Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-041
APPLICANT: James A. Wright, Agent; 7844 Flint Road; Columbus, OH 43235.
PROPOSED USE: Habitable space above a detached garage.
GERMAN VILLAGE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of a single-unit dwelling with a detached garage in the R-2F, Residential District. The requested Council variance will allow an addition to the garage with habitable space above the garage addition. A Council variance is required because the R-2F district does not allow habitable space above a detached garage, unless connected directly to habitable space in a dwelling. The request also includes variances to increase the height of the garage and reduce the required side yard. The site is within the boundaries of the German Village Historic District, which does not contain a recommended land use for this location. Staff supports the proposed variances as the request is consistent with similar proposals in the neighborhood, 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; 3332.38(G), Private garage; and 3332.26(C), Minimum side yard permitted, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 982 JAEGER ST. (43206), to allow habitable space above a detached garage with reduced development standards in the R-2F, Residential District (Council Variance #CV25-041), and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-041, the owner of property at 982 JAEGER ST. (43206), is requesting a Council variance to allow habitable space above a detached garage with reduced development standards 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 a 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 22.79± feet; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.26(C)(3), Minimum side yard permitted, requires that the minimum side yard be no less than five feet, while the applicant proposes to maintain a reduced side yard of 3.15± feet along the northern property line for the detached garage; and
WHEREAS, the German Village Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the requested variances are consistent with similar proposals for habitable space within a detached garage in the neighborhood, and the alteration will require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the German Village Commission for final building design; and
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and 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 the adjacent property, unreasonably increase the congestion of public streets, increase the danger of fires, endanger the public safety, unreasonably diminish or impair established property values within the surrounding area, or in any other respect 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 owner of the property located at 982 JAEGER ST. (43206), in using said property as desired; now, therefore and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation in the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to pass this ordinance due to the need to allow for the project to begin as scheduled at the beginning of October and for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.38(H), Private garage; and 3332.38(G), Private garage; and 3332.26(C), Minimum side yard permitted, of the Columbus City Codes; is hereby granted for the property located at 982 JAEGER ST. (43206), insofar as said sections prohibit habitable space above a detached garage that does not connect directly with habitable space within a dwelling in the R-2F, Residential District; with increased height of the detached garage from 15 feet to 22.79± feet; and reduced minimum side yard from five to 3.15± feet along the northern property line for the detached garage; said property being more particularly described as follows:
982 JAEGER ST. (43206), being 0.15± acres located on the east side of Jaeger Street, 77± feet south of Siebert Street, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, and in the city of Columbus.
BEING LOT NUMBER THREE (3) OF CHRISTIAN AND LOUIS SIEBERTS CITY PARK SUBDIVISION, AS THE SAME IS NUMBERED AND DELINEATED UPON THE RECORDED PLAT THEREOF, OF RECORD IN PLAT BOOK 4, PAGE 288.
Parcel No. 010-036908
Address: 982 Jaeger Street, Columbus, OH 43206
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 with habitable space above a detached garage, or those uses permitted 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 STUDY,” dated August 14, 2025, and signed by George Cleary II, design professional. 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 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.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or 10 days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.