Far Northwest Coalition

OCTOBER 2010 FNWC MINUTES

Far Northwest Coalition

Columbus, OH

October 27, 2010

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library on Hard Road.  Members present were John Best, John Murley, Kelly Thompson, Mike Brown, Dale White, Ryan Bunner and Rich Herner.

The FNWC moved, and seconded, approval of the Minutes from the last meeting held on September 29, 2010, with minor corrections. Motion passed.

Best discussed the conceptual plan from several years ago for the parkland on Hard Road.  It included a shelter house, tennis & basketball courts, a ball diamond and some soccer fields.  There was a group discussion of other possibilities for the site, including walking trails and a full rec center but apparently the City does not have the funds to complete one at this time.  It was brought up that there is very little green space available in this area and perhaps a better use would be as an open space park with trails and fields, rather than having a super rec facility on the site.  It was noted that Glacier Ridge and Highbanks could be models for how paths could be created here.

It was noted that names and email addresses collected at the last meeting had been passed along to Maureen Lorenz of the City Rec & Parks Department.  She had indicated at the last meeting that she would be trying to set up some preliminary planning meetings.  The FNWC would like to facilitate a free flow of information and ideas from the residents to Maureen Lorenz.  Consequently, it was agreed that the FNWC would have a regular agenda item at each meeting that would include some sort of parkland discussion to try and keep momentum going to get the park facility started. 

Mike Pastore, a local resident, then made a presentation to the FNWC members of his request for a side yard setback variance for his residence located at 8363 Gallop Drive.  He has lived at the address since 1996 and is replacing his current deck with a new one of the same size and configuration.  The problem is that the previous owners apparently built the deck without any permits or inspections.  Pastore’s contractor told him that he could not get a permit because the location of one corner of the deck was in the 5’ setback on the side yard.  Pastore said he wants to have the new deck done properly so he does not have any issues down the road if he would try and sell the property later on.  The corner of the deck is 3.49’ from the side yard property line instead of the 5’ minimum requirement. 

Pastore had a letter from his immediate neighbors that are impacted by the setback issue and they were in agreement and had no problems with the variance being granted.  The request is to go before the Board of Zoning Adjustment at the December 28 meeting and Pastore would like to get this all finished up so he can get started in the spring with the renovation.   

There was a motion and second, to approve the side yard setback variance request for the property located at 8363 Gallop Drive as presented by the applicant, subject to the deck being rebuilt in the same footprint as the current one.  After minimal additional discussion, the motion passed.

Best then noted that he had called Code Enforcement and asked them to do a sweep through the local area for signs in the right of way. 

There was also a discussion about the financial position of the FNWC and that expenses at this time are very limited with the use of email and other forms of electronic communication.  It was then moved and seconded, to suspend dues collection for FNWC members for the years of 2010 and 2011.  Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner

FNWC Secretary