WESTLAND AREA
COMMISSION
Meeting
was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present were Betty Balthaser, Janice Collette, Mike Hurd, Glen Hymer,
Dorothy Jantzen, JoEllen Locke, Jamie Mueller, Jan Province, Shawn Thomas, Ric
Weber, and Jeff Woodson. Virginia Frank and Tom Morris were absent. Dan Province is ill; Jan Province presiding at this meeting.
Zoning
Committee (McKay): Kroger at 5800 W. Broad St.
requested a change to its’ graphics plan to add signage to building (not a
rezoning request). They want to add
signage to their front façade that reads “24 hrs” to the left of an existing
sign that reads “pharmacy”. This
is to clarify that the pharmacy is open 24 hours a day in addition to sign that
says the grocery is open 24 hours.
Zoning committee approved the request 4-0. Mueller: where does it
put them in total sign coverage? The
new sign dimensions are 1’ 11-1/2“ high by 7’ 6-1/2” wide, have an example to
pass around. Morris moved to approve
request, Jantzen seconded. Motion
approved
Update: This commission had voted 0-12 against
zoning no. Z02-003 at the northeast side of the intersection of W. Broad and
Galloway Rd. This was voted down at
Development Commission meeting, and we have word the developer is not going to
go through with this project. It is
probable, though, that something else will be built there. Update: 5881 W. Broad St., Dominion Homes
proposal went to Development Commission last week and they tabled it upon
request of Dominion Homes. There are
still several issues to be worked out, including AEP right-of-way issues along
Galloway Rd. and a traffic study.
Locke: when the Dominion Homes project goes to City
Council how can we find out the date ahead of time to recruit lots of
representatives from area? A discussion
followed of the need to network, get the word out. About 1/3 of time area property owners don’t get notification,
they like to send notice to the national headquarters of their mortgage
companies. It is important for everyone
to send letters, make telephone calls, and visit elected officials’ offices to
get their attention and stop them from ignoring the west side.
There
was some discussion of a need for a brochure about Darby Creek and the west
side. Jan Province said she believes
Franklin County Metro Parks has some brochure about Darby Creek. Also need to update Westland Area plan, need
to communicate it to the community so they can understand and support it.
Community
Outreach (Morris): Morris not here, nothing to report.
Parks
and Recreation (Hurd): nothing to report. There was
some discussion of area parkland, the Parkland Dedication Ordinance, and local
interpretation. WAC should voice their
opinions about whether a particular development should give a piece of land to
fulfill their requirements under the parkland ordinance or give money toward a
larger park or a recreation center.
Many developers have avoided this requirement because they are not
required to give until their development is totally completed.
Education
(Collette): Next year will bring 600
fewer students at Westland High School with them going to Central Crossing High
School, this will help alleviate traffic problems around Westland High School
for a while.
Development
(McKay):
nothing to report.
Health
and Safety (Weber): nothing to report. Locke: there are concerns about crime around Greene
Countrie Park, one house on the periphery reported an attempted break in. Police were recently called when
approximately 15 kids were hanging out at 1:15 p.m. in the park’s shelter
house. Some discussion followed about
what to do—continue to call police, notify Westland High School, possibly ask
if their off-duty officers could be called to help.
Nominating
(Jantzen): nothing to report. Jan Province: we have an election coming up
May 4, we should have nominating petitions circulating. The election is generally 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the Doctors West Hospital lobby, we need volunteers and permission from the
hospital.
Woodson: suggestion that since WAC does not have a
vice president, it would only be fair to get a vice president appointed to take
some of the burden off Dan Province.
Nominating committee should come back to the next meeting with a list of
3-4 people to run for vice president.
Weber made a motion to have nominating
committee consider candidates for vice president position, Hymer seconded. Motion passed
Old
Business: none
New Business:
Jay
Patterson from Columbus Mediation Services of Central Ohio (CMS) introduced
himself and said he was here to talk about what CMS does. Jay distributed a brochure and gave a brief
presentation on what CMS can do for the Westland Area Commission, which is to
provide mediation services to solve issues in a way acceptable to all parties
without court action. At CMS the
parties involved decide on final outcome with mediators facilitating the
decision.
The brochure says CMS was founded in 1989 as a
non-profit corporation. CMS provides
services on a no-charge of sliding fee scale to disputants in Franklin
County. Personal conflict management
and mediation training workshops can be conducted to serve youth, parents,
schools, employees, neighborhood groups, and more. CMS is located at 80 Jefferson Av. in Columbus and can be contacted
at (614) 228-7191 or CommunityMediation@worldnet.att.net.
Motion
to adjourn was made by Balthaser, seconded by Jantzen. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.