WESTLAND AREA COMMISSION

June 16, 1999

The meeting was called to order at 7:15pm. Present were Daniel Province, chair, Hank Canello, Ron Cooper, Dorothy Jantzen, Mike McKay, Jamie Mueller, Jan Province, Bill Saxton, Debbie Wilder, and Jeff Woodson. Billman and Frank were excused. Also present were Leo Abston, Sgt. Eing, William Goldman, Gail Nowosadko, Kevin Parks, Fred Simon, and others.

Saxton moved to approve the May 1999 minutes. Cooper seconded. Approved.

Zoning Committee (Saxton): Saxton presented Z99-047, application for rezoning of the property at 601 Olde Irish Drive. He received a copy of the draft of the documentation that will be sent to the City of Columbus. We asked that the minimum floor area of each building be 2800 square feet, or 1400 square feet per unit. Saxton will get that cleared up tomorrow morning. Also, we asked that each unit have a full basement and at least a one-car garage, and that there will be landscaping along Galloway Road, and that the front yards will be sodded and the back yards at least seeded. There are to be six shrubs and two trees per unit. The trees are to be at least five feet in height at time of planting. Saxton said he has the minutes of the last meeting. He now intends to call Samantha to tell her that the plan is okay with WAC. Saxton moved that he be given permission to make this call. Cooper seconded. Approved. Saxton said he will call her tomorrow, and then he will mail the documentation to Province.

Saxton introduced Z99-022, the zoning request for the property located at the southeast corner of Galloway and Hall Roads. Fred Simon is the attorney representing the applicant. The WAC Zoning Committee heard the request, and approved the applications with three changes. One, there is to be no bar. Two, the outside construction material is to be brought to us for consideration. Three, we will be consulted regarding signage.

This is the first corner of four that will be commercial, and we have to make sure that this one is started right.

Saxton thanked Simon for working with him and Province to create something that we would want in the future.

Simon said that he is representing the owner of the property at the southeast corner of Hall and Galloway. The original plan was to develop this site with 32,600 square feet of shopping complex, including a 2200 square foot convenient service station and a 5000 square foot restaurant. There would be 172 parking spaces, which is more than adequate for the site.

They will have to dedicate 50 feet of right-of-way from the centerline on Hall Road and install a left-turn lane from the present terminus of the proposed left turn lane into the housing subdivision that abuts the property on two sides, on the south and on the east. They will extend that left-turn lane to Galloway Road.

The site will be fenced on the east side and the south side with wood board-on-board fence. There will be beams of masonry compatible with the materials used on the shopping complex.

There will be a pedestrian walkway. When the housing complex was approved, there was ten feet of pedestrian access, and now there will be a pedestrian access feature between the two commercial buildings that will go on the site. The pedestrian access will have some kind of paving brick, probably, to give it an accent. There will be some kind of amenities there, or feature, but they don't know what that will be, yet. There will probably be some kind of outdoor seating.

The site will be heavily treed on all four sides.

There will be two access points that will be off the corner, and close to the back of the property, to prevent traffic problems.

They have been with the city Staff--Traffic Engineering, and with the County Engineering, and they have approved it. The Development Commission has approved it.

Cooper asked if Simon knows what tenants are moving in.

Not yet.

Saxton said that the first page of the documentation contains a list of obnoxious uses that will be prohibited.

Mueller asked whether the restaurant will be a freestanding building.

No. There will be no outlots, except for the service station. The service station will not face the streets, but will instead be faced inward, toward the center of the shopping center. Access will be from within, not from without.

Woodson asked, when Simon says there will be no bar, does he mean that there will be no restaurant serving liquor?

Simon said that a restaurant can serve liquor, but there will be no saloon.

Woodson asked whether anyone has heard anything about a traffic signal, since this will obviously increase traffic out there.

Simon said that the traffic people decided that a signal is not warranted at this time. Probably, when the next development comes in, a signal will be installed.

Woodson asked, if all four corners are developed with commercial uses, is something going in front of that church?

Saxton said that, his understanding, based upon the grapevine, is that there is a question as to whether the church is going to go there. There could be three commercial corners and a church. But, if the church doesn't go on the corner, they will probably sell the site for commercial development.

Province said that the WAC Zoning Committee approved the plan, unanimously.

