WESTLAND AREA
COMMISSION
Meeting
was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present were Betty Balthaser, Virginia Frank, Mike Hurd, Glen Hymer,
Dorothy Jantzen, JoEllen Locke, Jamie Mueller, Jan Province, Shawn Thomas, and Jeff Woodson. Ric Weber is excused. Dan Province is ill and currently admitted
to Doctors West. Jan Province presiding at this meeting.
Zoning
Committee (McKay): New procedures being put in place for Zoning Commission. Will hear presentations from developers,
then take questions from commission members, then questions from the general
public with 3 minutes maximum each.
Two
zoning issues: first is Z01-069, 5881 W. Broad St., Jeff Brown representing
Dominion Homes. West Broad St. just
west of Galloway Rd. on the south side, approximately 82.64 acres currently
zoned rural. Want to change W. Broad
frontage to C4 to allow commercial development with possible liquor
licenses. Request R2 single family for
balance of property along Galloway Rd.
Zoning commission heard case last week approved commercial request 6-1,
voted against residential 2-5.
Brown
brought and distributed copies of proposed Limitation Overlay Text Development
Plan. There is a small portion of this
site that drains toward Hellbranch Run; Dominion has excluded it from this
proposal, surveyed to determine line instead of using GIS system. Text is standard C4 text with two additional
exclusions asked for at prior zoning commission meeting--no adult entertainment
which now illegal by city code anyway, and no used car lots. The rest is single family, Westland Area
plan is high density (6+) residential close to W. Broad, low density in
back. Minimum lot width is 60' along
adjacent, existing township lots. Homes
are 1200 minimum sq. ft. with 2 car garage.
Traffic study is required and is currently being reviewed by city of
Columbus. Have asked developer to look
at intersection of Sullivant and Galloway.
Plan to bring street from development to W. Broad, Galloway Rd. entrance
lines up also with entrance to Westland High School. To south another entrance will require a left lane on Galloway
Rd. Also may want stub to south so
connection can be made if Sullivant Av. is extended west of Galloway Rd. Plan to follow Parkland Dedication
Ordinance--city owns some land along southwest corner of this property,
acquired previously for parkland so the city may want us to add to that.
Hurd:
is there limitation text for the residential area? Brown: not sure if the city wants it, 1200 sq. ft. minimum, 2 car
garage, necessary traffic improvements will be followed. Hurd: can we request residential limitation
text? On another development, Dominion
Homes came back and downsized lots, Jan Province thinks this has happened
several times in the past. McKay will
ask the city about this. Hymer: need
something in writing that street from residential will go through to W. Broad
so that any 3rd party developer building commercial there would be
held to it. Brown said he could not
get in touch with Ray Brushard regarding traffic study and traffic issues but
will work with the city.
Jan
Province asked how many homes? Density
of 4-4 ½ homes per acre times 70 acres equals 280 units. Jan Province: with existing low density
housing to east and probably to the west, this creates a high density island in
between. Brown said they can’t match as
east is in township without sewerage, west may be township but city services
are the reason the land was annexed which results in higher density. Hymer: due to soil conditions, will there be
extra construction specified on foundations?
Brown: this will be considered when submitting the development
plat.
Speaker
from audience: those of us with water wells 40-60 ft. deep living in the
township lots next to the development, who do we see when we run out of
water? How deep are the 60 foot lots
that are against these township lots?
Brown:
residents should look to who caused well problem—the city of Columbus installed
the sewer, etc. Cannot give a guarantee
about water, could or could not be a problem.
Lots will be at least 100 feet deep, could be more depending on
development design.
Collette:
portion of development along W. Broad is zoned for higher density housing. Brown replied that 6+ per acre housing is
listed on Westland Area plan on a piece of land along W. Broad where Dominion
is proposing commercial development.
Their plan wants lower density houses (3-5 per acre) for the whole
development.
Morris:
when will Galloway Rd. be extended over railroad tracks to I-70? How will this impact traffic in the
Galloway/Sullivant area? Brown is not
sure about Galloway extension but that a traffic study will be completed before
going to Development Commission.
