Explanation
Rezoning Application: Z25-068
APPLICANT: Metropolitan Holdings Acquisitions LLC c/o David Hodge, Atty.; 8000 Walton Parkway, Suite 120; New Albany, OH 43054.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (6-0) on April 9, 2026.
WEST SCIOTO AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Disapproval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The 15.19± acre site consists of one undeveloped parcel and four parcels developed with single-unit dwellings, recently annexed into the City of Columbus and zoned R, Rural District. The requested L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District will allow a multi-unit residential development containing a maximum of 296 units. The limitation text includes supplemental development standards addressing setbacks, pedestrian connectivity, traffic improvements, landscaping, fencing, building height, and commitments to develop the site in accordance with the submitted site plans and building elevations. Although the proposal exceeds the density of the Trabue Roberts Area Plan’s (2011) recommendation of “Very Low Density Residential,” Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) Design Guidelines (2018) state that projects proposed at a density higher than the recommended land use may be supported if they include the following guidelines: high levels of site and building design, significant natural resource preservation, adequate buffering and screening from adjacent land uses, and pedestrian connectivity throughout the site. The submitted site plans and building elevations demonstrate consistency with these design guidelines. Additionally, the proposal is consistent with the city’s objective to provide more housing in all neighborhoods.
Title
To rezone 1753 N. HAGUE AVE. (43204), being 15.19± acres located on the east side of North Hague Avenue, 879± feet south of Trabue Road, From: R, Rural District, To: L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District (Rezoning #Z25-068).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z25-068 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 15.19± 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 West Scioto Area Commission recommends disapproval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of the zoning change because the site plan and building design are consistent with C2P2 Design guidelines by including high levels of site and building design, significant natural resource preservation, adequate buffering and screening from adjacent land uses, and pedestrian connectivity throughout the site. Additionally, the proposal is consistent with the city’s objective to provide 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:
1753 N. HAGUE AVE. (43204), being 15.19± acres located on the east side of North Hague Avenue, 879± feet south of Trabue Road, and being more particularly described as follows:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, Township of Franklin, being a part of Virginia Military Survey No. 875, and being part of a 4.671 acre tract of land conveyed to Joseph Sofia and Kristy Clark (15% Interest), David T. Clark (15% Interest), Eric Steinmann (70% Interest) in Instrument Number 202406250062685 and Instrument Number 202502130014784, part of a 4.000 acre tract of land conveyed to Joseph Sofia and Kristy Clark (15% Interest), David T. Clark (15% Interest), Eric Steinmann (70% Interest) In Instrument Number 202406240061878 and Instrument Number 202502130014785, part of a 5 acre tract of land conveyed to David Clark (13% Interest), Joseph Sofia (49% Interest), Eric Steinmann (38% Interest) in Instrument Number 202501270007852, part of a 1.000 acre tract of land conveyed to BRADLEY A. WILKINSON in Instrument Number 200012200256682, all of a 0.941 acre (by survey) tract of land conveyed to David Thomas Clark and Joseph Sofia (22% Interest) and Eric Steinmann (78% Interest) in Instrument Number 202501100002716 and Instrument Number 202502060011745, part of Lot 5 and Lot 6 of NORTH SKIDMORE ADDITION as delineated in Plat Book 15, Page 14, all of Lot 35 of HOLTON'S HAGUE AVENUE SUBDIVISION as delineated in Plat Book 21, Page 2, part of Cherokee Street (40 feet wide) as dedicated in Plat Book 21, Page 2 and vacated in Road Record 25, Page 116 and Road Record 27, Page 135, and part of Kenosha Avenue (40 feet wide) as dedicated in Plat Book 21, Page 2 and vacated in Road Record 25, Page 116, all records being of the Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio, and being more particularly bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at the southerly corner of Lot 11 of said NORTH SKIDMORE ADDITION, the westerly corner of said Lot 5 and said 4.671 acre tract, and on the northeasterly line of a 0.604 acre tract of land conveyed to Michael D. Trettel in Instrument Number 200710260186688;
Thence along the northwesterly line of said Lot 5 and said 4.671 acre tract and In part along the southeasterly lines of Lot 4 and Lots 7-11, inclusive, of said NORTH SKIDMORE ADDITION, North 66°17'02" East, 996.2± feet to a point on the southeasterly line of said Lot 4, also being a northerly corner of said 4.671 acre tract and the northwesterly corner of a 0.329 acre tract of land conveyed to BRADFORD K. THOMPSON and LINDA D. THOMPSON in Official Record 27105, Page 108;
