Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-060
APPLICANT: Joshua Tomey; 1286 East Fulton Street; Columbus, OH 43205.
PROPOSED USE: Habitable space above a detached garage.
GERMAN VILLAGE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of one parcel developed with a single-unit dwelling and a detached garage in the R-2F, Residential District. The requested Council variance will allow habitable space on the second floor of an existing detached garage. A Council variance is required because habitable space above a garage is only allowed when connected directly to habitable space within a dwelling. A variance for increased garage height is also included in this request. Staff supports the proposed variances as the request will not introduce an incompatible use to the area, and the alteration will require a Certificate of Appropriateness for final building design from the German Village Commission.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.38(H), Private garage; and 3332.38(G), Private garage, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 910 MOHAWK ST. (43206), to allow habitable space above a detached garage with an increased height in the R-2F, Residential District (Council Variance #CV25-060).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-060, the owner of the property at 910 MOHAWK ST. (43206), is requesting a Variance to allow habitable space above a detached garage with an increased height in the R-2F, Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.38(H), Private garage, requires habitable space in a garage to connect directly with habitable space in a dwelling, while the applicant proposes habitable space above a detached garage that is not connected to habitable space within the existing single-unit dwelling; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.38(G), Private garage, limits garage height to 15 feet, while the applicant proposes an increased garage height of 20.17 feet; and
WHEREAS, the German Village Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, City Departments recommend approval because the requested Council variance will not introduce an incompatible use to the area, and the alteration will require a Certificate of Appropriateness for final building design from the German Village Commission; and
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed use; 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 910 MOHAWK ST. (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 3332.38(H), Private garage; and 3332.38(G), Private garage, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 910 MOHAWK ST. (43206), insofar as said sections prohibit habitable space above a detached garage that does not connect directly with habitable space in a dwelling in the R-2F, Residential District; with an increased garage height from 15 feet to 20.17 feet; said property being more particularly described as follows:
910 MOHAWK ST. (43206), being 0.15± acres located on the east side of Mohawk Street; 35± feet north of Concord Place, and being more particularly described as follows:
All that parcel of land in the City of Columbus, Franklin County, State of Ohio, as described in Deed Doc #2010-9439, ID #010-029441, being known and designated as:
Being lot number three [3] of Dorthea Ambos’ subdivision of lots nos. 155,156, and 157 of Jaeger’s 20th addition, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat there, of record in plat book 3, page 394, recorder’s office, Franklin County, Ohio.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used as a single-unit dwelling and a detached garage with habitable space above, 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 "ARCHITECTURAL SITE PLAN," dated June 25, 2025, and signed by Joshua Tomey, 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 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 upon the applicant obtaining all applicable permits and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed use.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the following: The second floor of the garage will not be converted to, or used as, a separate dwelling unit. The second floor of the garage will have no cooking facilities.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.