Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-126
APPLICANT: Healthy Homes c/o Gretchen West; PO Box 77499; Columbus, OH 43207
PROPOSED USE: Two two-unit dwellings.
NORTH LINDEN AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of one undeveloped parcel in the R-3, Residential District. The requested Council variance will allow the parcel to be split and be developed with a two-unit dwelling on each lot. A Council variance is required because the R-3 district prohibits two-unit dwellings. A variance for lot width is also included in this request. The proposal is consistent with the land use recommendation of the North Linden Neighborhood Plan Amendment (2014) for “Low-Medium Density Residential” uses, and will not introduce an incompatible use to the area.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.035, R-3 residential district; and 3332.05(A)(4), Area district lot width requirements, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 3165 MCGUFFEY RD. (43224), to allow two-unit dwellings with reduced lot widths in the R-3, Residential District (Council Variance #CV25-126).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-126, the owner of the property at 3165 MCGUFFEY RD. (43224), is requesting a Council variance to allow two-unit dwellings with reduced lot widths in the R-3, Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.035, R-3 residential district, prohibits two-unit dwellings as the primary land use, while the applicant proposes a two-unit dwelling on each newly-created parcel; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.05(A)(4), Area district lot width requirements, requires a minimum lot width of 50 feet in the R-3, Residential District, while the applicant proposes reduced lot widths of 42.02 feet; and
WHEREAS, the North Linden Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the request is consistent with the North Linden Neighborhood Plan Amendment’s land use recommendation at this location, and will not introduce an incompatible use to the area; and
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and a Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed two-unit dwellings; and
WHEREAS, said variances will not adversely affect the surrounding property or surrounding neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the granting of said variances 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 3165 MCGUFFEY RD. (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 from the provisions of Sections 3332.035, R-3 residential district; and 3332.05(A)(4), Area district lot width requirements, of the Columbus City Codes; is hereby granted for the property located at 3165 MCGUFFEY RD. (43224), insofar as said sections prohibit two-unit dwellings in the R-3, Residential District, with a reduced lot width from 50 feet to 42.02 feet for each lot; said property being more particularly described as follows:
3165 MCGUFFEY RD. (43224), being 0.25± acres located on the west side of McGuffey Road, 85± feet north of East North Broadway, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio, and in the City of Columbus:
Being Lot Numbers Six Hundred Seventy-Two (672) and Six Hundred Seventy-Three (673) of Sunnyside Addition, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book No. 15, Page 25, Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
Parcel Number: 010-083782
Address: 3165 McGuffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43224
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for two two-unit dwellings, in accordance with the submitted site plan, or those uses allowed in the R-3, 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 March 4, 2026, and signed by Emily Long Rayfield, 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 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 two-unit dwellings.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.