Thence across said Lot 5 and along a northeasterly line of said 4.671 acre tract and the southwesterly line of said 0.329 acre tract, South 23°51'52" East, 70.0± feet to a northerly corner of said 4.671 acre tract and the southerly corner of said 0.329 acre tract;
Thence continuing across said Lot 5 and along a northwesterly line of said 4.671 acre tract and the southeasterly line of said 0.329 acre tract, North 66°17'02" East, 155.0± feet to a point on the southwesterly right-of-way line of Hague Avenue (variable width) as recorded by highway easement in Deed Book 3388, Page 414;
Thence along said southwesterly right-of-way line and across said 4.671 acre tract and said Lot 5, South 23°51'52" East, 111.5± feet to a point on the southeasterly line of said 4.671 acre tract and said Lot 5 and the northwesterly line of said 4.000 acre tract and said Lot 6;
Thence continuing along said southwesterly right-of-way line and along said southeasterly and northwesterly lines, and also along the common line of said Lot 5 and Lot 6, North 66°17'02" East, 30.0± feet to a point on the southwesterly right-of-way line of said Hague Avenue;
Thence continuing along said southwesterly right-of-way line, and in part across said 4.000 acre tract, said 1.000 acre tract, said 5 acre tract, and said Lot 5 and Lot 6, South 23°51'52" East, 362.6± feet to a point on the southeasterly line of said 5 acre tract;
Thence in part continuing along said southwesterly right-of-way line, in part along the northwesterly right-of-way line of said Cherokee Street, and along said southeasterly line, South 66°16'34" West, 249.8± feet to the westerly corner of a 0.861 acre tract (by survey) of land conveyed to DAVID M. DRINKHOUSE and BRENDA S. DRINKHOUSE and in Instrument Number 201802230025411 and the northerly corner of said 0.941 acre tract;
Thence along the northeasterly line of said 0.941 acre tract and the southwesterly line of said 0.861 acre tract, and in part across said vacated Cherokee Street, the northeasterly line of said Lot 35 and the southwesterly line of Lot 18 of said HOLTON'S HAGUE AVENUE SUBDIVISION, South 23°51'24" East, 150.0± feet to the easterly corner of said 0.941 acre tract and said Lot 35, the southerly corner of said 0.861 acre tract and said Lot 18, the northerly corner of Lot 34 of said HOLTON'S HAGUE AVENUE SUBDIVISION, and the westerly corner of Lot 17 of said HOLTON'S HAGUE AVENUE SUBDIVISION;
Thence along the northwesterly line of said Lot 34, the southeasterly lines of said 0.941 acre tract and said Lot 35, and in part across said vacated Kenosha Avenue, South 66°16'34" West, 250.3± feet to a point on the centerline of said vacated Kenosha Avenue, also being southerly corner of said 0.941 acre tract;
Thence along the southwesterly line of said 0.941 acre tract, and in part along said centerline of said vacated Kenosha Avenue and across said vacated Cherokee Street along a curve to the left with a radius of 1145.84 feet, a delta angle of 07°55'19", an arc length of 158.43 feet, and a chord which bears North 42°21'55" West, 158.31 feet to a point on the northwesterly line of said vacated Cherokee Street and the southeasterly line of said 5 acre tract;
Thence along said southeasterly line and In part along said northwesterly line of said vacated Cherokee Street and the northwesterly lines of Lots 211-215, Inclusive, of SCIOTO WOODS SECTION 4 as delineated in Plat Book 73, Page 72, and an existing City of Columbus corporation line as annexed by City of Columbus In Case Number 14-69, Ordinance Number 1155-69 and recorded In Miscellaneous Record 148, Page 229, South 66°16'34" West, 621.5± feet to a point at the southwesterly corner of said 5 acre tract, the southeasterly corner of said 0.604 acre tract, and on the northwesterly line of said Lot 211;
Thence along the northeasterly line of said 0.604 acre tract and in part along the southwesterly lines of said 5 acre tract, said 4.000 acre tract, and said 4.671 acre tract, and the southwesterly line of said NORTH SKIDMORE ADDITION, North 23°47'51" West, 544.2± feet to the TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING.
The total acreage of the combined boundary described herein contains a net acreage of 15.3± acres, being 4.5± acres out of Parcel Number 140-002384-00, 4.0± acres out of Parcel Number 140-002385-00, 1.0± acres out of Parcel Number 140-002095-00, 4.9± acres out of Parcel Number 140-007435-00, and 0.9± acres out of Parcel Number 140-002703-00. Being 15.3± acres out of Franklin Township.
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, “SITE PLAN,” and “LANDSCAPE PLAN,” said building elevations titled, “ELEVATIONS,” all dated May 19, 2026, and signed by Eric Zartman, Attorney for the Applicant and said text titled, “LIMITATION TEXT,” dated May 19, 2026, and signed by David Hodge, Attorney for the Applicant, and the text reading as follows:
LIMITATION TEXT
APPLICATION: Z25-068
Location: 1753 N. HAGUE AVE. (43204), being 15.19± acres located on the east side of North Hague Avenue, 879± feet south of Trabue Road (140-002384 and 4 others; West Scioto Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: R, Rural District
Request: L-AR-1, Apartment Residential District (H-35).
Proposed Use: Multi-unit residential development.
Applicant(s): Metropolitan Holdings Acquisitions LLC c/o David Hodge, Atty.; 8000 Walton Parkway, Suite 120; New Albany, OH 43054.
