Explanation
Rezoning Application: Z25-012
APPLICANT: Metro Development LLC; c/o Jeffery L. Brown, Atty.; 37 West Broad Street, Suite 460; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (4-0) on July 10, 2025.
WESTLAND AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Disapproval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The 14.07± acre site consists of two parcels, each developed with a single-unit dwelling in the R, Rural District as a result of recent annexation from Jackson Township. The requested L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District will allow the site to be developed with a 264-unit apartment complex. The site is within the planning boundaries of The Westland Plan (1994), which recommends “Low density residential, 1-2 units per acre” land uses at this location. While the proposal is inconsistent with that recommendation, staff recognizes existing medium density residential (10-16 du/ac) to the southwest, and the proposal’s high level of consistency with Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) Design Guidelines (2018), including buffering/screening of adjacent low density residential uses, preservation of existing mature trees along the southern edge of the site, and activation of open space with walking paths, as mitigating factors for support. Staff also notes that the project will provide additional housing consistent with City priorities. A concurrent Council variance (Ordinance #2289-2025; CV25-025) has been filed to increase the height of detached garages.
Title
To rezone 2410 DEMOREST RD. (43123), being 14.07± acres located on the east side of Demorest Road, 800± feet north of Black Pine Drive, From: R, Rural District, To: L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District (Rezoning #Z25-012).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z25-012 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 14.07± 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; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of said zoning change because the requested L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District will allow an apartment complex that includes a high level of consistency with C2P2 Design Guidelines, and provides additional housing consistent with City priorities; 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:
2410 DEMOREST RD. (43123), being 14.07± acres located on the east side of Demorest Road, 800± feet north of Black Pine Drive, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the Township of Jackson, County of Franklin, State of Ohio, Virginia Military Survey Number 1389, being 14.07± acres, and being bounded and more fully described as follows:
BEGINNING for reference at the intersection centerline of Demorest Road (width varies), and the southwest corner of a record 8.930 acre parcel as conveyed to James E. and Karen L. Ruggles (Official Record 19425, Page I18),
Thence North 00°56'50" East, with the centerline of Demorest Road, a distance of 208.59 feet to the southwest corner of a record 0.649 acre parcel conveyed to Gavin R. Price-Fuller (Instrument Number: 201908120101229);
Thence South 89°02'41" East, with the southerly line of said Price-Fuller parcel and a northerly line of a record 8.930 acre parcel conveyed to James E. and Karen L. Ruggles (Official Record 19425, Page I18) and across said Demorest Road and that 0.218 acre highway easement conveyed to the County of Franklin by deed of record in Deed Book 1303, Page 25, a distance of 230.00 feet;
Thence North 00°56'50" East, with the easterly line of said Price-Fuller parcel and a westerly line of a said Ruggles parcel, a distance of 123.00 feet;
Thence South 89°02'41" East, with a northerly line of said Ruggles parcel and the southerly line of part of a record 7.757 acre parcel conveyed to Hank W. and Patricia S. Schreck (Official Record 16809, Page E08), a distance of 285.69 feet;
Thence along the lands of said Schreck parcel the following two (2) courses:
North 00°34'19" East, a distance of 273.34 feet; North 44°10'57" West, a distance of 75.87 feet to the westerly right-of-way line of Christy Lane (60’) said point being the southeast corner of Lot 22 of Robin Estates (Plat Book 52, Page 98);
Thence North 84°02'04" East, with the southerly line of Lot Numbers 36, 35, 34, 33, 32 and 31 of said Robin Estates No. 2 (Plat Book 52, Page 98) and along the southerly line of Christy Lane (60’), a distance of 676.52 feet to an iron pin set in a southwesterly corner of Reserve “H” in Big Run Ridge Section 3 Part 3 (Plat Book 120, Page 17), a northwesterly corner of the City of Columbus corporation line;
Thence South 01°05'35" West, with the westerly line of said Reserve “H” and the westerly line of Lot Numbers 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147 and Reserve “C” of Big Run Ridge Section 2 Part 2 (Plat Book 116, Page 35), a distance of 958.39 feet to a northeast corner of a record 7.517 acre parcel conveyed to PLM South Grove, LLC (Instrument Number: 202110140186490), and also being the southeasterly corner of said Ruggles parcel;
Thence along the southerly lines of land of said Ruggles parcel the following three (3) courses:
Thence North 66°41'57” West, a distance of 364.60 feet;
Thence North 00°28'43” West, a distance of 100.00 feet;
Thence South 89°29'34" West, along the southerly line of said Ruggles parcel and across said County of Franklin Easement and Demorest Road, a distance of 789.86 feet to the TRUE PLACE OF BEGINNING and containing 14.07 acres, more or less, being all out of Jackson Township. With 5.29 acres located in said 7.757 acre parcel, and 8.78 acres located in said 8.930 acre parcel, more or less, as surveyed by Steven W. Clutter, for and on behalf of CESO, Inc. in November of 2024.
This description of the above zoning area and location of the property to be amended for zoning purposes only, and is not a boundary survey as defined in O.A.C. Chapter 4733.37. This description was prepared from records of the Engineer and Recorder's office of Franklin County, Ohio, and is not intended for the transfer of real property.
The basis of bearings is Ohio State Plane South Zone (NAD 83, 2011 Epoch 2010). The Columbus, Mount Vernon, and McConnelsville CORS stations were used in determining the grid bearing and establishing a bearing of N 00° 56' 50" E, for a portion of the centerline of Demorest Road, between Franklin County Geodetic Survey Monuments 1237 Reset and 1239 derived from GPS coordinates.
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 said building elevations titled, “BUILDING TYPE ‘G’ ELEVATIONS,” and “ARCHITECTURAL ELEVATIONS - ANCILLARY STRUCTURES,” all dated August 6, 2025, and said text titled, “LIMITATION TEXT,” dated August 18, 2025, all signed by Jeffery L. Brown, Attorney for the Applicant, and the text reading as follows:
LIMITATION TEXT
PROPOSED DISTRICT: L-AR-1
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 2410 Demorest Road
OWNER: James & Karen L Ruggles et al.
APPLICANT: Metro Development LLC
DATE OF TEXT: 8/18/25
APPLICATION NUMBER: Z25-012
1. INTRODUCTION: The site is on the east side of Demorest Road north of Big Run South Road. There is an existing home on the southern portion of the site. 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.
1. The maximum number of dwelling units shall be 264.
2. The height of the garages is increased from 15 to 16 feet (see CV25-025).
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 southbound left turn lane with a length of 175 feet which includes 50 foot diverging taper.
2. A northbound right turn lane with a length of 175 feet which includes a 50 foot diverging taper. 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 the estimate and schematic reviewed and approved by the Franklin County Engineer’s office.
3. The applicant shall contribute $193,166.16 to the City of Columbus for regional roadway improvements in this area.
4. The applicant shall extend a pedestrian facility from the southern edge of the site frontage on Demorest Road to connect to the pedestrian facilities at the intersection of Demorest Road and Black Pine Drive.
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 buildings shall be constructed in accordance with the submitted building elevations. The building elevations may be slightly adjusted to reflect engineering, topographical, or other site data developed at the time of the development plan and when engineering and architectural drawings are completed. Any slight adjustments to the building elevations shall be subject to review and approval by the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services, or a designee, upon submission of the appropriate data regarding proposed adjustment.
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 is contingent upon City Council passage of Ordinance #2303-2025 (AN25-008) which proposes annexation of the subject site.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.