Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-040
APPLICANT: Chris Vallette; 72 Mill Street; Gahanna, OH 43230.
PROPOSED USE: Storage uses associated with a plant nursery/garden center.
NORTH LINDEN 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 #2694-2025; Z25-022) to the CPD, Commercial Planned Development District for an existing plant nursery/garden center as allowed with the submitted CPD text and site plan. The requested Council variance will allow storage of materials and vehicles that are directly related to the nursery's operations. Staff note the extensive landscaping and screening along the roadway frontages is appropriate treatment for the existing warehouses and shipping containers, and is consistent with Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) Design Guidelines (2018).
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3361.02, Permitted uses; and 3363.41, Storage, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 1156 OAKLAND PARK AVE. (43224), to allow storage uses associated with a plant nursery/garden center in the CPD, Commercial Planned Development District (Council Variance #CV25-040).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-040, the owner of the property 1156 OAKLAND PARK AVE. (43224), requests a Council variance to allow storage uses associated with a plant nursery/garden center in the CPD, Commercial Planned Development District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3361.02, CPD permitted uses, prohibits storage uses, while the applicant proposes to allow vehicle storage within a ±5,905 square foot warehouse and a ±4,400 square foot warehouse, equipment storage within three shipping containers, ±3,000 square feet of outdoor storage for merchandise, and a ±7,500 square feet area to store trailers, all in association with a plant nursery/garden center at this location; and
WHEREAS, Section 3363.41(a), Storage, requires the open storage of materials to be located a minimum of 100 feet from any residential or apartment residential district, 30 feet from any street right-of-way line, and not less than 20 feet from all other lot lines, while the applicant proposes storage of vehicles and materials related to the plant nursery/garden center as shown on the site plan; and
WHEREAS, the North Linden Area Commission recommends approval of said zoning change;
WHEREAS, City Departments recommend approval of the variance because the proposed storage uses are directly related to the nursery's operations and will be mitigated by the presence of extensive landscaping and screening from surrounding neighborhood uses; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed development; 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 1156 OAKLAND PARK AVE. (43224), 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 3361.02, Permitted uses; and 3363.41, Storage, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 1156 OAKLAND PARK AVE. (43224), to allow vehicle storage within a ±5,905 square foot warehouse and a ±4,400 square foot warehouse, equipment storage within three shipping containers, ±3,000 square feet of outdoor storage for merchandise, and a ±7,500 square feet area to store trailers for a plant nursery/garden center in the CPD, Commercial Planned Development District, with reduced storage setbacks from 100 feet from any residential or apartment residential district, 30 feet from any street right-of-way line, and not less than 20 feet from all other lot lines, to setbacks as shown on the submitted site plan; said property being more particularly described as follows:
1156 OAKLAND PARK AVE. (43224), being 9.07± acres located at the northeast corner of Oakland Park Avenue and Atwood Terrace, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, City of Columbus, being part of Lot 3 of Quarter Township 1, Township 1, Range 18, United States Military District, containing 9.108 acres more or less, being all of the residual of a 7.517 acre tract of land conveyed to Reiner Investments, Ltd. in D.B. 3718, Pg. 808 as Tract No. 2, all of a tract of land also conveyed to Reiner Investments, Ltd. in said document as Tract No. 1, and all of a 0.708 acre tract of land conveyed to Reiner Investments, Ltd. in I.N. 200704040057810, said 9.108 acres being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning for reference at a mag nail set on the centerline intersection of Oakland Park Avenue (60’ R/W) as established in Road Record 6, Pg. 195 and Atwood Terrace (50’ R/W) as shown in P.B. 17, Pg. 114;
Thence S 86° 06’ 47” E, across the right-of-way of said Atwood Terrace (50’ R/W) and with the centerline of said Oakland Park Avenue (60’ R/W), 25.00 feet to a mag nail set on the southwest corner of said Tract No. 2 and the True Point of Beginning;
Thence N 04° 34' 34" E, with the easterly right-of-way line of said Atwood Terrace (50’ R/W) and the west line of said Tract No. 2, 706.81 feet to a current northwest corner of said Tract No. 2 and the southwest corner of a tract of land conveyed to Oakland Nursery, Inc. in I.N. 202208050114067 referencing a bent 3/4" iron pipe found;
Thence with the common line of said Tract No. 2 and said Oakland Nursery, Inc. tract the following two (2) courses and distances:
1. S 86° 23' 28" E, 150.00 feet to an iron pin set;
2. N 04° 34' 52" E, 119.76 feet to an iron pin set on the northeast corner of said Oakland Nursery, Inc. tract, a current northwest corner of said Tract No. 2, and being on the south line of a 7.243 acre tract of land conveyed to The Board of Education of the City School District of Columbus, Ohio in D.B. 1625, Pg. 180 and D.B. 1619, Pg. 341;
Thence S 86° 23' 28" E, with the north lines of said Tract No. 2 and said Tract No. 1 and the south line of said 7.243 acre tract, 351.03 feet to an iron pin set on the northeast corner of said Tract No. 1 and the northwest corner of Lot 13 as numbered and delineated for Oak Park Addition No. 7 in P.B. 23, Pg. 32;
Thence S 04° 34' 34" W, with the east lines of said Tract No. 1 and said 0.708 acre tract, the west line of said Lot 13, the west lines of Lots 1-12 as numbered and delineated for said plat, and across the right-of-way of Oakland Park Avenue (60’ R/W) (passing a point referencing a 5/8” rebar (S=0.76 feet, E=1.63 feet) at 649.00 feet and a point referencing a 3/4" iron pipe found (N=0.47 feet, W=0.49 feet) at 799.00 feet), 829.00 feet to a mag nail set on the centerline of said Oakland Park Avenue (60’ R/W), the southeast corner of said 0.708 acre tract, and the southwest corner of said Oak Park Addition No. 7;
Thence N 86° 06' 47" W, with the south lines of said 0.708 acre tract and said Tract No. 2 and the centerline of said Oakland Park Avenue (60’ R/W), 501.00 feet to the Point of Beginning, containing 9.108 acres more or less, inclusive of the present right-of-way of Oakland Park Avenue (60’ R/W) which occupies 0.345 acres more or less.
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 CPD, Commercial Planned Development District, specified by Ordinance #2694-2025; Z25-022.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the Subject Site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled “OAKLAND NURSERY SITE 07-29-25,” dated July 29, 2025, signed by Chris Vallette, 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 shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.