Explanation
Rezoning Application: Z26-008
APPLICANT: Kenneth Wilson c/o Shea Wilson, Agent; 1219 Oak Street; Columbus, OH 43205.
PROPOSED USE: Mixed-use development.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval (6-0) on June 11, 2026.
NEAR EAST AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of four parcels developed with a parking lot in the L-P-1, Limited Private Parking District. The proposed CPD, Commercial Planned Development District will allow a mixed-use development containing 15 apartment units, 11 townhouse-style units, and approximately 600 square feet of eating and drinking establishment space. The development text establishes appropriate use restrictions and supplemental development standards addressing maximum building height, building and parking setbacks, required parking, site access, landscaping, building design, dumpsters, and lighting, and includes a commitment to develop the site in accordance with the submitted site plan. Additionally, the text includes code modifications to reduce building setbacks, required parking, landscaping, and vision clearance, as well as to increase maximum building height. A concurrent Council variance (Ordinance #1924-2026; CV26-023) is also included to allow ground-floor residential uses. Although the Near East Area Plan (2005) does not have a land use recommendation at the site, Staff notes the request is consistent with Columbus Growth Strategy’s (CGS) (2026) Guiding Principles which state, “Mixed Use and high density residential development should be focused along primary corridors, at established commercial centers, and at locations recommended for mixed-use developments with access to existing, planned, or potential transit.” Furthermore, the request aligns with the City’s objective of providing more housing in all neighborhoods throughout the city.
Title
To rezone 1258 OAK ST. (43205), being 0.36± acres located at the northwest corner of Oak Street and Wilson Avenue, From: L-P-1, Limited Private Parking District, To: CPD, Commercial Planned Development District (Rezoning #Z26-008).
Body
WHEREAS, application #Z26-008 is on file with the Department of Building and Zoning Services requesting rezoning of 0.36± acres from L-P-1, Limited Private Parking District, to CPD, Commercial Planned Development District; and
WHEREAS, the Development Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the Near East Area Commission recommends approval of said zoning change; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval of said zoning change because the requested CPD, Commercial Planned Development District will allow a mixed-use development that is consistent with Columbus Growth Strategy Guiding Principles 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 #0179 -03, passed February 24, 2003, and as subsequently amended, is hereby revised by changing the zoning of the property as follows:
1258 OAK ST. (43205), being 0.36± acres located at the northwest corner of Oak Street and Wilson Avenue, and being more particularly described as follows:
Parcel 010-001215
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio and in the City of Columbus: Being Lot Number Twenty-Nine (29) in the STEWARD AND JONES SUBDIVISION, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book 2, Page 192, Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
Parcel 010-031026
Situated in the City of Columbus, County of Franklin, and State of Ohio and bounded and described as follows: Being Lot Number Twenty Six (26) in STEWARD AND JONES’ SUBDIVISION of part of Lots Nos. 2, 4, 6, and 8 in what is known as J.N. Champion’s Subdivision in Half Section 23, Tp. 5, R. 22, Refugee Lands, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded Plat of said Steward and Jones’ Subdivision of record in Plat Book No. 2, Page 192, Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
Parcel 010-043259
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio and in the City of Columbus: Being Lot Number Twenty-Eight (28) in the STEWARD AND JONES SUBDIVISION, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book 2, Page 192, Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
Parcel 010-051359
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio and in the City of Columbus: Being Lot Number Twenty-Seven (27) in the STEWARD AND JONES SUBDIVISION, as the same is numbered and delineated upon the recorded plat thereof, of record in Plat Book 2, Page 192, Recorder’s Office, Franklin County, Ohio.
To Rezone From: L-P-1, Limited Private Parking District,
To: CPD, Commercial Planned Development District.
SECTION 2. That a Height District of sixty (60) 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 original zoning map and shall register a copy of the 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 plan being titled, “PROPOSED SITE PLAN AND LANDSCAPE PLAN,” and text titled, “CPD TEXT,” both dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Kenneth Wilson, Applicant, and the text reading as follows:
CPD TEXT
EXISTING ZONING: L-P-1, Limited Private Parking District
PROPOSED ZONING: CPD, Commercial Planned Development District
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 1258 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43205
PARCEL ID: 010-001215, 010-043259, 010-051359, and 010-031026)
APPLICANT: Kenneth Wilson
OWNER: Olde Towne East Apartment LLC, 580 SOUTH HIGH STE 120 COLUMBUS, OH 43215
DATE OF TEXT: June 11, 2026
APPLICATION NUMBER: Z26-008
1. INTRODUCTION: The subject site consists of four parcels at the intersection of Oak Street and Wilson Avenue. The proposed development is a high-density, mixed-use urban infill project featuring a ground-floor public cafe, apartments, and ground-level, two-story townhouse-style units.
2. PERMITTED USES: Permitted uses shall all uses permitted under Chapter(s) 3356, C-4 Commercial District, and shall additionally permit ground-floor residential townhome style dwelling units with CV26-023.
3. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS: Unless otherwise indicated on the Site Plan or in this written text, the applicable development standards shall be those standards contained in Chapter 3356, C-4, Commercial District, of the Columbus City Code.
A. Density, Height, Lot and/or Setback Commitments
1. The maximum building height shall not exceed 62 feet.
2. The building setback along the southern property line (Oak Street) shall be 0 feet.
3. The building setback along the eastern property line (Wilson Avenue) shall be 2 feet. A 2-foot landscaping bed shall be provided within the building setback along the eastern property line (Wilson Avenue), with allowances for pedestrian walkways connecting the public sidewalk to ground-floor entrances.