Saxton moved to approve Z99-022. Jantzen seconded. J. Province said that this approval is with the stipulations that there is to be no bar, and that Simon will come back to us to discuss exterior building materials and signage.

Simon said he is agreeable to those stipulations.

Saxton asked for a voice vote.

Canello yes Mueller yes

Cooper yes D. Province yes

Jantzen yes J. Province yes

McKay yes Saxton yes

Mueller yes Wilder yes

Woodson yes

The motion was approved unanimously.

Saxton introduced William Goldman, attorney.

Goldman said the applicant wants to substitute a 2700 square foot building at the southeast corner of the site, for a Certified Oil service station. No oil changes will be done. It will be a gas station with convenience food.

He distributed a photograph.

It will be an all-brick building. They think it will be a tremendous substitute.

It will be open on a limited-hours basis. It will close at 10:00pm.

What they have is a 15,000 center which is approved, which can take almost any C-4 uses, as he reads the ordinance. He thinks that what is being proposed for the site will enhance its uses, and will be a service to the neighborhood. It will certainly blend in more than 15,000 square feet of additional C-4 use.

Certified is a good operator. Every safety device is included. Cut-off valves, and everything we can imagine that a service station could be required to have.

It is a single-story use. He doesn't think it is a high- impact use. It is a better use than more restaurants or bars or whatever is permitted in a C-4 area.

Goldman introduced Mr. Woods, who has been with Certified for twenty years.

Goldman added that, while they don't talk about signage, but signage will be monument signs on two sides. There will be two entrances. There will be no deceleration lane. It is not necessary, since there will be an entrance off Alkire Road.

Province said they will be asking for easement for the road.

Oh no. Goldman said they have already given away 25% of the site on the last zoning, so that the corners could be softened, and so forth.

They really believe they have a good use. They do not believe it is an environmentally dangerous use at all. They think the proposed use is a softer use for the neighborhood than what had been approved before.

Province asked what the current zoning classification is.

Goldman replied that it is CPD, but it is CPD for a gas station alone.

In the past, it was a CPD with C-4 uses, excluding "adult" uses, etc.

Saxton said this is the fourth time we have heard this, so all our questions have been answered. Saxton moved that the application be approved. J. Province seconded. Saxton asked for a roll-call vote.

Canello no Cooper no

Jantzen no McKay no

Mueller abstain D. Province no

J. Province no Saxton no

Wilder no Woodson no

The motion was defeated. Saxton said that Goldman telephoned him on several occasions and was in his office once, and Saxton already told him what he thought. Goldman will be taking this to the City of Columbus. He thinks he can win there, without us, but he had to go through this meeting before he could go to the City of Columbus.

Saxton said that he doesn't think a letter will help. Will we need representation there, other than just Province?

Province said we should have a meeting with Staff.

Saxton told Province to arrange it. Saxton will attend. So will Canello. Abston may attend, too.

Cooper asked what Staff's recommendation is.

Province said they haven't made one, yet.

Couldn't they get that far last time, either?

Province said that, last time, Staff said they would accept anything except a filling station.

Cooper said that, last time, Staff said they would not accept a filling station. Has anything happened, to make us think they will accept it this time?

Province said that this is a smaller filling station.

Do they make a distinction between big filling stations and little filling stations?

We will find that out.

...When it suits them, it seems.

Cooper asked whether Province is aware of any change. Goldman did not seem to be aware of any change. A filling station is a filling station, whether it is Certified or Shell, as far as Cooper is concerned.

J. Province said they meet behind the scenes, and they don't tell us.

Abston said he wasn't aware they were talking about a Staff meeting. He thought we meant the Development Commission.

Saxton said it is important that Abston be at the Development Commission, and he should bring all the neighbors, too.

Province said that anyone can speak at the Development Commission, so long as they bring up a new point. We can certainly ask for an oil-mud separation system. While they may choose to be ignorant, it has been in their own texts in previous zoning issues. If someone blows an engine in the gas station, that oil will go right down the storm drain into the creek. The system is a concrete tank that separates the mud, oil and water. A pump removes the oil, so that a truck can take it away. Some little bit of oil still goes into the creek, but not enough to pollute. It is always done near a park or a sensitive site.

We got a commitment for one at the site on Georgesville. The Thornton gas station has one, so that the oil doesn't get into the retention pond there.

