Explanation
Rezoning Application: Z26-011
APPLICANT: Metro Development LLC c/o Jeffrey L. Brown, Atty.; 172 East State Street, Suite 550; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (6-0) on April 9, 2026.
GREATER SOUTH EAST AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The 14.8± acre site consists of five parcels developed with single-unit dwellings and multiple detached garages in the R, Rural District, RRR, Restricted Rural Residential District, and PUD-6, Planned Unit Development District. The requested L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District will allow a 288-unit apartment complex development. The limitation text establishes use restrictions and supplemental development standards addressing maximum unit count, roadway improvements, site connectivity, landscaping, and building design, and includes a commitment to develop the site in accordance with the submitted site plan and building elevations. A concurrent Council variance (Ordinance #1532-2026; CV26-026) is also being considered requesting a reduced building setback along Long Road. Although the proposal exceeds the “Very Low Density” (less than 4 units/acre) land use recommendation of the South East Land Use Plan (2018), Staff notes the proposal is consistent with Columbus Growth Strategy’s (2026) Guiding Principles regarding providing a variety of housing types to support mixed-income communities. Staff also notes the proposal is compatible with existing multi-unit residential developments to the east and west of the site. Furthermore, the request aligns with the City’s objective of providing more housing in all neighborhoods.
Title
To rezone 7210 LONG RD. (43110), being 14.8± acres located at the northeast corner of Long Road and Abbie Trails Drive, From: R, Rural District, RRR, Restricted Rural Residential District and PUD-6, Planned Unit Development District, To: L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District (Rezoning #Z26-011).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z26-011 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 14.8± acres from R, Rural District, RRR, Restricted Rural Residential District and PUD-6, Planned Unit Development District, to the L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District; and
WHEREAS, the Development Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the Greater South East Area Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of the zoning change because the requested L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District will provide a variety of housing types, is compatible with existing development along this portion of Long Road, and aligns with the City’s objective of creating more housing; 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:
7210 LONG RD. (43110), being 14.8± acres located at the northeast corner of Long Road and Abbie Trails Drive, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, Township of Madison, Range 20, Township 15, Section 6, Congress Lands and being 14.8+/- acres of land, said 14.8+/- acres being all of that 1.314 acre tract of land conveyed to James W. and Christine A. Beaty of record in Instrument Number 201708150112901, being all of the 1.951 acre tract of land conveyed to Tamara Carey and Robert W. Martin of record in Instrument Number 200411030253870, all of a 1.471 acre tract of land conveyed to Tamara Carey and Robert W. Martin of record in Instrument Number 200411030253862, being all of a 6.194 acre tract of land conveyed to James W. Beaty of record in Instrument Number 202308030078363 and all of a 3.248 acre tract of land conveyed to James Aaron and Shanda M. Delong of record in Instrument Number 202510310124180, said 14.8+/- acres of land more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at the southwesterly corner of said 1.951 acre tract and of the northwesterly quarter of said Section 6, Township 15, Range 20, being the northwesterly corner of said 1.314 acre tract and the southwesterly quarter of said Section 6, Township 15, Range 2, being the easterly line of a 2.496 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 201909180121408 and Section 1, Township 11, Range 21 and being in the westerly right-of-way line of Long Road (R/W-40’) as dedicated in Road Record 5, Page 210;
Thence N 04° 12’ 10” E, along the westerly line of said 1.951 acre tract and said 1.417 acre tract, along the easterly line of said 2.496 acre tract and a 22.852 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Official Record 11172H07, along said westerly right-of-way line and across said Long Road (R/W-40’) right-of-way, 184.12+/- feet, to the northwesterly corner of said 1.417 acre tract, being the southwesterly corner of a 20.509 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 200208230207986 and being in the northerly right-of-way line of said Long Road (R/W-40’);
Thence along the northerly line of said 1.417 acre tract and the southerly line of said 20.509 acre tract, the following two (2) courses:
S 86° 38’ 24” E, 403.22+/- feet,
N 73° 02’ 11” E, 190.56+/- feet to an angle point thereof;
Thence S 86° 19’ 27” E, along the northerly line of said 1.417 acre tract, along a southerly line of said 20.509 acre tract and a southerly line of a 36.014 acre tract of land described as the Reserve at Abbie Lakes Condominium of record in Condominium Plat Book 305, Page 874 and declared in Instrument Number 202412270135998, 146.91+/- feet, to the northeasterly corner of said 1.417 acre tract and a southwesterly corner of said 36.014 acre tract;
Thence S 05° 15’ 17” W, along the easterly line of said 1.417 acre tract and along the westerly line of said 36.014 acre tract, 246.57+/- feet, to the southeasterly corner of said 1.417 acre tract, being the northeasterly corner of said 6.194 acre tract and being at an angle point in the westerly line of said 36.014 acre tract;
Thence S 06° 37’ 36” W, along the common lines of said 6.194 acre tract and said 36.014 acre tract, along the westerly line of a 1.067 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 200205130120113 and crossing the right-of-way of Long Road (R/W-60’), 701.02+/- feet to an angle point at the southwesterly corner of said 1.067 acre tract and being in the centerline of said Long Road (R/W-60’);
Thence S 50° 15’ 37” E, continuing along said common line and said centerline, 92.48+/- feet to a common corner thereof and being in a curve being in the northerly right-of-way line of Abbie Trails Drive (R/W-60’) and a 2.373 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 199912290317412;
Thence along the southerly line of said 6.194 acre tract and along said northerly of said 2.373 acre tract and said right-of-way line, with a curve to the left, having a central angle of 37°29’47” and a radius of 1050.00 feet, an arc length of 687.16+/- feet, a chord bearing and chord distance of N 86° 53’ 01” W, 674.96+/- feet to the southwesterly corner of said 6.194 acre tract and being at the right-of-way intersection of Abbie Trails Drive (R/W-60’) and a relocated Long Road (R/W-50’);
Thence along the common lines of said 6.194 acre tract and said 2.373 acre tract, the following five (5) courses:
N 17° 42’ 03” W, 64.70+/- feet to a point of curvature;
with a curve to the right, having a central angle of 10°54’27” and a radius of 475.00 feet, an arc length of 90.43+/- feet, a chord bearing and chord distance of N 12° 14’ 49” W, 90.29+/- feet to a point of curvature;
with a curve to the right, having a central angle of 101°40’57” and a radius of 25.00 feet, an arc length of 44.37+/- feet, a chord bearing and chord distance of N 44° 02’ 28” E, 38.77+/- feet to a point;
N 04° 12’ 56” E, 10.00+/- feet to a point at a northwesterly corner of said 6.194 acre tract, being in the southerly line of said 3.248 acre tract and in the centerline of Long Road (R/W-60’);
N 85° 12’ 57” W, 69.24+/- feet to the southwesterly corner of said 3.248 acre tract, being in the centerline of Long Road (R/W-60’) and in the westerly right-of-way line of Long Road (R/W-40’);
Thence N 04° 12’ 10” E, along the westerly line of said 3.248 acre tract and said 1.314 acre tract, along the easterly line of a 1.1066 acre tract of land conveyed to Tanika N. Flowers-Sykes of record in Instrument Number 202206210091746 and said 2.496 acre tract and along said westerly right-of-way line, 573.19+/- feet to the True Point of Beginning, and containing 14.8+/- acres, more or less.
Subject, however, to all legal highways, easements, and restrictions. The above description was prepared by Advanced Civil Design, Inc. on February 17, 2026 and is based on existing records from the Franklin County Auditor’s and Recorder’s Office. No survey work was conducted during the preparation of this description. A drawing of the above description is attached hereto and made a part thereof.
This description is to be used for zoning purposes only and not to be used in the transfer of land.
All references used in this description can be found at the Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
To Rezone From: R, Rural District, RRR, Restricted Rural Residential District and PUD-6, Planned Unit Development 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, “3-STORY BUILDING ELEVATION - TYPE G, TYPE J and TYPE L,” and “ARCHITECTURAL ELEVATIONS - ANCILLARY STRUCTURES,”, all dated April 27, 2026, and said text titled, “LIMITATION TEXT,” dated May 7, 2026, all signed by Jeffrey L. Brown, Attorney for the Applicant, and the text reading as follows:
LIMITATION TEXT
PROPOSED DISTRICT: L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 7210 Long Road
OWNER: James W & Christine A Beaty et al.
APPLICANT: Metro Development LLC
DATE OF TEXT: 5/7/26
APPLICATION NUMBER: Z26-011
1. INTRODUCTION: The site consists of five tax parcels on the north side of Abbie Trails Dune, east of Long Road. The site is located between two existing multi-unit residential developments.
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 288.
2. The building setback shall be reduced from 40 feet to 5 feet along Long Road per CV26-026.
B. Access, Loading, Parking, and/or Other Traffic Related Commitments.
1. The applicant shall restripe Long Road at Site Access to provide a dedicated left turn lane and will make a contribution of $323,139.40 to the City for the future improvement of Gender Road and Abbie Trails Drive.
2. The applicant shall construct a shared use path along the frontage of Long Road and along the west side of the site to connect with Portman Park as shown on the submitted site plan.
C. Buffering, Landscaping, Open Space, and/or Screening Commitments.
1. The perimeter yard shall be landscaped in accordance with the submitted site plan.
2. The trees with the perimeter yard along the east side of the site shall be maintained subject to the removal of dead or diseased trees and shrubberies and subject to utility crossings.
D. Building Design and/or Interior-Exterior Treatment Commitments.
The buildings shall be constructed in accordance with the submitted building elevations titled, “3-Story Building Elevation - Type G, Type J and Type L,” and “Architectural Elevations - Ancillary Structures.” 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.
1. 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.
2. The applicant shall comply with the parkland dedication ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.