Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-051
APPLICANT: Nitzan Levi; 139 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Four-unit dwelling.
NEAR EAST 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 development of a four-unit dwelling. A Council variance is required because single-unit dwellings are the only allowable residential use in the R-3 district. Variances for parking lot screening, stacked parking, and area district lot width requirements are included in this request. The site is within the planning boundaries of the Near East Area Plan (2005), which does not contain a specific land use recommendation for this location, however the Plan does recommend that new construction be consistent with adjacent housing types and densities. Staff notes that the proposed site plan and building elevations are consistent with both the Plan’s design guidelines and recommendations regarding adjacent housing types and densities. The request does not add an incompatible use to the area and is also providing more housing, consistent with the City's priorities.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.035, R-3 residential district; 3312.21(D)(1), Landscaping and screening; 3312.29, Parking space; and 3332.05(A)(4), Area district lot width requirements, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 1287 E. FULTON ST. (43205), to allow a four-unit dwelling with reduced development standards in the R-3, Residential District (Council Variance #CV25-051).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-051, the owner of the property at 1287 E. FULTON ST. (43205), is requesting a Variance to allow a four-unit dwelling with reduced development standards in the R-3, Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.035, R-3, Residential District, lists single-unit dwellings as the only allowable residential use, while the applicant proposes a four-unit dwelling; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.21(D)(1), Landscaping and screening, requires screening of parking lots and drive aisles within 80 feet of residentially zoned districts to be five feet high, four feet wide, and 75 percent opaque, while the applicant proposes a fence with a height of five feet, but will not provide the required landscaped buffer area of four feet; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.29, Parking space, requires that a parking space shall be a rectangular area of not less than nine feet by 18 feet with no stacking allowed, while the applicant proposes stacked parking, as shown on the submitted site plan; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.05, Area district lot width requirements, requires a lot no less than 50 feet wide, while the applicant proposes to maintain a reduced lot width of 37.34, as shown on the submitted site plan; and
WHEREAS, the Near East Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, City Departments recommend approval because the requested variances will allow more housing consistent with the City’s priorities with a site design that is consistent with the Near East Area Plan and C2P2 Design Guidelines); and
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed four-unit dwelling; and
WHEREAS, said variance will not adversely affect the surrounding property or surrounding neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the granting of said variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent properties or unreasonably increase the congestion of public streets, or unreasonably diminish or impair established property values within the surrounding area, or otherwise 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 owners of the property located at 1287 E. FULTON ST. (43205), in using said property as desired; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a variance is hereby granted from the provisions of Sections 3332.035, R-3, residential district; 3312.21(D)(1), Landscaping and screening; 3312.29, Parking space; and 3332.05, Area district lot width requirements, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 1287 E. FULTON ST. (43205), insofar as said sections prohibit a four-unit dwelling in the R-3, Residential District, with no landscaped area for parking lot screening; stacked parking spaces that maneuver over parking spaces that count as required parking spaces; and reduced lot width from 50 to 37.34 feet; said property being more particularly described as follows:
1287 E. FULTON ST. (43205), being 0.13± acres located on the south side of East Fulton Street, 300± feet east of Linwood Avenue, and being more particularly described as follows:
Being Lot Number Forty (40) of H.H. Kimball’s Heirs Second Subdivision, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book 7 Page 126, Recorders Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
Known Address: 1287 E. Fulton St,. Columbus, OH 43205.
Parcel number: 010-044091.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for a four-unit dwelling, or those uses permitted in the R-3, Residential District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on substantial compliance with the site plan drawing titled, "SITE PLAN," dated October 23, 2025, and signed by Juliet Bullock, Architect for the Applicant, and building elevation titled “BUILDING ELEVATION,” dated October 30, 2025, and signed by Nitzan Levi, Applicant. The plans 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 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 is further conditioned upon the applicant obtaining all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed four-unit dwelling.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.