Abston asked whether we picked up on the statement that there will be a huge pipe for the creek, that people can walk through? But the other dude said it would measure three feet in diameter?

Woodson asked whether noted his statement that Certified is a family-oriented oil company? How is it different from the others?

Maybe it doesn't sell hard liquor.

Saxton said we need to meet with Staff. This is an election year. We should all go.

Province had another announcement. It seems that they are putting in basements in the townhomes on Holt Road, where they said they had to have single-family condominium units, because it was impossible to build basements there. They are now advertising that the units have basements.

Abston reminded everyone that the Goldman told us that they could not build basements because of the depth of the sewers. He was up there, and he measured 19 feet, give or take three or four feet. He said that's what his engineer said. He told him he had better find a new engineer. Now, right across, on the west side of Holt Road, they are building two- story houses with basements.

Saxton asked whether we realize there are several reporters in the room.

Cooper said he was at the meeting, and he remembers that Goldman told us that, due to the lay of the land, and due to the fact that the sewer runs in there, and the elevation, that they can't put basements in there, and therefore, we must approve their townhouses.

J. Province said we keep detailed minutes. We can find it.

Cooper said that, now that they are putting basements in there, then he doesn't think any conflict results from our comments concerning Mr. Goldman's credibility.

Saxton said that, supposedly, the property on the left side of the road is 4.3 inches higher than the property on the south side. Supposedly. When he drives out there, he thinks he can see the difference.

They can build houses with basements, and use a lift pump to pump sewage up into the pipe. That costs about an additional $1100 per house to do that.

Saxton said that we heard of these issues this month, so that we can perhaps avoid holding a meeting in July.

Province reported that the city has annexed property at Holt and Alkire. The big 200+ acre parcel off West Broad Street was not approved by the County for annexation, because the city could not prove it could provide services to the area, and because the area is environmentally sensitive. The developer may choose to split the area and then come back with revised applications.

Also, there is an application before Prairie Township for rezoning of 5547 West Broad Street, which is the Westland Action Center. It is up for rezoning on June 22. The building is to be razed and replaced with a Napa Auto Parts store.

(Laughter).

At least, they won't be selling auto parts at the gas station at Holt and Alkire, because it is family-oriented.

It's ridiculous. It's worse than bars out here.

We seem to be having a run on bars and pharmacies out here. And auto parts stores.

Province said he has no comment about the Rite-Aid...

Jackson Township: Cooper said that there are two zoning issues coming up, that probably don't affect WAC at all. The Southeast Conservation Club has applied for a shotgun turkey- shoot area. Also, they want electricity for their campsites for potential year-round use. That will be heard next month. Also, there is to be a rezoning on SR 104 across from Ohio Auto Auction for a small outlot that they want changed to commercial zoning. Those items have not been heard yet.

The third item, is that a development committee has been appointed to work with the Board of Education to develop a school site at Holt and Big Run. That is residential property now. The Jackson Township Zoning Board decided that they would like to change the zoning to make it a conditional use, so that they would have some input into how the land is to be developed, as it is in excess of 100 acres. Due to the overwhelming objections of the school board, the township trustees and the zoning commission decided to drop the plan to change the zoning on that to conditional use. However, the school board did agree to appoint a development committee, made up of citizens of Jackson Township, Grove City, and also some members of the zoning board, and the school board indicated that they would listen to their suggestions. There were a number of questions regarding retention areas, lighting, fencing, traffic, etc. The school board is not responsible to any other body, as to how the land is developed.

Education Committee (Rinehart): Province said he received literature about Phoenix Academy, a South-Western City Schools project for helping at-risk students: students, who for reasons having to do with family problems, or whatever, are just a fraction of a credit short of qualifying for graduation. This program increases the number of credits they can get in a limited time period. It involves mentoring on a one-on-one basis. This involves taking kids to ballgames, as well as tutoring in specific classes. Volunteers are needed. Province passed the booklet around.

Economic Development Committee (McKay): An economic development training session is going on this Friday and Saturday at the United Way headquarters downtown. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. An expert is being brought in from Washington DC to explain ways to attract business to an area. McKay passed the booklet around.

In the Westside Messenger last week, there was an article about the Ohio Bicentennial Commission. They are encouraging groups to honor local history by placing historical markers in their communities. They will split the costs. McKay passed the literature around.

