signs. Motion passed.

There then was a lengthy discussion by FNWC members of the graphics variance request from the Dan Tobin dealership, which had been tabled from the last meeting and scratched from this meeting’s agenda by the applicant. It was finally moved and seconded, that the FNWC would not support the graphics plan as presented and furthermore, that any graphics plan must conform to existing graphics codes currently in place. Motion passed.

The FNWC then discussed the Centex Homes variance request to allow the construction of 121 condo units on Skyline Drive and the associated issue of parking in front of the garages. There was considerable discussion about other possible uses of the land, including office. The large amount of current suburban office space vacancy was mentioned and whether or not the property might remain undeveloped.

It was noted that the main concern of the group appeared to be traffic in the area. It was also mentioned that Centex has a good reputation and that an office use could create more traffic issues than the proposed residential use. The additional burden on city services (e.g. fire, police, etc.) was also discussed. It was questioned whether the developer could be required to put funds into infrastructure improvements in the area. It was also noted that the current office building traffic and the new CarMax facility may affect the marketability of these proposed units.

The fact that this request was being considered as a Council Variance was noted. Rather than having the subject property rezoned, this route takes the request directly to Council and bypasses the normal professional staff reviews and Development Commission approval, as well as avoiding the parkland dedication contribution that would have been necessary.

Members then questioned the real reason why city staff had originally rejected the proposal. The consensus was to contact staff and obtain a copy of their discussion. It was also mentioned that a previous condo development had been presented to the FNWC for this site by a different group and that the number of units in that proposal should be considered also (research found that the proposal was in 11/04 for 180 units). It was suggested that Best drop a note to the Council zoning chair that the FNWC had unanswered questions about the Centex project.

After the very lengthy discussion, it was moved and seconded, that the council variance request for property located at 7324 Skyline Drive (CV06-018) be tabled for additional information on the proposed project. Motion passed.

It was then moved and seconded to approve the Minutes from the 02/29/06 FNWC meeting as presented. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary