Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-078
APPLICANT: Third Equity, LLC; c/o Rebecca Mott, Atty.; 411 East Town Street, Second Floor; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Residential development.
COLUMBUS SOUTH SIDE AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site is developed with a two-unit dwelling in the R-2F, Residential District. The requested Council variance will allow an additional two-unit dwelling for four total dwelling units on one lot. A Council variance is required because the R-2F district allows a single-unit dwelling or a two-unit dwelling, but does not allow two, two-unit dwellings on the same lot. The request includes variances to required parking, vision clearance, lot area, lot coverage, and rear yard. The proposed two-unit dwelling is consistent with the South Side Plan’s (2014) recommendation of “Medium-High Density Residential” land uses at this location, and Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) Design Guidelines (2018), which recommend new housing be compatible with the existing design and character of nearby residential structures.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.037, R-2F residential district; 3312.49(C), Required parking; 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance; 3332.14, R-2F area district requirements; 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area; and 3332.27, Rear yard, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 1110 & 1112 S. WASHINGTON AVE. (43206), to allow two, two-unit dwellings on one lot with reduced development standards in the R-2F, Residential District (Council Variance #CV25-078).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-078, the owner of the property at 1110 & 1112 S. WASHINGTON AVE. (43206), is requesting a Variance to allow two, two-unit dwellings on one lot with reduced development standards in the R-2F, Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.037, R-2F, residential district, allows a single-unit dwelling or a two-unit dwelling, while the applicant proposes to maintain an existing two-unit dwelling and construct a new two-unit dwelling on the north side of the lot; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.49(C), Required parking, requires two parking spaces per dwelling unit for a total of eight parking spaces for four dwelling units, while the applicant proposes a total of three parking spaces; and
WHEREAS, Section 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance, requires a clear vision triangle of 30 feet at street intersections, while the applicant proposes to reduce the 30-foot clear vision triangle at the northeast corner of South Washington Avenue and East Deshler Avenue to 14± feet, as shown on the submitted site plan; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.14, R-2F area district requirements, requires a two-unit dwelling shall be situated on a lot with an area that equals or exceeds 3,000 square feet per dwelling unit, while the applicant proposes two, two-unit dwellings on a lot that contains 3,717 square feet, or 929± square feet per dwelling unit, pursuant to the lot area calculation in Section 3332.18(C); and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area, requires that a building shall occupy alone or together with any other building no greater than 50 percent of the lot area, while the applicant proposes an increased lot coverage of 62 percent; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.27, Rear yard, requires that each dwelling, residence, or principal building shall be erected so as to provide a rear yard totaling no less than 25 percent of the total lot area, while the applicant proposes a reduced rear yard of 13.2 percent for the exiting two-unit dwelling, and 10.4 percent for the proposed two-unit dwelling; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus South Side Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, City Departments recommend approval of the requested variances the proposal is consistent with the land use recommendation of the South Side Plan for “Medium-High Density Residential” land uses, and is consistent with the surrounding residential land uses in the area.
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits, and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed two-unit dwelling; and
WHEREAS, said variance will not adversely affect the surrounding property or surrounding neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the granting of said variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent properties or unreasonably increase the congestion of public streets, or unreasonably diminish or impair established property values within the surrounding area, or otherwise impair the public health, safety, comfort, morals, or welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the granting of said variance will alleviate the difficulties encountered by the owners of the property located at 1110 & 1112 S. WASHINGTON AVE. (43206), in using said property as desired; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a variance is hereby granted from the provisions of Sections 3332.037, R-2F residential district; 3312.49(C), Required parking; 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance; 3332.14, R-2F area district requirements; 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area; and 3332.27, Rear yard, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 1110 & 1112 S. WASHINGTON AVE. (43206), insofar as said sections prohibit two, two-unit dwellings on one lot in the R-2F, Residential District, with a parking space reduction from eight to three spaces; a reduced vision clearance triangle from 30 to 14± feet at the northeast corner of South Washington Avenue and East Deshler Avenue; increased lot coverage from 50 to 62 percent; reduced lot area from 3,000 to 929± square feet per dwelling unit; and reduced rear yard of 13.2 percent for the exiting two-unit dwelling, and 10.4 percent for the proposed two-unit dwelling; said property being more particularly described as follows:
1110 & 1112 S. WASHINGTON AVE. (43206), being 0.14± acres located at the northeast corner of South Washington Avenue and East Deshler Avenue; said property being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio, and in the City of Columbus:
Lot Number One Hundred Three (103) of WIRTH, BARTH, AND HUBER’S SUBDIVISION, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book Number 3, page 380, Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
Property Address: 1110-1112 South Washington, Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206
Parcel No.: 010-002916-00
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for two, two-unit dwellings on one lot, in accordance with the submitted site plan, or those uses allowed in the R-2F, Residential District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the subject site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled, “SITE PLAN,” dated October 21, 2025, and signed by Todd M. Parker, Architect for the Applicant. The plan may be slightly adjusted to reflect engineering, topographical, or other site data developed at the time of the development and when engineering and architectural drawings are completed. Any slight adjustments to the plan shall be subject to review and approval by the Director of the Department Building and Zoning Services, or a designee, upon submission of the appropriate data regarding the proposed adjustment.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance is further conditioned upon the applicant obtaining all applicable permits and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed two-unit dwelling.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.