4. The building setback along the northern property line (Alley) shall be 0 feet.
5. The building and parking lot setback along the western property line (Neighbor, Z73-197, adjacent parcel (010-051804)) shall be 0 feet.
B. Access, Loading, Parking and/or Traffic Related Commitments
1. Parking for the apartment and townhouse-style residential units shall be provided at a ratio of 1 space per unit.
2. Parking for the public cafe shall be provided at a total of 1 parking space.
3. Access for entering and exiting the parking lot shall be provided exclusively through the Alley, utilizing a chamfer for turning.
C. Buffering, Landscaping, Open Space, and/or Screening Commitments
1. The applicant commits to installing 4 street trees within the public right-of-way along Wilson Avenue, subject to the spacing and species approval of, and in consultation with, the Columbus City Forester. Not enough applicable space is provided in the public R.O.W. along Oak Street.
2. The rear parking area shall be screened from the western property line by a 100% opaque wooden fence or masonry wall, measuring no less than 6 feet in height, to mitigate visual impact.
3. Any ground-level townhouse-style entrances facing the street may incorporate flush planter boxes or architectural stoops to transition from the public sidewalk to the private residence.
4. Dedicated green space to be provided in front of the townhouse-style units and a dedicated green space park with bicycle parking integrated for ease of use.
D. Building design and/or Interior-Exterior treatment commitments
1. Primary exterior building materials for all facades visible from the public right-of-way shall consist of high-quality, durable materials including brick, stone, architectural masonry, glass, metal panels, cementitious fiberboard siding, or a combination thereof. Vinyl siding and untreated concrete block (CMU) are strictly prohibited as primary exterior finishes.
2. The ground floor public cafe shall feature prominent storefront glazing (minimum 60% transparency) along Oak Street to activate the pedestrian streetscape.
3. To mitigate the visual massing of the 62-foot building height, the facades will incorporate architectural articulations such as material changes, vertical relief, step-backs, or balconies to break up the vertical plane.
E. Dumpsters, Lighting, Outdoor Display Areas and/or Environmental Commitments
1. All dumpsters, recycling bins, and trash receptacles shall be located either entirely within the footprint of the primary building or within a fully enclosed, masonry-screened area in the rear parking lot. Trash pickup shall occur exclusively via the alley.
2. All exterior lighting on the building and in the parking area shall be "dark sky compliant," utilizing full cut-off fixtures directed downward and inward. Lighting shall be designed to prevent light trespass and glare onto the adjacent residential parcel (010-051804) and the public right-of-way.
3. No outdoor storage or outdoor display of merchandise shall be permitted on the site.
F. Graphics and Signage Commitments
Graphics on the Site will comply with the Graphics Code, Article 15, Title 33 of the Columbus City Code as it applies to the C-4, Commercial District. Variances to sign requirements shall be submitted to the Columbus Graphics Commission or master graphic plan for the Site may be submitted to the Columbus Graphics Commission for consideration.
G. Miscellaneous Commitments
The subject site shall be in accordance with the attached Site Plan titled, “Proposed Site Plan and Landscape Plan,” dated June 11, 2026. The Site Plan may be slightly adjusted to reflect engineering, topographical or other site data developed at the time that development and engineering plans are completed. Any slight adjustment to the Site Plan 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.
H. Modification of Code Standards
1. Section 3356.11 (C-4 District Setback Lines): Variance to reduce the required building setbacks along Oak Street, the Alley, and the adjacent parcel (010-051804) to 0 feet. Variance to reduce the setback along Wilson Avenue to 2 feet. A 2-foot landscaping bed shall be provided within the building setback along the eastern property line (Wilson Avenue), with allowances for pedestrian walkways
connecting the public sidewalk to ground-floor entrances.
2. Section 3309.14 (Height Districts): Modification to increase the maximum allowable building height from the district standard to 62 feet.
3. Section 3312.49 (Required Parking): Modification to reduce the minimum residential parking requirement per dwelling units from 1.5 spaces to 1 space per unit and from 8 spaces to 1 space for the proposed eating and drinking establishment.
4. Section 3321.05 (Vision Clearance): Modification to reduce the southeastern vision clearance triangle from 30 feet to 15 feet, and to reduce the northeastern vision clearance triangle from 10 feet to 5 feet.
5. Section 3312.21(A) (Landscaping and screening): Modification to not provide a parking lot shade tree.
I. Other CPD Requirements
1. Natural Environment: The subject property is a previously developed, urban infill site with generally flat topography. There are no ravines, streams, wetlands, or sensitive natural environmental features present on the parcels that would be disrupted by this zero-lot-line development.
2. Existing Land Use: Commercial/Vacant.
3. Circulation: Alley access with street frontage on Oak and Wilson.
4. Visual Form of the Environment: Zero-lot-line mixed-use structure.
5. Visibility: Clear lines of sight modified per variance request.
6. Proposed Development: Mixed-use residential and commercial cafe.
7. Behavior Patterns: The development is designed to foster a highly walkable, pedestrian-oriented environment. By positioning the public cafe directly along Oak Street with a 0-foot setback, the project will encourage foot traffic and neighborhood gathering at the street level. Vehicular behavior is intentionally routed away from the main pedestrian corridors by placing all parking access and loading in the rear
alley. The ground-floor townhome style homes will provide an active, "eyes-on-the-street" residential presence, enhancing neighborhood safety and vibrancy during non-business hours.
8. Emissions: None expected beyond standard residential and restaurant levels.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.