Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV24-160
APPLICANT: SuburbanRNG-Columbus c/o Rebecca J. Mott, Atty.; 411 East Town Street, Floor 2; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Renewable gas production facility.
SOUTHWEST 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 (Ordinance #0826-2025; Z24-071) from the EQ, Excavation and Quarrying District to the M, Manufacturing District. This request includes variances to reduce landscaping and screening and waive improved surface requirements for the proposed development. Staff supports the proposal as the requested landscaping and screening variances are mainly to conform existing conditions, and the proposed gravel surfaces would meet the distance requirements from residential zoning for a surface waiver. Staff also notes that the adjacent existing landscaped area along the Jackson Pike frontage, which is being maintained, is consistent with the recommendations of the Southwest Area Plan’s (2009) design guidelines, which states that, Landscaping should be used to soften industrial buildings along front elevations or elevations that face public streets.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3312.21(A), Landscaping and screening; 3312.43, Improved surface required; and 3321.07(A), Landscaping, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 2512 JACKSON PI. (43223), to allow reduced development standards for a renewable gas production facility in the M, Manufacturing District (Council Variance #CV24-160).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV24-160, the owner of property at 2512 JACKSON PI. (43223), requests a Council variance to allow reduced development standards for a renewable gas production facility in the M, Manufacturing District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.21(A), Landscaping and screening, requires the interior of any parking lot containing 10 or more parking spaces to provide one deciduous shade tree per 10 spaces within islands or peninsulas, with one shade tree being required for a 10-space parking lot, while the applicant proposes to maintain no trees; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.43, Improved surface required, requires the surface of any parking or loading space, parking lot, aisle, or driveway be designed to control storm water runoff and be improved with Portland cement, or other approved hard surface other than gravel or loose fill, while the applicant proposes a gravel driveway near the southern property line, and a gravel equipment area; and
WHEREAS, Section 3321.07(A), Landscaping, requires landscaping in the building setback area, while the applicant proposes to maintain no landscaping between the private drive and the equipment area; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the requested variances are mainly to conform existing conditions, meet surface waiver requirements, and are further mitigated by existing landscaping along Jackson Pike. The request will not introduce an incompatible use to the area.
WHEREAS, this 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 2512 JACKSON PI. (43223), 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 Sections 3312.21(A), Landscaping and screening; 3312.43, Improved surface required; and 3321.07(A), Landscaping, of the Columbus City Codes, is hereby granted for the property located at 2512 JACKSON PI. (43223), insofar as said sections prohibit a reduction in the number of interior parking lot shade trees from one to zero; a gravel surface for a driveway near the southern property line; and no landscaping or screening between the private drive and the equipment area; said being more particularly described as follows:
2512 JACKSON PI. (43223), being 5.83± acres located 278± feet west of Jackson Pike and 650± feet north of Dyer Road, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, City of Columbus, and is described as follows:
Situated in the state of Ohio, County of Franklin, located in the City of Columbus, and being part of survey #424 and being part of a 52.087-acre parcel conveyed to the City of Columbus in Deed Book 3788, Page 791 in Franklin County Recorder’s Office, being more particularly described as follows:
Commencing in the centerline of state route 104 (60’ R/W) at the Northwest Corner of said 52.087-acre parcel and the Southwest corner of a 5.924-acre tract conveyed to Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio in Instrument No. 202002210026200 as recorded in the Franklin County Recorder’s Office;
Thence along the northerly line of said 52.087 Acre tract conveyed to the City of Columbus and the southerly line of said 5.924-acre tract as conveyed to Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, S 76°46’13” E, a distance of 323.35 feet to a point, passing a bent iron pipe at 30.62 feet, said point being the POINT OF BEGINNING;
Thence continuing along the northerly line of said 52.087 Acre tract conveyed to the City of Columbus and the southerly line of the said 5.924 acre tract, also being along southerly line of a 147.84 acre tract as conveyed to City of Columbus in Deed Book 389, Page 18, of the Franklin County Recorder’s Office records, S 76°46’ 13” E, a distance of 520.93 feet, to a point;
Thence across said 52.078 acre tract conveyed to the City of Columbus, the following three course.
Thence S 25°10’ 26” W for a distance of 552.91 feet to a point.
Thence N 64°34’35” W for a distance of 510.25 feet to a point.
Thence N 25°15’02” E for a distance of 442.87 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing 5.828 acres all of which are located within said 52.087 acres parcel conveyed to City of Columbus in Deed Book 3738, Page 791, as recorded in the Franklin County Recorder’s Office.
Bearings contained herein are based the north line of the 52.087 Acre City of Columbus Tract, having a bearing of S 76°46’13” E as referenced to the Ohio State Plane Coordinate System, South Zone, NAD83, NSRS 2007 (2011 ADJ.) EPOCH 2010.0, obtained utilizing GPS and the Ohio Real Time Network (ORTN).
Parcel Number: 570-181425
Property Address: 2512 Jackson Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for the production of renewable gas, and those uses permitted in the M, Manufacturing District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the subject site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled “ZONING SITE PLAN,” dated March 19, 2025, and signed by Rebecca J. Mott, Attorney 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 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 a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed use.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.