Hurd:
there is a crisis in the Westland Area--nowhere for children’s sports activities. Kids play soccer at Bolton Field on a
year-to-year agreement. There is no
place else for area kids to play. This development will add to the problem,
would like developer to help with a regional recreation center. This Galloway Rd. area would be a great
location for the recreation center and would greatly improve the quality of
life for area children. Brown: the city
ultimately decides, could give land or money or combination according to city
wishes.
Hymer: nursing home on Inah Av. said they would do
whatever the city wants, but Inah Av. Is in Prairie Township. In this development we have Galloway Rd. as
county road in the township so we will have to deal with the county when the
developer said it would do what the city wanted. Brown: have given copy of traffic study to Franklin
County Engineer and will have to meet with them and meet their requirements.
McKay:
there are lot of issues, could vote on proposal with restrictions or table,
would want our vote known at Development Commission for March meeting. Some discussion followed. Brown said there is no need to table,
traffic requirements from city will be followed, city doesn’t like limitation
text on single family, wants letter of conditions on plat. McKay: when Hellbranch overlay is approved
will there be anything there that will impact development density in this
proposal? Answer: no.McKay: lot of issues, could vote with
rest or table, would want at dev comm for march meeting, no need to table,
traffic will be followed, r2 is only question for residential areas, city
doesnt like limitation text on single family, wants letter of conditions on
plat McKay: when Hellbranch overlay zoning code comes out will be there
anything there that will impact dev density in this proposal no: answer
Two
votes: commercial proposal first, Morris made a motion for a roll call vote,
Jan Province seconded, to rezone from residential to LC4. Voice vote passed
two
votes: comm first Morris motion roll call jan second rez from res to lc4 voice
vote passedResidential vote: Morris made a motion for a roll call vote, Jantzen
seconded, to rezone from rural to R2 with stated conditions. Voice vote failed unanimouslyresidential
vote: from rural to r2 with stated conditions Morris motion ask for roll call
Jantzen second voice vote failed
unanimously
The
second zoning is from Bear Creek Developers, zoning no. Z02-003. Northeast side of intersection of W. Broad
and Galloway Rd. Bill Goldman
representing developer, C4 zoning 1+ acres on corner across from new Kroger,
gas station in front of new school.
Limitation text will add adult entertainment restriction although city
ordinance no longer permits it. Goldman
said this is a very straightforward zoning.
Not sure exactly how close to school, would apply for beer and wine
sales would be denied by liquor control if it is within 500 feet. Jan Province: what would building be
constructed of: proposal says
combination of brick, stucco, split block, no representation of how much of
each. WAC would like it to match
school, Kroger, and other development in the area. Jan Province: how about a limitation on outside displays to no
more than 3 feet high. Goldman: city
zoning requirements were sent to him, say not to exceed 3 feet in height. How about outdoor vending machines? Kroger had agreed to no vending machines,
this developer will agree to no outdoor cigarette machines due to proximity to
school. Hurd: can we approve without
seeing the limitation text, important for it to match Kroger. Goldman: not my fault that the city didn’t
send limitation text to you. Hurd: too
close to school, would like to see limitation text on alcohol sales. Jan Province: text says nothing about signs,
material limitation is block or stucco with no real description or limitation. Morris asked for motion to table, but
Goldman said he will go to Development Commission anyway. Motion from Jan Province, seconded by Frank,
to rezone from unlimited c4 to CPD.second zoning bear Creek dev bill goldman ne
side of w broad and gall c4 zoning 1+ acres on corner across from Kroger gas in
fr of new school lim text will add adult although city no longer permits very
straightforward zon no Z02‑003 not sure how close to school would apply
for beer and wine sales would be denied if within 500 ft probably not get
license jan: what would bldg be const‑‑comb brick, stucco, split
block, not sure how much of each, wac would like to match school, kroger, other
dev in area go ¶ Voice vote failed
unanimously
Hurd:
can we write a letter to Development Commission to explain no vote, want it to
match Kroger and other area developments in appearance, Jan Province agreed WAC
could write to Development Commission on this and other issues.
New
Rome: Mayor Mueller made four legal appointments to village council but
existing New Rome council is refusing to recognize them.
Prairie
Twp. is working on a comprehensive plan; general feeling that unless annexation
is curbed they soon won’t need a plan as they will no longer exist.
Community
Outreach (Morris): nothing to report.