Province said that the Whig Party did hold a caucus here, prior to nominating William Henry Harrison for President of the United States.

Community Relations Committee (Balthaser): Province said that the July 4 Parade will travel down the north side of West Broad Street, from Westwoods to the Long John Silver restaurant. The road will be blocked for about two hours. If any businesses will be impacted by this, let them know.

Traffic will be detoured onto Old Village Road, to Beacon Hill, and down Rome-Hilliard, or vice versa. This will make it difficult for trucks. Westland, Grove City, and Franklin Heights High School bands will all be there.

This is part of our kickoff for the Violence Prevention Program.

Wilder asked whether there will be police officers monitoring the detour.

Province said there will be at least six officers to watch the intersections.

Wilder said she told the hospital. It is a concern for the emergency personnel.

There will be access to the ER from Beacon Hill. Province brought up the matter to COTA, as he isn't sure the buses can make those turns.

Nowosadko said that she is meeting with a public relations company tomorrow about the violence campaign. There will be a booth at the shopping center, and they may be marching in the parade.

Cemetery Committee (Cooper): Province said that WABA met, and committed to tearing down the non-conforming building, and salvaging timbers to rebuild the Postle Cemetery fence.

WABA promised to pick up the cost of any incidental expenses that may occur.

Cooper said that this problem will recur so long as the area remains undeveloped, as the site is hidden from public view. He does not want to overdevelop the site, for that reason. The site is subject to vandalism. He did suggest once that the gravestones be taken away to a safe place, until such time as the surrounding area is developed.

Mueller asked whether there is an easement for access to the cemetery area.

Cooper said we have been granted, supposedly, access for ingress and egress, from C.V. Perry. Right now, though, the problem is that there is too much access.

It's not a separate parcel?

No. It's an unidentified parcel, from a technical legal land description. Everybody knows it's there, and we can take care of it.

Province said that the Postle family is pursuing a lawsuit to have the land brought in as a separate parcel, given to an entity, whatever that entity might be, for "careship". There is a new federal law that allows that. That's the terminology they used: careship. A non-profit group, or a group that promises to care of it, can take over. If, at any time, development of the site is required, the original owner may take back the land. Meanwhile, there are no taxes on the land.

Cooper said the taxes and other liabilities were the big concern.

Election Committee: We have to appoint a member from WABA to serve on WAC. Billman is willing to continue in the seat. Canello moved to appoint Billman. McKay seconded.

Saxton asked whether Billman will make the commitment.

Province said Billman already agreed. Billman is on vacation this week.

Saxton said Billman has not been attending many meetings. He is a very capable person, and an asset to WAC, but we need a commitment from him that he will attend meetings.

The motion was approved. Province said he will talk to Billman. If Billman can't make the time, then Saxton is right.

Old Business: Province reported that McKay, Jantzen, Mueller, Dan and Jan Province, and others took a ride in a luxury tour bus around the Westland area. We had hoped to get three City Council people to make the trip, but we only got one candidate. He was enlightened. A couple of councilpeople called Province afterward, and asked that the trip be rescheduled. Province will take them on the same tour, using his own car.

Mueller stressed that the breakfast and the limo were not donated by the limo company, but were compliments of the New Lincoln Lodge Retirement Center.

Province said we stopped at the police substation in Big Run Park. Some people had never been there. We toured through the Darby Woods apartment complex. There is some off-street parking. There is not enough, by city standards, but there is some. (That annexation issue remains in limbo, too).

New Business: Canello asked whether WAC has had any contact with Jacobs regarding Westland Shopping Center. We have been seeing a lot in the news about Eastland and Northland, but nothing about Westland.

Province said he spoke with Jim Voyles today about that. We would like to call a meeting of a couple of members of WABA, a couple of members of WAC, and Jacobs, to sit down and find out what their real intentions are. They told us, publicly, that Dillard's would take over the site where Penney's had been, and Dillard's said that the only places they would consider locating in central Ohio is Northland or Easton. They never mentioned Westland.

City Council said they will spend $5000 just to examine Morse Road, to determine what can be done to make it more economically viable.

What about West Broad Street?

Nothing, because it's in the township. The township decided they don't want to work with the city about developing out here. Until the township trustees decide they are willing to work with the city Planning people, the city won't spend any money.

