Unofficial Meeting report
NEAC February General Meeting. 2-13-03
Report of Zoning Committee;
Future items-none yet, but check website for changes.
Report of last meeting: Commissioner Shelby reported that they held a site visit Feb 1 at 490 Kelton. Columbus Urban Growth (a not-for ?–profit affordable housing group) has a project (townhouses or apartments, I didn?’t catch exactly what) there for which they were asking variances for building setbacks (not as far from street as required), side yards (not as big), and parking density (not as many parking places as required). The Zoning committee voted at the site meeting to recommend that NEAC recommend that the City approve these.
Public comment: The president of the Woodland Park Area Committee, Ms. Sheehee (sorry if not exactly right) read a letter the group wrote to NEAC. In it they stated that this project is within their boundaries, that they were recognized by the City at the beginning of the project as a group with interested in the project, that Columbus Urban Growth was to keep them informed of major changes and meet with them every 6 months. They say that the project has changed dramatically (I didn?’t quite get how, but it might be from market rate to subsidized), and they were offered no chance at input on this change. They want NEAC to delay the vote on the variances until they can meet with Columbus Urban Growth, who is behind on their meetings with Woodland Park.
Chair Bailey said that they did know about the site visit (Woodland Park says they did, but they thought it was for variances for the project they thought was going in), and Columbus Urban Group did submit paperwork as NEAC required, so NEAC should vote, since setting a precedent for delays because someone wasn?’t keeping up with NEAC notices and such is a bad idea. Commissioner Jackson (I think) asked the vote be tabled until Woodland Park could meet with Columbus Urban Growth. Columbus Urban Growth said everything they have done was legal. And they have a neighborhood group, as required, to report to. The Taylor Ave (Whatevers), consisting of interested homeowners, property owners, businessmen and representatives of organizations (like OSU East) that are within 1 block of Taylor). Then there was a lot of arguments about the whole thing that basically said the same thing over and over.
The motion to table the vote was defeated (3 for, 4 against, 5 abstain), and NEAC voted to recommend to the City to approve the variances (5 for, 1 against, and 5 abstentions)
Next zoning committee meeting Feb 18, 6:30 at the Police station on Main.
Report of Planning Committee:
Future items- none yet. The planning meetings will be held at the Columbus Health Department Building, room 19C on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30pm
Report of last meeting: Steve McCleary (or something like that) from City Development is initiating review of the Near East Area Plan. The process will start in March.
Hal Keller of Ohio Capital Corp wanted a letter to support a low income housing tax credit for 26 units of the Broad St Management/ Campus Partners deal. They are hoping to close within a few months. They will take over the properties. They will (plan to) install new leadership, reorganize staff, move the office and increase social services. Over the next 3-4 years they will deconcentrate / demolish/ sell off about 300 units, redevelop/rehabilitate and re-rent out 1000 units (still as sec 8). 132 units north of Broad st, 105 in Franklin Park area, 278 in Olde Towne, and 51 south of Main are in the NEAC Planning area. Of these 566 units, 26 are in the current substantial rehabilitation group, 68 will be deconcentrated in 2003, 83 will be deconcentrated after a legislative fix, and 389 will be in other redevelopment projects in the future. NEAC voted to approve the tax credit letter (9 for, 1 anti and 2 abstain)
NEAC February General Meeting. 2-13-03
Report of Zoning Committee;
Future items-none yet, but check website for changes.
Report of last meeting: Commissioner Shelby reported that they held a site visit Feb 1 at 490 Kelton. Columbus Urban Growth (a not-for ?–profit affordable housing group) has a project (townhouses or apartments, I didn?’t catch exactly what) there for which they were asking variances for building setbacks (not as far from street as required), side yards (not as big), and parking density (not as many parking places as required). The Zoning committee voted at the site meeting to recommend that NEAC recommend that the City approve these.
Public comment: The president of the Woodland Park Area Committee, Ms. Sheehee (sorry if not exactly right) read a letter the group wrote to NEAC. In it they stated that this project is within their boundaries, that they were recognized by the City at the beginning of the project as a group with interested in the project, that Columbus Urban Growth was to keep them informed of major changes and meet with them every 6 months. They say that the project has changed dramatically (I didn?’t quite get how, but it might be from market rate to subsidized), and they were offered no chance at input on this change. They want NEAC to delay the vote on the variances until they can meet with Columbus Urban Growth, who is behind on their meetings with Woodland Park.
Chair Bailey said that they did know about the site visit (Woodland Park says they did, but they thought it was for variances for the project they thought was going in), and Columbus Urban Group did submit paperwork as NEAC required, so NEAC should vote, since setting a precedent for delays because someone wasn?’t keeping up with NEAC notices and such is a bad idea. Commissioner Jackson (I think) asked the vote be tabled until Woodland Park could meet with Columbus Urban Growth. Columbus Urban Growth said everything they have done was legal. And they have a neighborhood group, as required, to report to. The Taylor Ave (Whatevers), consisting of interested homeowners, property owners, businessmen and representatives of organizations (like OSU East) that are within 1 block of Taylor). Then there was a lot of arguments about the whole thing that basically said the same thing over and over.
The motion to table the vote was defeated (3 for, 4 against, 5 abstain), and NEAC voted to recommend to the City to approve the variances (5 for, 1 against, and 5 abstentions)
Next zoning committee meeting Feb 18, 6:30 at the Police station on Main.
Report of Planning Committee:
Future items- none yet. The planning meetings will be held at the Columbus Health Department Building, room 19C on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30pm
Report of last meeting: Steve McCleary (or something like that) from City Development is initiating review of the Near East Area Plan. The process will start in March.
Hal Keller of Ohio Capital Corp wanted a letter to support a low income housing tax credit for 26 units of the Broad St Management/ Campus Partners deal. They are hoping to close within a few months. They will take over the properties. They will (plan to) install new leadership, reorganize staff, move the office and increase social services. Over the next 3-4 years they will deconcentrate / demolish/ sell off about 300 units, redevelop/rehabilitate and re-rent out 1000 units (still as sec 8). 132 units north of Broad st, 105 in Franklin Park area, 278 in Olde Towne, and 51 south of Main are in the NEAC Planning area. Of these 566 units, 26 are in the current substantial rehabilitation group, 68 will be deconcentrated in 2003, 83 will be deconcentrated after a legislative fix, and 389 will be in other redevelopment projects in the future. NEAC voted to approve the tax credit letter (9 for, 1 anti and 2 abstain)