Property Owner(s): Eric Steinman; 981 West Market Street; Akron, OH 44313. David Thomas Clark; 3175 Cherokee Street; Columbus, OH 43204. Bradley A. Wilkinson; 1725 North Hague Avenue; Columbus, OH 43204. Joseph Sofio; 1695 North Hague Avenue; Columbus, OH 43204.
Planner: Alyssa Saltzman; 614-645-9625; ADSaltzman@columbus.gov
Date: May 19, 2026
I. INTRODUCTION:
The subject site consists of approximately 15.19 acres on the west side of North Hague Avenue, within the West Scioto planning area, and covered by the Trabue-Roberts Area Plan. The property, currently in Franklin Township and developed with single-family residential uses, includes open ground, wooded areas, and a drainage feature that forms a Stream Corridor Protection Zone (SCPZ) across the southwest portion of the site. The land is being annexed into the City of Columbus and rezoned to L-AR-1 to facilitate coordinated residential redevelopment.
The surrounding area includes township residential lots, single-family homes within Columbus, and an increasing pattern of new or approved multifamily redevelopment along the North Hague Avenue and Trabue Road corridors. This trend has been supported by Columbus Planning Staff where proposals align with adopted planning objectives and provide appropriate transitions and open-space protections. The site is therefore situated within a transitional context where City policy anticipates reinvestment and expanded housing opportunities.
The Applicant proposes a high-quality multifamily residential community with approximately 296 units, designed to scale building mass sensitively toward surrounding properties. Smaller buildings are placed along North Hague Avenue to maintain an appropriate residential streetscape, while buildings along the northern perimeter create a softer residential edge. Larger buildings are located internally, supported by private drives, shared amenities, and central open spaces.
The plan preserves the SCPZ as natural open space and incorporates pedestrian connections, bicycle parking, and approximately 487 off-street parking spaces, exceeding the minimum requirement of 444 spaces. These design choices provide appropriate buffering, reinforce the corridor’s evolving residential character, and implement City planning goals for reinvestment and environmental stewardship.
The remainder of the community is organized around internal private drives, shared amenity spaces, and central open areas. The design maintains natural drainage functions within the SCPZ and provides additional separation in the southwestern portion of the site. Together, these elements create a compatible transition to surrounding residential areas, enhance the North Hague Avenue frontage, and advance City planning objectives for the West Scioto area.
II. PERMITTED USES:
Multi-unit residential uses and any other permitted accessory uses to multi-unit residential uses, all as set forth in Columbus City Code Section 3333.02, AR-12, ARLD, and AR-1 apartment residential uses.
III. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS:
Except as specified herein, the applicable development standards of Chapter 3333, Apartment Residential District, of the Zoning Code shall apply.
A. Density, Height, Lot and/or Setback Commitments:
1. The minimum building line shall be 40 feet from Hague Avenue, exclusive of open porches, steps, terraces, walkways or separate accessory buildings, or as otherwise provided in the Zoning Code.
2. The minimum perimeter yard shall be 25 feet.
3. The height district shall be H-35. Buildings may exceed 35 feet in height in accordance with Section 3309.142 of the Zoning Code.
4. The maximum density shall be 296 units.
B. Access, Loading, Parking, and/or Other Traffic Related Commitments:
1. The developer shall be responsible for construction of an 11’ shared use path along the site frontage.
2. The developer shall be responsible for construction of a 225’ northbound left turn lane (inclusive of a 50’ diverging taper) at the site access point.
3. The developer shall be responsible for a contribution of $42,501 shall be made toward Franklin County’s Trabue Rd & Hague Ave/Mapleway Dr intersection improvement project.
4. Hague Ave shall be brought up to Franklin County standards of an 11’ travel lane with curb and gutter along the site’s frontage, including a full width mill and overlay. Franklin County holds the right to require these improvements as a fee in lieu of construction based on an estimate reviewed and approved by the Engineers Office to go towards the Trabue Rd & Hague Ave/Mapleway Dr intersection improvement project.
C. Buffering, Landscaping, Open Space, and/or Screening Commitments:
1. Landscaping shall be provided in substantial conformance with the Landscape Plan.
2. A fence shall be provided along the north-east and south-east perimeters, in substantial conformance with the Landscape Plan. The fence shall be 6-foot galvanized chain link fence, black vinyl clad, tension wire at the bottom, braced corner posts, knuckle end down, and twisted end up.
D. Building Design and/or Interior-Exterior Treatment Commitments:
The building design and exterior treatment shall be developed in substantial conformance with the Elevations.
E. Dumpsters, Lighting, Outdoor Display Areas, and/or other Environmental Commitments:
The Stream Corridor Protection Zone shall be protected.
F. Graphics and Signage Commitments:
All graphics and signage shall comply with Article 15, Chapter 33 of the Zoning Code, and any variance to those requirements will be submitted to the Columbus Graphics Commission for consideration.
G. Miscellaneous Commitments:
The site shall be developed in substantial conformance with the submitted exhibit titled “Site Plan,” “Landscape Plan,” and “Elevations.” These plans and exhibits may be adjusted to reflect engineering, topographical or other site data developed at the time that development and engineering plans are completed. Any slight adjustment to the plans shall be reviewed and may be approved 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.