Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV24-122
APPLICANT: TWG Development, c/o David Hodge, Atty.; 8000 Walton Parkway, Suite 260, New Albany, OH 43054.
PROPOSED USE: Apartment complex.
FAR SOUTH AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The applicant has received a recommendation of approval from Staff and the Development Commission for a concurrent rezoning (Ordinance #0263-2025; Z24-050) to the AR-1, Apartment Residential District. The requested Council variance commits to a site plan demonstrating a 144-unit apartment complex, and includes variances to reduce parking lot landscaping, parking setback, minimum number of parking spaces (from 216 to 188), and perimeter yard. The variances are supported as they achieve a site design that avoids disturbing the Stream Corridor Protection Zone (SCPZ), provides bicycle parking above what is required by code, hides parking to the extent possible, and is consistent with site design recommendations of the Scioto Southland Plan (2007) and Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) Design Guidelines (2018).
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3312.21(A), Landscaping and screening; 3312.27, Parking setback line; 3312.49, Required parking; and 3333.255, Perimeter yard, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 106 W. CASTLE RD. (43207) to allow reduced development standards for an apartment complex in the AR-1, Apartment Residential District (Council Variance #CV24-122).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV23-122, the owner of property at 106 W. CASTLE RD. (43207) is requesting a Council variance to allow reduced development standards for an apartment complex in the AR-1, Apartment Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.21(A), Landscaping and screening, requires the interior of any parking lot containing 10 or more parking spaces to provide one deciduous shade tree per 10 spaces within islands or peninsulas, with 19 shade trees being required for an 188-space parking lot, while the applicant proposes to 15 trees; and
WHEREAS, Section 3312.27, Parking setback line, requires a parking setback line of 25 feet along West Castle Road, while the applicant proposes a reduced parking setback line of 5 feet along West Castle Road; and
WHEREAS, 3312.49, Required parking, requires a minimum number of parking spaces of 216, while the applicant proposes 188 parking spaces; and
WHEREAS, 3333.255, Perimeter yard, requires a minimum perimeter yard of 25 feet, while the applicant proposes a perimeter yard of 10 feet; and
WHEREAS, the Far South Columbus Area Commission recommends approval, and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the requested variances achieve a site design that avoids disturbing the Stream Corridor Protection Zone (SCPZ), provides bicycle parking above what is required by code, hides parking to the extent possible, and is consistent with the site design recommendations of the Scioto Southland Plan and C2P2 Design Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed development; 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 106 W. CASTLE RD. (43207), in using said property as desired; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a variance from the provisions of Sections 3312.21(A), Landscaping and screening; 3312.27, Parking setback line; 3312.49, Required parking; and 3333.255, Perimeter yard, of the Columbus City Codes; is hereby granted for the property located at 106 W. CASTLE RD. (43207), insofar as said sections prohibit a reduction in the number of parking lot interior shade trees from 19 to 15; a reduced parking setback line along West Castle Road from 25 feet to 5 feet; a reduction in the minimum number of required parking spaces from 216 to 188; and reduced perimeter yard from 25 feet to 10 feet; said property being more particularly described as follows:
106 W. CASTLE RD. (43207), being 5.64± acres located at the western terminus of West Castle Road, and being more particularly described as follows:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio, and in the City of Columbus, and bounded and described as follows:
Being Lot Number Eight (8), Nine (9), Ten (10), and Eleven (11) and Reserve C of Merion’s Brookside Addition, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book 13, Page 20, Recorder’s Office Franklin County, Ohio.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for those uses allowed in the AR-1, Apartment Residential District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the subject site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled, "ZONING PLAN SHEETS 1-2," and elevations titled “BUILDING ELEVATIONS,” all dated January 17, 2025 and signed by Eric Zartman, Attorney for the 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 on the required pavement and sidewalk improvements being provided within the West Castle Road right of way, as noted in the E-Plan scope approved by the Department of Public Service.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the applicant obtaining all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed development.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.