Explanation
Rezoning Application: Z25-055
APPLICANT: Kittle Property Group Inc.; c/o Jackson B. Reynolds, III, Atty.; 172 East State Street, Suite 550; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (3-2) on May 14, 2026.
WESTLAND AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Disapproval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The 11.49± acre site consists of an undeveloped portion of one parcel in the R, Rural District after recent annexation into the City from Jackson Township. The requested L-AR-1 district will allow a multi-unit residential development with a maximum of 216 units developed in accordance with the submitted site plan. The limitation text establishes use restrictions and supplemental development standards addressing maximum unit count, site access, and landscaping. While the proposed use is inconsistent with the Westland Area Plan’s (1994) recommendation of “Institutional”, staff note the proposed multi-unit residential use is consistent with Columbus Growth Strategy (2026) Guiding Principles which recommends conversion of faith-based sites for housing, and the creation of a variety of housing types to support mixed-income communities, which is a priority for all neighborhoods and is encouraged based on needs identified by the Columbus Housing Strategy and related efforts.
Title
To rezone 2345 DEMOREST RD. (43123), being 11.49± acres located on the west side of Demorest Road; 460± feet north of White Spruce Lane, From: R, Rural District, To: L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District (Rezoning #Z25-055).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z25-055 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 11.49± acres from R, Rural District, to the L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District; and
WHEREAS, the Development Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the Westland Area Commission recommends disapproval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of the zoning change because the requested L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District will create a variety of housing types to support mixed-income communities, which aligns with the City’s objective of providing more housing in all neighborhoods; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Official Zoning Map of the City of Columbus, as adopted by Ordinance No. 0179 -03, passed February 24, 2003, and as subsequently amended, is hereby revised by changing the zoning of the property as follows:
2345 DEMOREST RD. (43123), being 11.49± acres located on the west side of Demorest Road; 460± feet north of White Spruce Lane, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, City of Columbus, being part of Virginia Military Survey Number 1389, part of that tract of land described in the deed to Vida Nueva Wesleyan Church, recorded in Instrument Number 201102140022266 in the Office of the Franklin County Recorder, being part of Parcel Number 165-347107-00 and being more particularly bounded and described as follows:
Commencing at a County Monument #FCGS 1239 in the centerline of Demorest Road per Centerline Survey Plat #0025-03, dated March 10, 2008, marking the southwest corner of the Unroe Heights Subdivision recorded in Plat Book 25, Page 9;
Thence northerly along said centerline as shown on said Plat#0025-03, NORTH 01 degrees 17 minutes 34 seconds EAST, 47.81 feet to the northeast corner of the Vida Nueva Wesleyan Church property, recorded in Instrument Number 201102140022266 and the southeast corner of the 8.502 acre tract conveyed to Duane D. and Susan M. Covert by instrument number 200009070180907;
Thence westerly along the northerly line of said Vida Nueva Wesleyan Church property, being the southerly line of said Covert property, NORTH 89 degrees 02 minutes 16 seconds WEST, 30.00 feet to the westerly right of way line of Demorest Road having a 60 foot wide right of way, being 30 feet each side of the centerline per Demorest Road Right of Way Plat, Sec. "B", Road No. 25, Sheet 2 of 18, dated March 1946 on file in the Franklin County Engineer's Office;
Thence southerly along said westerly right of way line, being 30.00 feet westerly and parallel with said centerline, SOUTH 01 degrees 17 minutes 34 seconds WEST, 47.73 feet to an angle point located 30.00 feet westerly of County Monument #FCGS 1239;
Thence continuing southerly parallel with said centerline and along said westerly right of way line, SOUTH 00 degrees 56 minutes 44 seconds WEST, 237.21 feet to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set) with a plastic orange cap stamped "BRCJ-COOPER PS.8852 OH", hereafter called a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set) and the POINT OF BEGINNING;
Thence continuing southerly parallel with said centerline and along said westerly right of way line, SOUTH 00 degrees 56 minutes 44 seconds WEST, 365.04 feet to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set) on the north line of the 10.092 acre tract conveyed to Nathan J. Wright and Andrew Littler as recorded in Instrument Number 201504090045412 and being the property of Jonathon Sexton recorded in Instrument Number 201608170108507;
Thence westerly along the north line of said property conveyed to Wright, Littler and Sexton, NORTH 88 degrees 08 minutes 53 seconds WEST, 1332.42 feet to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set) the east line of Reserve "I" of Holt Park Subdivision - Section 2, recorded in Plat Book 92, Page 39;
Thence northerly along the east line of lots 148-158 and Reserve "I" of Holt Park Subdivision - Section 2, recorded in Plat Book 92, Page 39, and lots 109-110 of Holt Park Subdivision - Section 1, recorded in Plat Book 88, Page 100, NORTH 01 degrees 24 minutes 52 seconds EAST, 385.00 feet to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set);
Thence easterly, SOUTH 88 degrees 08 minutes 53 seconds EAST, 729.10 feet to a to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set);
Thence southerly, SOUTH 02 degrees 38 minutes 17 seconds WEST, 20.00 feet a to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set);
Thence easterly, SOUTH 88 degrees 08 minutes 53 seconds EAST, 600.76 feet to a to a marked 5/8-inch rebar (set) and the point of beginning.
