Explanation
Rezoning Application: Z23-011
APPLICANT: Abouseada Khaled, Zeinab Kassab; c/o Melva C. Williams-Argaw; 166 Mayfield Boulevard; Columbus, OH 43213.
PROPOSED USE: Commercial uses.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (5-0) on December 11, 2025.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of one parcel developed with a dwelling unit converted to an office in the I, Institutional District. The requested CPD, Commercial Planned Development District will allow C-3, Commercial District uses, including office uses, consistent with the Northland I Area Plan’s (2014) land use recommendation. The CPD text includes appropriate allowable uses, supplemental development standards addressing setbacks, traffic access, street trees, landscaping and screening, and dumpsters, and commitments to develop the site in accordance with the submitted site plan and building elevations. Additionally, this site has been proposed for “Mixed Use 1” land uses by the Columbus Growth Strategy (2026), scheduled for Council adoption.
Title
To rezone 5357 CLEVELAND AVE. (43231), being 0.30± acres located at the southwest corner of Cleveland Avenue and Teakwood Drive, From: I, Institutional District, To: CPD, Commercial Planned Development District (Rezoning #Z23-011).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z23-011 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 0.30± acres from I, Institutional District to CPD, Commercial Planned Development District; and
WHEREAS, the Development Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of said zoning change the requested CPD, Commercial Planned Development District will allow the site to be redeveloped with C-3, Commercial district uses that are consistent with the existing development and zoning pattern along this portion of Cleveland Avenue, and with land use recommendations from both the Northland I Area Plan and Columbus Growth Strategy; 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:
5357 CLEVELAND AVE. (43231), being 0.30± acres located at the southwest corner of Cleveland Avenue and Teakwood Drive, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin and in the City of Columbus:
And known as being in Quarter Township 4, Township 2, Range I 8, United States Military Lands, being part of Parcel 1 conveyed to Reeventure Columbus, LLC as shown of record in Instrument Number 200808190126614, Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio and being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at a found I -inch iron pipe at the Northeast corner of said Parcel 1, being the intersection of the Southerly right-of-way line of Teakwood Drive (60 feet wide as dedicated in Plat Book 43, Page 71, said Recorder's Office) with the Westerly right-of-way line of Cleveland Avenue, being the Northwest corner of the 0.0332 acre tract conveyed to the City of Columbus (Official Records Volume 10245 C-03, said Recorder's Office), said pipe bearing North 43 deg. 06' 38" West, 69.29 feet from FCGS 3379;
Thence, along the Easterly line of said Parcel 1 and the Westerly line of said 0.0332 acre tract, South 03 deg. 57' 00" We1.t, 145.00 feet to a found 1-inch iron pipe at the Southeast corner of said Parcel 1, Southwest comer of said 0.0332 acre tract, Northeast corner of the 0.834 acre tract conveyed to Theresa Saelim (Instrument Number 200510200221287, said Recorder's Office) and the Northwest corner of the 0.1664 acre tract conveyed to the City of Columbus (Official Records Volume 10245 B-05, said Recorder's Office);
Thence, along part of the Southerly line of said Parcel 1 and part of the Northerly line of said 0.834 acre tract, North 86 deg. 05' 00" West, 90.00 feet to a set iron pipe;
Thence, along the Easterly line of said Parcel 1 and the Westerly line of said 0.0332 acre tract, South 03 deg, 57'00” West, 145.00 feet to a found 1-inch iron pipe at the Southeast corner of said Parcel 1, Southwest corner of said 0.0332 :acre tract, Northeast corner of the 0.834 acre tract conveyed to Theresa Saelim (Instrument Number 200510200221287, said Recorder’s Office) and the Northwest corner of the 0.1664 acre tract conveyed to the City of Columbus (Official Record Volume 10245 B-05, said Recorder’s Office);
Thence, along part of the Southerly line of said Parcel 1 and part of the Northerly line of said 0.834 acre tract, North 86 deg. 05' 00" West, 90.00 feel to a set iron pipe;
Thence, across said Parcel 1, North 03 deg. 57' 00" East, 145.00 feet to a set MAG nail in the Northerly line of said Parcel 1 and the Southerly right-of-way of Teakwood Drive;
Thence, along part of the Northerly line of said Parcel 1 and said right-of-way line, South 86 deg. 05'00” East, 90.00 feet to the place of beginning.
Containing 0.299 acres, (13,050 square feet), subject however, to all legal highways, easements, leases and restrictions of record, and of records in the respective utility offices.
The foregoing description was prepared from an actual field survey made by Myers Surveying Company, Inc. in August 2013. Iron pipe set are 30-inch XI-inch (O.D.) with an orange plastic cap inscribed "MYERS P.S. 6579". Bearings are based on the centerline of Teakwood Drive held as South 86 deg. 05' 00" East, as per Plat Book 43, Page 71.