Parks
and Recreation (Hurd): nothing to report. Locke: went
to Prairie Township trustees meeting to present idea for them to work with WAC
for senior programs in the area.
Exercise classes are largely attended by Prairie Township residents,
grant runs out in September.
Education
(Collette):
electricity problems caused early dismissals recently, was an AEP problem. South-Western tried to keep kids in school
until 10:30 a.m., heating/ventilation/lunch issues made early dismissal
decision necessary.
Development
(McKay):
nothing to report
Health
and Safety (Weber): Weber not here
Nominating
(Jantzen): Balthaser
and Jantzen interviewed two people interested in joining WAC, Dustin Hall and
Ken Yant. Each spoke briefly. Hall is employed at Devry Columbus and is a
resident of Grove City. Yant has lived
off Hall Rd. for 3 ½ yrs and is employed at Canal Winchester Schools. Both saw an article in a Westside paper saying
the commission was looking for members. Jantzen made a motion to appoint both,
Locke seconded. Approved
Old
Business:
Guest speaker Cheryl Roberto, deputy director of City of Columbus Dept. of
Public Utilities visiting as a representative of the Mayor’s office to present
general information on Hellbranch Run watershed protection overlay
district. Distributed copies of a
summary of the legislation, which came as a result of city planning for
sanitary sewer facilities. City recognized there would be an impact on water
quality from new development in this environmentally sensitive area. Overlay proposed before sanitary sewers were
extended into area. District would have
multijurisdictional planning with protective measures in place. Purpose is to address water quality, not
recreation, density, traffic, or other issues.
Designed to preserve natural resources we have in district, water
courses should remain open and changes should follow natural design. Streams should have room to meander based on
drainage area. Aesthetic fences are to
be required to demarcate delineated area.
Managed as comprehensive unit with floodplain protection, 100 year
floodplain an area to preserve.
Protections prioritized into tier 1/2/3 as shown on handout. Development
Commission will review on March 5, city hopes to have in place by summer and
will have final plan on the city's infobase Web site.
Hurd:
discussing reducing streets, what does this mean? Reduce street or reduce right-of-way? Roberto explained that streets would have 22 feet of asphalt on
the same right-of-way as existing development.
Only 50% of Parkland Dedication Ordinance requirements can be met with
flood control space for retention ponds etc.
Overlay generally covers eastern portions of Hellbranch; western
portions has self-imposed moratorium on utilities into the area until long
range plan is completed. Jan Province:
would like plan to address house sizes because narrower streets create a
parking problem, fire trucks hard to get through. Some discussion followed.
Roberto said overlay is designed to address water quality issues, city
zoning requires 2 off-street parking spaces for each house.
Paul
Dumochelle, speaker from PEEROhio, distributed handout about a Darby Creek
Sprawl issue they hope to have on the ballot May 7. Group got 12,000 signatures on petitions for May 7 vote on
whether to extend sewer and water into Darby watershed. A “yes” vote stops water and sewer
extensions for 5 years until area can be studied. Studies show it takes $1400 in taxes to support a new home for
every $1000 in taxes the new home provides. Fish species have decreased 30% in Hellbranch due to development,
which will continue to destroy the Darby watershed. Support letters to newspaper editors would be helpful. Visit Web site www.peerohio.org for more
information.
City
Health Dept. speaker representing “Columbus Area Pedestrian Safety Committee”
discussed issue of pedestrian crashes.
Working to reduce crashes, especially those involving children. 2-3
deaths per year involving children, compared to 12-15 adult pedestrians. A lot of adult accidents are related to
alcohol abuse. Narrower streets slow
drivers down. Drivers need educated
that children see, act, and react differently.
Foreign residents also need to be educated. All part of “Keep Kids Alive/Drive 25" campaign. Lack of sidewalks a big problem for adults
and children. City designating $5
million for sidewalks in addition to sidewalks on widenings and new
streets. Call 645-6751 for more
information.
Fire
Chief Bob Price from Columbus Fire House #31 spoke briefly. He is assigned to WAC to be a good neighbor,
they want to be of service to give fire safety talks and CPR classes.
WAC election in May, will be notifying whoever is up
for election.
Motion
to adjourn by Balthaser, seconded by Jantzen.
Meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.