Is that Prairie Township?

Yes, and Franklin Township, because we have been talking about West Broad Street from Wilson to Galloway Roads.

How many mattress outlets do we need?

And auto parts stores. We get tired of working on our cars, and we need a place to sleep.

(Laughter)

Westland Shopping Center seems to be going downhill, yet all the newspaper coverage has been about Northland.

Mueller said he did see an article about the three malls, and it did make a positive statement about Westland. It shows the most viability for redevelopment.

If we went to Prairie Township, and asked them to get involved in this, would it help?

Most of Westland Mall is in Franklin Township. There is only a tiny portion in Prairie.

If we went to Franklin, would it help?

Maybe the meeting with WAC and WABA should include a couple of trustees from Franklin Township.

Saxton said that JC Penney still has two years to go on its lease. That means Jacobs is still collecting rent every month.

Province said he heard that that lease ran out in May. And Lazarus's lease is supposed to end in December.

Mueller asked whether we have any kind of relationship or liaison with the township governments.

Cooper said he is chairman of Jackson Township's zoning board. Province asks Cooper, as part of the regular agenda, to provide input regarding Jackson Township, on any pending issues of interest to WAC.

Province said that Hymer lives in Prairie Township, and he is our liaison with them. We have no regular relationship with Franklin Township at this time.

Province said he has had many calls at the Action Center regarding Westland Mall.

What about the crime rate?

Eing said he doesn't know.

It's not city. The sheriff would have those statistics.

There have been reports that sales are up at Lazarus and Sears. Can that be possible?

Lazarus is.

Why can't that be put in the papers, then? Why not report something positive?

That's why we should have this meeting. Evidently, the mall owners don't talk to the press.

Parks said he did a profile story on the relatively new, young manager. So far, nothing he has said has turned out to be outrageously wrong, but then, nothing else happened in terms of how swiftly things he said... He did say things would get worse before they got better, and he knew the names of some of the places that were going to close. But as quickly as he said they would fill up again, they haven't.

He doubts the man had a great deal of power or authority, but he did claim Jacobs was very much behind keeping Westland viable, by redeveloping it and finding another anchor. He was surprised that mall developers are the absolute worst about meeting with the press and providing information.

Cooper said that he and his wife have stopped shopping Westland Mall, and are going elsewhere.

The JC Penney catalogue store at Georgesville Square is always Standing Room Only.

Canello said he knows the Traffic Engineering people are reluctant to do anything on Norton Road until the time of the expansion, but he still wonders why we still don't have a left-turn signal for people travelling north on Norton Road, turning onto Sullivant. There is a left-turn arrow for southbound traffic to turn left onto Sullivant. There are so many people who cut through Billman's Shell station on the corner, there. If a car does get through, it turns on the yellow light. Can we pursue that? Is there a reason why we can't get a left-turn arrow?

Province said they didn't say why. Except that they said the job there is finished. Also, if you are travelling eastbound on Sullivant, there is no easy way to turn north onto Norton.

Cooper suggested that, if they agreed to the left-turn light, they would be in effect agreeing with the concerns of some of the neighbors that Sullivant Avenue would become a bypass for New Rome.

It has become a bypass for New Rome.

Province said he heard an explanation that putting in a left turn light would increase traffic in that direction.

But then, you have that line of traffic sitting on Norton Road.

McKay said he will call Traffic Engineering.

McKay said he saw an article in today's Dispatch that the Clintonville Area Commission is having meetings with the Clintonville Chamber of Commerce to study business expansion in the Clintonville area. The article didn't explain how this project was being funded, but they said they would like to do that with other area commissions.

Province said the west side of North High Street is largely commercial development, while the east side is mostly houses. There has been a lot of pressure to turn the houses into businesses. Also, there is the question of Graceland Mall.

Again, we can't do anything unless the land is in the city, but our major concerns involve land that is in townships.

Even the expansion of Broad Street has been put further back on the TIP.

Saxton moved to eliminate the July WAC meeting, providing we have no new zoning issues to discuss. Canello seconded. Approved.

Province said that representatives of the area commissions met with the city recently. One of the items addressed was that the city used to send a representative to commission meetings, to learn about the issues and interests of the neighborhood. We have such a person here tonight.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm.