Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV24-153
APPLICANT: Somerset Place Apts, LLC, c/o Daniel Mayer, Agent; 1250 Chambers Road, Suite 250; Columbus, OH 43212.
PROPOSED USE: Mixed-use development.
NORTHEAST AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The applicant has received a recommendation of approval from Staff and the Development Commission for a concurrent rezoning to the AR-O, Apartment Office District (ORD #1862-2025; Z24-066) for a mixed-use development. The requested Council variance will allow the site to be split into two parcels. Tract 1 (east side of the site) would include a new 64-unit apartment building, and Tract 2 (west side of the site) would retain the existing mixed-use building containing a daycare center and 32 apartment units. Variances to allow reduced landscaping and screening, parking setback, required parking, and rear yards are included in the request. Staff supports the request as the proposed site plan and building elevations are consistent with the Northeast Area Plan’s (2007) design guidelines. The proposal is also consistent with the city’s objective of creating more housing in all areas of the city.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3312.21(D), Landscaping and screening; 3312.27, Parking setback line; 3312.49, Required parking; and 3333.24, Rear yard, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 3700 LIFESTYLE BLVD. (43212) to allow reduced development standards for a mixed-use development in the AR-O, Apartment Office District (Council Variance #CV24-153).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV24-153, the owner of property at 3700 LIFESTYLE BLVD. (43212) is requesting a Council variance to allow reduced development standards for a mixed-use development in the AR-O, Apartment Office District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.21(D), Landscaping and screening, requires parking lot screening within 80 feet of residentially zoned property, while the applicant proposes no parking lot screening between Tract 1 and Tract 2; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.27, Parking setback line, requires a parking setback line of 25 feet from Lifestyle Boulevard, while the applicant proposes to maintain parking setback of 10 feet; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.49, Required parking, requires 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit, or 96 spaces for 64 dwelling units within Tract 1, while the applicant proposes 59 parking; and
WHEREAS, Section 3333.24, Rear yard, requires a rear yard totaling no less than 25 percent of the total lot area, while the applicant proposes reduced rear yards of 11.7± percent for Tract 1, and 17.6± percent for Tract 2; and
WHEREAS, the Northeast Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the variances will allow a 64-unit apartment building that is consistent with the Northeast Area Plan’s design guidelines. The proposal also aligns with the City’s objectives for providing more housing in all areas of the city; now, therefore:
WHEREAS, this ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed apartment building on Tract 1; 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 3700 LIFESTYLE BLVD. (43212), in using said property as desired; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a variance from the provisions of Section 3312.21(D), Landscaping and screening; 3312.27, Parking setback line; 3312.49, Required parking; and 3333.24, Rear yard, of the Columbus City Codes, is hereby granted for the property located at 3700 LIFESTYLE BLVD. (43212), insofar as said sections prohibit no parking lot screening between Tracts 1 and 2; a reduced parking setback line from 25 feet to 10 feet on Tract 1; a reduced number of parking spaces from 96 to 59 on Tract 1; and reduced rear yards from 25 percent to 11.7± percent for Tract 1, and to 17.6± percent for Tract 2; said property being more particularly described as follows:
3700 LIFESTYLE BLVD. (43212), being 2.43± acres located on the north side of Lifestyle Boulevard, 300± feet west of Stelzer Road, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, City of Columbus, located in Quarter Township 2, Township 1, Range 17, United States Military Lands, being 2.426 acres out of that 5.511 acre tract of land deeded to Gamma Columbus, LLC in Instrument No. 200403090051193, said 2.426 acres being more particularly bounded and described as follows:
Beginning for reference at a Franklin County Engineer Survey Monument found (FCGS 6621) at an angle point in the centerline of Stelzer Road, said monument being N 03° 31' 40" Ea distance of 1076.02 feet from a Franklin County Engineer Survey Monument found (FCGS 2264) at the centerline intersection of said Stelzer Road and Agler Road;
Thence N 03° 52' 47" E along the centerline of said Stelzer Road a distance of 6.46 feet to the centerline intersection of said Stelzer Road with Lifestyle Boulevard as shown in the Plat of "Lifestyle Boulevard and Stelzer Road Dedication and Easements Part l" recorded in Plat Book 96, Page 78;
Thence N 86° 34' 13" W, along the centerline of said Lifestyle Boulevard, a distance of 373.95 feet to a PIK nail found at a point of curvature;
Thence N 03° 25' 47" E, leaving the centerline of said Lifestyle Boulevard, a distance of 30.00 feet to a P.K. nail set in the northerly right-of-way of said Lifestyle Boulevard, said point being the TRUE PLACE OF BEGINNING;
Thence along the Southerly line of said 5.511 acre tract and the northerly right-of-way of said Lifestyle Boulevard with a curve to the left having a central angle of 30° 00' 48" and a radius of
488.22 feet, an arc length of 255.74 feet and a chord bearing and distance of S 78° 25' 24" W,
252.83 feet to a P.K. nail set at a point of reverse curvature;
Thence continuing along said common line with a curve to the right having a central angle of 05° 54' 15" and a radius of 370.00 feet, an arc length of 38.13 feet and a chord bearing and distance of S 66° 22' 07" W, 38.11 feet to an iron pin set at a southeast corner of a 41.603 acre tract deeded to Residences at Towne Center Holdings, Ltd. in Instrument No. 200102090027107;
Thence N 03° 34' 44" E, along a Westerly line of said 5.511 acre tract and an easterly line of said 41.603 acre tract, a distance of 434.36 feet to an iron pin set at a common corner thereof;
Thence S 86° 25' 16" E, along a northerly line of said 5.511 acre tract and a Southerly line of said 41.603 acre tract, a distance of 280.00 feet to an iron pin set at a Southeast corner of said 41.603 acre tract;
Thence across said 5.511 acre tract, the following two (2) courses and distances:
Exhibit A - Limited Warranty Deed
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for those uses allowed in the AR-O, Apartment Office 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," and building elevations titled "ELEVATIONS," both signed by Daniel Mayer, Agent for the Applicant, and dated June 23, 2025. The plans 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 adjustment to the plans shall be reviewed and may be approved by the Director of the Department of 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 on the applicant obtaining all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed apartment building on Tract 1.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.