Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-079
APPLICANT: Zane Walker; 2959 West Case Road; Dublin, OH 43017.
PROPOSED USE: Two-unit dwelling.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of two parcels in the R, Rural District, one developed with a single-unit dwelling, and the other undeveloped. The requested Council variance will allow a two-unit dwelling on the undeveloped (southern) parcel. A Council variance is required because the R district does not allow a two-unit dwelling. Variances to reduce vision clearance and lot area are also included in this request. The proposal is consistent with The Northwest Plan’s (2016) land use recommendation of “Low Density Residential,” and will not introduce an incompatible use to the area.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.02, R-rural district; 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance; and 3332.06, R-rural area district requirements, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 5751 SOVEREIGN ST. (43235), to allow a two-unit dwelling with reduced development standards in the R, Rural District (Council Variance #CV25-079).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-079, the owner of the property at 5751 SOVEREIGN ST. (43235), is requesting a Council variance to allow a two-unit dwelling with reduced development standards in the R, Rural District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.02, R-rural district, prohibits two-unit dwellings as the primary land use, while the applicant proposes a two-unit dwelling on the southern parcel; and
WHEREAS, Section 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance, requires a 30-foot clear vision triangle at the intersection of two streets, while the applicant proposes partial obstruction of the vision clearance triangle by an existing mature tree at the southwest corner of Sovereign Street and West Case Road; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.06, R-rural area district requirements, requires that a principal building shall be situated on a lot of no less than five acres, while the applicant proposes reduced lot areas of 0.68 acres for the northern parcel and 0.33 acres for the southern parcel, as shown on the submitted site plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the site is consistent with The Northwest Plan’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 dwelling; 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 5751 SOVEREIGN ST. (43235), 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 3332.02, R-rural district; 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance; and 3332.06, R-rural area district requirements, of the Columbus City Codes; is hereby granted for the property located at 5751 SOVEREIGN ST. (43235), insofar as said sections prohibit a two-unit dwelling in the R, Rural District, with partial obstruction of the vision clearance triangle at the southwest corner of Sovereign Street and West Case Road; and reduced lot areas from five acres to 0.68 acres for the northern parcel, and 0.33 acres for the southern parcel; said property being more particularly described as follows:
5751 SOVEREIGN ST. (43235), being 1.01± acres located at the southwest corner of Sovereign Street and West Case Road, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the City of Columbus, County of Franklin and State of Ohio and bounded and described as follows:
Being a part of the North One-Half of Lot No. 9, Section 3, Township 2, Range 19, United States Military Lands, and being 0.459 acre tract conveyed to C.S. Yoder and Co. by deed of record in Deed Book 3097, Page 130, all references being to records of the Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio and being more particularly bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at an iron pin in the Westerly right-of-way line of Greenbriar Place and at the Southeasterly corner of Lot No. 42, both as shown on the plat of "Country Gardens No. 3", as the plat of same is shown of record in Plat Book 25, Page 38;
Thence along the Westerly right-of-way line of Greenbriar Place, South 3 deg. 58' West, 100.00 feet to an iron pin in the Southerly end of said street;
Thence South 82 deg, 44' 30" West, 205.41 feet to a point in the Southerly extension of the Easterly line of Lot No. 41 of said subdivision;
Thence along said line, North 4 deg. 19' 40" East, 99.0 feet to an iron pin at the Southwesterly corner of said Lot No. 42;
Thence along the Southerly line of said Lot No. 42, North 82 deg. 26' East, 205.0 feet to the place of beginning, containing 0.459 acre, more or less. Subject, however, to all right-of-way of easements of previous record.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for a two-unit dwelling, in accordance with the submitted site plan, or those uses allowed in the R, Rural District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the subject site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled, "SITE PLAN," dated March 10, 2026, and signed by Zane Walker, 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 dwelling.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.