Parcel ID: 010-294449-00
Property Address: 5357 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, OH 43229
To Rezone From: I, Institutional District,
To: CPD, Commercial Planned Development District.
SECTION 2. That a Height District of thirty-five (35) feet is hereby established on the CPD, Commercial Planned Development 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 CPD, Commercial Planned Development District and Application among the records of the Department of Building and Zoning Services as required by Section 3311.12 of the Columbus City Codes; said site plan and building elevations being titled, “SITE PLAN,” and “EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS,” both dated January 14, 2026, and text titled, “DEVELOPMENT TEXT,” dated November 4, 2025, all signed by Melva Williams-Argaw, Agent for the Applicant, and the text reading as follows:
DEVELOPMENT TEXT
PROPOSED DISTRICTS: CPD, Commercial Planned Development District
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 5357 CLEVELAND AVENUE
OWNER: K & Z Property Investment LLC
APPLICANT: Khaled Abouseada and Zeinab Kassab
DATE OF TEXT: 11/04/2025
APPLICATION: Z23-011
1. INTRODUCTION: This site is located on the southwest corner of Teakwood and Cleveland Avenue. The applicant wants to demolish the existing building on site and redevelop the property as a small retail center of 2125 sf.
2. PERMITTED USES:
Those uses permitted under Chapter 3355, C-3, Commercial District of the Columbus City Code. No space of the retail center is intended to be used as food service, except as a “ghost kitchen”.
3. PROHIBITED USES:
N/A
4. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS: Unless otherwise indicated in the text or submitted drawings the applicable development standards are contained in Chapter 3355 C-3, Commercial District of the Columbus City Code.
A. Density, Height, Lot and/or Setback Requirements
1. Height: 35 feet
2, Setback Requirements: rear and side yard - 0 feet; front yard -24 feet as measured from the street right-of-way line
B. Access, Loading, Parking and/or Traffic Related Commitments
1. The existing access point to Cleveland Avenue shall be removed.
2. A sidewalk shall be added to the Teakwood Drive frontage.
3. Parking will be provided along the west side of the proposed building.
4. Right-of-way dedication of 60' from centerline along the Cleveland Ave. frontage will be required per C.C.C. 4309.17.
C. Buffering, Landscaping, Open Space and/or Screening Commitments
1. Street trees shall be planted along the Cleveland Avenue frontage.
2. Parking lot screening shall be erected along the south property line as a buffer to the adjacent property in compliance with Section 3312.21(D).
D. Building Design and/or Interior-Exterior Treatment Commitments
1. The building shall be developed in accordance with the submitted building elevations.
2. Any space developed as a “ghost kitchen” shall have a retail frontage to allow customers to pick up food on-site.
E. Dumpsters, Lighting, Outdoor Display Areas, and/or other Environmental Commitments
A permanent dumpster enclosure with a gate shall be provided as shown on the site plan.
F. Graphics and Signage Commitments
All signage and graphics shall conform to Article 15 of the Columbus City Code as it applies to the appropriate C-3, Commercial District. Any variance to the standards of Graphics Code shall be submitted to the Columbus Graphics Commission.
G. Miscellaneous Commitments
1. The applicant has submitted a Site Plan and Exterior Building Elevations as part of its zoning application. The site shall be developed in accordance with the submitted plans. 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 adjustments to the plans 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.
2. Modification of Code Standards to Section 3312.21(A), Interior Landscaping: 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 two shade trees being required for a 12-space parking lot, while the site shall have zero trees required because the soil radii and area requirements cannot be met due to the limited area that can be used for parking on the site. Specifically, interior landscaping would: 1) affect the parking space 9x18 area requirements, 2) reduce the required parking count, and/or 3) affect the ADA parking space requirements.
3. CPD Criteria
(a) Natural Environment: This site is located on the southwest corner of Teakwood and Cleveland Avenue.
(b) Existing Land Use: Office building/Accounting Services
(c) Circulation: Access to the site shall be from Teakwood Avenue
(d) Visual from the Environment: The applicant proposes to demolish the existing structure and construct a 2125sf 1-story retail center; the existing parking lot shall be expanded to comply with parking requirements for a retail center of 10,000sf or less, Section 3312 - Off-Street Parking and Loading
(e) View and Visibility: Consideration has been given to the visibility and safety of the motorists and pedestrians in the layout of the site.
(f) Proposed Development: Commercial.
(g) Behavior Patterns: Existing development in the area has established the behavior pattern for the motorists in the area.
(h) Emissions: No adverse effect from emissions should result from the proposed development.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.