Far Northwest Coalition

JUNE 2003 FNWC MINUTES

JUNE 2003 FNWC MINUTES

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

June 25, 2003

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Murley, Gail White, Mark Gresham & Rich Herner. A quorum of the Board was not present.

John Murley, Vice President, opened the meeting with introductions of the Board members. The Minutes of the last meting held on May 28, 2003 were reviewed and commented that no changes were necessary. A short Treasurer’s report was given.

Murley quickly reviewed the items on the Updates list from the Agenda. It was noted that Hard Road work will probably begin in July 2003 now. It was reported that some utilities had been relocated already but no major work had commenced yet.

George McCue, attorney for CarMax, made another presentation concerning their request to rezone 2650 Farmers Drive from L-C-4 and C-2 to C-2. He was assisted by Jim Thornton of CarMax. McCue reviewed what had been presented to the FNWC previously about the company and the planned use for the site. He noted that issues previously mentioned by the FNWC had been addressed in the revised text. He then provided aerial photographs of the site as well as an anticipated site plan for the property. He noted this zoning change request will be going to the Development Commission on July 10.

Thornton then explained the CarMax market idea – no high pressure or haggling, the price is the price of a vehicle, just like a posted price walking in a retail store. He said they will also buy a customer’s car and pay cash. They do not offer trade-ins as such. He stated that 75% of the cars they sell are 3 years old or less. They have been in business for 10 years now and have 47 stores. They were spun off from the parent, Circuit City, in October last year.

Thornton said the lot will turn over 1 to 1 ¼ times each month, meaning 500 to 600 approximate sales per month. They will carry approximately 500 cars on the lot in inventory and another 150-200 cars in the work in progress area, i.e. those cars being worked on the get ready to put on the lot for sale. He noted that the work in progress area will be completely screened. He said 4-6 car haulers per day would be coming through delivering and picking up cars. He verbally agreed that they would prohibit the car haulers from parking on Farmers Drive and that all loading and unloading would be done on the site. He also committed to a preferred test drive route to try and keep cars out of our local neighborhoods. He also stated that the lighting is lowered to security levels one hour after closing time.

McCue noted that this operation will employ 150 full time and 25 part time employees, with an average salary of $40,000-$50,000 per year. This would mean $6.75 million in new salaries to employees here. In addition they will generate between $250,000 and $275,000 in real estate taxes each year. The improvements are estimated at $4.5 million plus another $11.5 million in site work (including required modifications to Snouffer, Caine and Farmers) for a total investment of $16 million. He noted that CarMax would pay for signage to route customers back to the main roads and that they would be willing to assist the City in traffic calming efforts in affected areas.

Joe Ridgeway of EP Ferris, traffic consultants on the project, said that improvements would be necessary at the affected intersections on Sawmill/Snouffer, Snouffer/Caine and Caine/Farmers but he felt it would provide adequate ingress and egress for the car haulers. McCue said the traffic study shows that CarMax would provide less new traffic than some of the other alternative uses for the site.

Jim Gilbert of Immke and Pam Dedent, a representative of Farmers were also present and stated that they had no objections to the proposed use of the site by CarMax.



Dave Perry, as representative for the owner Pat Bigler, then made a presentation to the FNWC concerning a request to rezone 7140 Linworth Road (Lindsey Woods) from the current PUD-4 to R-1. He said the current zoning was done back in 2001 for 40 lots. Their request is to go to R-1, with 37 lots on the 10 acre parcel. They committed to keeping all of the trees that currently surround the property and a 30’ set back, including 20’ for the trees themselves. Perry noted that most of the adjacent properties were already zoned R-1. He said R-1 requirements are 7,200” lot size, and these lots should be around 7,500” each or larger.

The owner/developer, Pat Bigler said the homes will be targeted to empty-nesters and be 2,100” to 3,300” and sell in the $425.000 to $550,000 range. The homes will be ranch or 1 ½ story. There will be no full 2 story homes in the project. He plans to have side load or rear load garages so the street view of a typical house is not all garage. He said he will be the sole builder (Camelot) and will have 4 specs to start but feels no more than 10 houses will be going at any one time. He thinks this project will have a 2-21/2 year absorption period. Most of the interior trees will be cut down to make room for lots, unlike the covenants in the PUD language. The existing home on the lot will be razed.

Several residents were in attendance and asked questions of the developer and his representative. The major concern of the residents appeared to be the tree preservation and open spaces from the previous zoning and the density of this proposal. The request will not go to the Development Commission until August 14. Consequently, it was agreed to table the item until next month and allow time for the developer and the residents to meet. The applicant will return to the FNWC July meeting with further information, including a plot plan to indicate home locations, etc.

Jeff Brown came as the representative for Animal Care Centers of America. They are requesting that the property located at 6868 Caine Road be rezoned to allow the owners to add additional space onto the back of the building. Under the original zoning in 10/89 and then altered in 6/90, the owners had committed to a site plan in the text. This was the initial building and they have found they need additional room for the lobby and vet services area. Brown said the only reason they have to make the rezoning request is because of the site plan. The new zoning text would discard the site plan. Brown noted that all necessary setbacks, etc. would be adhered to in the request.

Brown then made another presentation on behalf of LaMar Companies to add an amendment to the original zoning for the existing shopping center on the east side of Sawmill Road, between Federated Blvd. and Sawmill Place. The request is that a right turn in only lane from northbound Sawmill Road be added, including a deceleration lane. This would assist traffic flow on Sawmill and make the property more attractive for future tenants. Brown said if the FNWC approved the request, since it is an amendment only, with approval of the traffic department, he can go directly to City Council with the request.

After a brief discussion, the FNWC agreed to table any action on the rezoning request for 6868 Caine Road until the July meeting. The FNWC then moved and seconded that the request to amend the zoning text for the shopping center on Sawmill Road, between Federated Blvd. and Sawmill Place be approved as presented, with the acknowledgment that a quorum was not present at the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary