Explanation
Rezoning Application Z26-009
APPLICANT: Merus RE LLC; c/o Eric Zartman, Atty.: 8000 Walton Parkway, Suite 120; New Albany, OH 43054.
PROPOSED USE: Mixed-use development.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (5-0) on May 14, 2026.
ITALIAN VILLAGE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The 6.94± acre site consists of one parcel developed with a warehouse in the M, Manufacturing District. The requested UCT, Urban Center District, a 2024 Zoning Code district, allows high intensity mixed-used development. The subject site is eligible for an applicant led “Opt-In” rezoning to the UCT district because the property is contiguous to an existing UCT district and because the property’s parcel boundaries have remained unchanged since the effective date of the 2024 Zoning Code. The request is consistent with both the Columbus Growth Strategy (2026), which recommends “Mixed Use 2” land uses at this location, and with and the existing zoning and development pattern in this portion of Italian Village. Staff note that final building design will be subject to a Certificate of Appropriateness issued by the Italian Village Commission.
Title
To rezone 274 E. 1ST AVE. (43201), being 6.94± acres located at the northeast corner of East 1st Avenue and North 6th Street, From: M, Manufacturing District, To: UCT, Urban Center District (Rezoning #Z26-009).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z26-009 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 6.94± acres from the M, Manufacturing District, to the UCT, Urban Center District; and
WHEREAS, the Development Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the Italian Village Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of said zoning change because the requested UCT, Urban Center District will allow mixed-use development, consistent with both the Columbus Growth Strategy and with the existing development and zoning pattern in this portion of Italian Village; 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:
274 E. 1ST AVE. (43201), being 6.94± acres located at the northeast corner of East 1st Avenue and North 6th Street, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, City of Columbus, Half Section 4, Township 5, Range 22, Refugee lands and being 8.608 acres of land out of a 9.071 acre tract as conveyed to Colpark Associates, LP., of record in Instrument No. 200012080249092 (all records being of the Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio) and being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning for reference at a found mag nail at the intersection of the Southwest corner of a 3.473 acre tract of land as conveyed to Colpark, Inc., of record in Instrument No. 200012080249090 with the Northerly right-of-way line of East First Avenue (60 feet wide) as recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 446 and the Easterly right-of-way line of North Fourth Street;
Thence North 89° 59' 46" East with the Southerly line of said 3.473 acre tract together with the northerly right-of-way line of said East First Avenue, a distance of 351.67 feet to a set 1" iron pipe with an EDG cap and being a point of curvature on the Southerly line of said 9.071 acre tract and being the true point of beginning;
Thence with the Easterly right of way line of said Sixth Street, the following five (5) courses:
1. With a curve Northwesterly and to the right having a radius of 20.00 feet, a central angle of 90° 00' 00", a chord bearing of North 45° 00' 14" West, a chord distance of 28.28 feet and an arc length of 31.42 feet to a set 1" iron pipe with an EDG cap;
2. North 00° 00' 14" West, a distance of 190.74 feet to a set 1" iron pipe with an EDG cap and being a point of curvature;
3. With a curve Northwesterly and to the left having a radius of 425.00 feet, a central angle of 13° 17' 31", a chord bearing of North 06° 39' 00" West, a chord distance of 98.37 feet and an arc length of 98.60 feet to a set Mag Nail;
4. North 13° 17' 45" West, a distance of 253.25 feet (calculated), 253.33 feet (deed) to a 1" iron pipe set with an EDG cap and being a point of curvature;
5. With a curve Northeasterly and to the right having a radius of 20.00 feet, a central angle of 103° 11' 03", a chord bearing of North 38° 17' 46" East, a chord distance of 31.34 feet and an arc length of 36.02 feet to a Mag Nail set in a hub and being a point on the Southerly right-of-way line of East Second Avenue (60.00 feet wide) and being a point on the Northerly line of said 9.071 acre tract;
Thence continuing with the Southerly right-of-way line of said East Second Avenue together with the Northerly line of said 9.071 acre tract, the following two (2) courses:
1. North 89° 53' 18" East, a distance of 507.72 feet to a point;
2. South 83° 04' 51" East, a distance of 265.06 feet to a found Mag Nail and being the northeasterly corner of said 9.071 acre tract and also being a point on the Westerly right-of-way line of said Pennsylvania Rail Road Holding Company, recorded in Official Record Volume 33954, Page D19;
Thence South 02° 32' 23" East with said Westerly line together with the Easterly line of said 9.071 acre tract, a distance of 258.77 feet to a found iron pipe with a cap stamped PS 6579 and being the Southeasterly line of said 9.071 acre tract and also being the Northeasterly corner of a 1.461 acre tract as conveyed to Robert W. Lee, Trustee of the Edward A. Berry Trust, of record in Instrument No. 199802230039709;
Thence South 89° 59' 46" West with the Southerly line of said 9.071 acre tract together with the northerly line of said 1.461 acre tract, a distance of 192.19 feet to a set 1" iron pipe with an EDG cap and being the Northwesterly corner of said 1.461 acre tract and also being the Northeasterly corner of said 9.071 acre tract;
Thence South 00° 00' 14" East with the Westerly line of said 1.461 acre tract together with the easterly line of said 9.071 acre tract, a distance of 290.00 feet to a set 8" nail and being the southeasterly corner of said 9.071 acre tract and being the Southwesterly corner of said 1.461 acre tract and also being a point on the Northerly right-of-way line of East First Avenue;
Thence South 89° 59' 46" West with the Northerly right-of-way line of said East First Avenue together with the Southerly line of said 9.071 acre tract, a distance of 519.93 feet (calculated), 520.07 feet (deed) to the true point of beginning and containing 8.608 acres of land, more or less.
This description was prepared by Environmental Design Group, Columbus, Ohio from an actual field survey performed in March 2005. The basis of bearing for this description is North 89° 59'46" East for the center line of East First Avenue.
EXCEPTING THERE FROM THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PARCEL:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, City of Columbus, Half Section 4, Township 5, Range 22, Refugee Lands and being 1.665 acres of land out of a 9.071 acre tract as conveyed to Colpark Associates, LP., of record in Instrument Number 200012080249092 (all records being of the Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio) and being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning for reference at a found mag nail at the intersection of the southwest corner of a 3.254 acre tract as conveyed to JDS Jeffrey LLC of record in Instrument Number 200210220266558, the easterly right of way line of North Fourth Street (80 feet wide), and the northerly right-of-way line of East First Avenue (60.00 feet wide) as recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 446;
Thence North 89° 59' 46" East with the southerly line of said 3.254 acre tract and also said 9.071 acre tract together with the northerly right-of-way line of said East First Avenue, a distance of 835.09 feet to a 1" iron pipe set with an EDG cap and being the true point of beginning;
Thence through said 9.071 acre tract, the following three (3) courses:
1. North 00° 00' 14" West, a distance of 404.96 feet to a gear spike set;
2. South 89° 59' 46" West, a distance of 8.73 feet to a gear spike set;
3. North 00° 07' 48" East, a distance of 170.95 feet to a mag nail set on the southerly right of way of East Second Avenue and the northerly line of said 9.071 acre tract;
Thence South 83° 04' 51" East, a distance of 227.23 feet to a found mag nail and being the northeasterly corner of said 9.071 acre tract and also being a point on the westerly right of way line of Pennsylvania Rail Road Holding Company as recorded in Official Record Volume 33954D19;
Thence South 02° 32' 23" East with said westerly line together with the easterly line of said 9.071 acre tract, a distance of 258.77 feet to a found iron pipe with a cap stamped PS 6579 and being the southeasterly corner of said 9.071 acre tract and also being the northeasterly corner of a1.322 acre tract as conveyed to 350 First Ave. Ltd of record in Instrument Number 200009050178047;
Thence South 89° 59' 46" West with the southerly line of said 9.071 acre tract together with the northerly line of said 1.322 acre tract, a distance of 192.19 feet to a 1" iron pipe set with an EDG cap and being the northwesterly corner of said 1.322 acre tract;
Thence South 00° 00' 14" East with the westerly line of said 1.322 acre tract together with the easterly line of said 9.071 acre tract, a distance of 290.00 feet to a set 8" nail and being the southeasterly corner of said 9.071 acre tract and being the southwesterly corner of said 1.322 acre tract and also being a point on the northerly right-of-way line of East First Avenue;
Thence South 89° 59' 46" West with the northerly right-of-way line of said East First Avenue together with the southerly line of said 9.071 acre tract, a distance of 36.50 feet to the true point of beginning and containing 1.665 acres of land more or less.
This description was prepared by Environmental Design Group, Columbus, Ohio from an actual field survey performed in March 2005. The basis of bearing for this description is North 89° 59'46" East for the centerline of East First Avenue.
Address: 274 East 1st Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
Parcel Number: 010-255762
To Rezone From: M, Manufacturing District,
To: UCT, Urban Center District.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services be, and is hereby authorized and directed to make the said changes on the said official zoning map in the office of the Department of Building and Zoning Services.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.