Containing 11.486 acres, more or less.
The above described property is part of the same premises described in a General Warranty Deed conveyed to Vida Nueva Wesleyan Church recorded in Instrument Number 201102140022266, recorded on February 14, 2011 and identified as part of Parcel No. 165-347107 of the Franklin County, Ohio tax records, as surveyed under the direction of Matthew L. Cooper Professional Surveyor No. 8852, on a survey dated May __, 2025, based on fieldwork performed in May 2025.
The bearings for the above description are Grid North based upon the Ohio State Plane Coordinate System NAD 83(2011), Epoch 2010, South Zone as derived from GNSS observations to the Ohio Dept. of Transportation Real Time Network. The centerline of Demorest Road having a bearing of South 00°56'44" West from County Monument #FCGS 1239.
All iron pins called for as being set are 5/8-inch diameter by 30-inch in length set flush with the ground with an orange plastic cap stamped "BRCJ-COOPER PS.8852 OH".
To Rezone From: R, Rural District,
To: L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District.
SECTION 2. That a Height District of thirty-five (35) feet is hereby established on the L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District on this property.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services be, and is hereby authorized and directed to make the said change on the said official zoning map and shall register a copy of the approved L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District and Application among the records of the Department of Building and Zoning Services as required by Section 3370.03 of the Columbus City Codes; said site plan titled, “PRELIMINARY ARCHITECTURAL SITE PLAN,” dated May 20, 2026, and said text titled, “LIMITATION TEXT,” dated May 4, 2026, and both signed by Jackson B. Reynolds, III, Attorney for the Applicant, and the text reading as follows:
LIMITATION TEXT
PROPOSED DISTRICT: L-AR-1
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 2345 Demorest Road
OWNER: Vida Nueva Wesleyan Church
APPLICANT: Kittle Property Group Inc.
DATE OF TEXT: 5/4/26
APPLICATION NUMBER: Z25-055
1. INTRODUCTION: The site is on the west side of Demorest Road north of Big Run South Road. The area being rezoned is vacant. The property is being annexed to the City.
2. PERMITTED USES: Those uses permitted in Section 3333.02, AR-12, ARLD and AR-1 apartment residential district use of the Columbus City Code.
3. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS: Unless otherwise indicated in the submitted text or drawings the applicable development standards are contained in Chapter 3333 of the Columbus City Code
A. Density, Lot, and/or Setback Commitments.
The maximum number of dwelling units shall be 216.
B. Access, Loading, Parking, and/or Other Traffic Related Commitments.
The applicant shall install the following road improvements on Demorest Road at the site’s access point.
1. A northbound left turn lane with a length of 175 feet which includes 50 foot diverging taper.
2. The applicant shall extend a pedestrian facility from the southern edge of the site frontage on Demorest Road and provide a signaled pedestrian crossing zone with high visibility crosswalk markings and a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon.
3. A 175’ (including a 50’ diverging taper) southbound right turn lane is warranted at the site access. In lieu of construction, the Developer shall be responsible to provide a contribution based on the cost of the turn lane to go toward a future regional path project along Demorest Road. This shall be based on an estimate and schematic reviewed and approved by the FCEO.
C. Buffering, Landscaping, Open Space, and/or Screening Commitments.
The perimeter yard shall be landscaped in accordance with the submitted site plan.
D. Building Design and/or Interior-Exterior Treatment Commitments.
The Property shall be developed in accordance with the attached Site Plan
E. Lighting, Outdoor Display Areas, and/or other Environmental Commitments.
N/A
F. Graphics and/or Signage Commitments.
All graphics and signage shall comply with the Graphics Code, Article 15, Title 33 of the Columbus City Code as it applies to the AR-1 zoning classification and any variance to those requirements will be submitted to the Columbus Graphics Commission for consideration.
G. Miscellaneous Commitments.
Site Plan Revision Allowance. The Property shall be developed in accordance with the Site Plan; however, the Site Plan may be slightly adjusted to reflect engineering, topographical, or other site data established at the time of development and engineering plans are completed. The Director of the Department Building and Zoning Services or the Director’s designee may approve any slight adjustment to the Site Plan 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.