WESTLAND AREA
COMMISSION
Meeting
was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present were Betty Balthaser, Janice Collette, Virginia Frank, Dustin
Hall, Mike Hurd, Glen Hymer, Dorothy Jantzen, JoEllen Locke, Mike McKay, Tom
Morris, Jamie Mueller, Jan Province, Dan Province, Shawn Thomas, Darlene Weber,
Ric Weber, Jeff Woodson, and Ken Yant.
Motion
to approve minutes tabled until commissioners can read April minutes.
Weber
made a motion to approve new members, Dan seconded. Motion Approved .
Zoning
Committee (McKay): Zoning No. 02320-50-00020 at
1583 Holt Rd. (just west of Fazoli’s) is currently under development as car
wash; requesting change in graphics plan. WAC approved the original rezoning in
2001. Dave Perry is here on behalf of Superwash. This 1.4 acre property does
not front Holt Rd. but uses a public access easement. They have applied for a
graphics plan, none presently in place except for meeting zoning (in compliance
with C5 standards). Since the public
access street is not owned by the city of Columbus, signage would not front on
a public street. Car wash wants a wall
sign and a ground sign. The car wash is
under construction currently; building is brick. Supermatics “Super Wash” on wall signage would have white,
non-illuminated letters attached directly to the brick, 24 square feet. C5
allows 150 square feet. Ground sign
would be 18 feet tall; code allows 20 feet.
Total graphic area would be 62 square feet; C5 allows 75 square
feet. Required approval of zoning
commission, who voted 5-3 in opposition.
Points
of discussion: cover pole with
something more appealing than a plain metal pole, perhaps with brick. Might do foundation sign instead of pole
sign; applicant doesn’t want this.
Questions followed about the building material; Perry said it is told
brick, unsure of the color at this point.
Block is up, brick planned, agreed a year ago that it would be brick
like Kroger. WAC members want to find
out first if brick would match Kroger before approving anything else. Jan:
most signs in area are monument signs (also known as foundation signs);
allowing a pole sign will open the door to more pole signs in the area. Some discussion followed of readability of
signs, pole vs. monument, ability to see them from cars, etc. Ground signs are generally for businesses
right on the road with good visibility; this is 265 feet off Holt Rd., needs
better visibility especially considering physical blockage from neighboring
businesses. Glimcher owns adjacent
property and has requested monument signs there. Dan Province made a motion for
a voice vote, Morris seconded.
Balthaser,
Locke, Yant, Dan Province, Jantzen, Hall, Thomas, Darlene Weber, and Ric Weber
voted yes.
Morris,
Frank, Hurd, Woodson, Jan Province, McKay, Hymer, and Collette voted no.
Mueller
abstained. Vote total: 9 yes, 8 no, one abstain. Motion approved.
McKay: another zoning is coming up, for Lowe’s home
improvement store at Georgesville Square.
It is a result of zoning code violations regarding outdoor displays. Lowe’s has eliminated parking spaces and now
is deficient 22 parking spaces from standard.
City of Columbus staff have disapproved rezoning, applicants are
scheduled to take to Development Commission. June 13 is the next zoning
commission meeting; Development commission meets June 15; WAC meets June
19. Should we try to have a special
meeting for this? Dan Province: standard rule if they can’t come before us
at standard meeting we do not have special meetings Jan Province: Development
commission assumes we don’t care if they don’t hear from us.
Mueller: is this a seasonal problem for a few weeks
at Lowe’s or an ongoing problem? Dan
Province: city says it is a year long
problem; food vendors, sheds, flowers, mulch, Christmas trees, etc.
McKay: met with Sensenbrenner about Hellbranch
overlay concerns, need for single family mix, larger homes to move up into
instead of leaving the Westland Area.
Also discussed the effects of adding 1500-3000 residents to Westland Area
if pending developments are approved.
This will add 500 children; developments are in Columbus Public Schools,
all Columbus schools are inside the outerbelt, too far away. There is a need to set aside land for new
Columbus Public Schools in this area.
There
is no reason to believe rumors of tearing down Donatos Pizza due to widening
Norton Rd. and Sullivant Av.; Norton Rd. will be 5 lanes but would hit edge of
their parking lot. Widening Norton from
Broad St. to Hall Rd. is all that is planned at this time, will create traffic
problems narrowing down to 2 lanes south of Hall Rd.
Parks
and Recreation (Hurd): nothing to report.
Education
(Collette): nothing to report
Development
(McKay):
nothing to report. Would like to
encourage someone else to chair this committee.
Health
and Safety (Weber): nothing to report.
Nominating
(Jantzen): nothing to report.
Community
Outreach (Morris): would like to have plan by the
end of the year.
Old
Business: none
New Business:
City
of Columbus community liaison gave
handout about a free conference, $20 but free to Franklinton/Hilltop/Westland
Area residents.
Motion
to adjourn was made by Province, seconded by Frank. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.