Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV25-131
APPLICANT: Juliet Bullock Architects; 4866 Olentangy Boulevard; Columbus, OH 43214.
PROPOSED USE: Conform an existing seven-unit apartment building.
COLUMBUS SOUTH SIDE AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of one parcel developed with a seven-unit town-house style apartment building in the R-2F, Residential District. The requested Council variance will conform the existing development and updates the on-site parking with a new detached garage. A Council variance is required because while R-2F district allows one single- or one two-unit dwelling on a lot, it does not allow a seven-unit apartment building. Variances for lot coverage and required side yards are also included in this request. Staff note that there are existing two-unit dwellings and other town-house style buildings existing along this portion of Hanford Street, and that variances to the development standards will conform existing conditions. The request is consistent with the land use recommendation of the South Side Plan (2014) for “Medium-High Density Residential” uses, and will not introduce an incompatible use to the area.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.037, R-2F residential district; 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area; and 3332.25(A)(B), Required side yard, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 427 HANFORD ST. (43206), to conform a seven-unit apartment building with reduced development standards in the R-2F, Residential District (Council Variance #CV25-131).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV25-131, the owner of the property at 427 HANFORD ST. (43206), is requesting a Council variance to conform a seven-unit apartment building with reduced development standards in the R-2F, Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.037, R-2F residential district, prohibits dwellings greater than two units, while the applicant proposes to conform an existing seven-unit town-house style apartment building; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area, requires a maximum lot coverage of 50 percent of the total lot area, while the applicant proposes an increased lot coverage of 52.37 percent; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.25(A)(2), Required side yards, requires a minimum side yard of five feet, while the applicant proposes to maintain reduced side yards of 2.28 feet on the west property line, and zero feet on the east property line; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.25(A)(2), Required side yards, requires that the sum of the widths of the side yards equal or exceed 20 percent of the width of the lot, or 16 feet for a lot width of 105 feet, while the applicant proposes to maintain the reduced total side yard of 2.28 feet; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus South Side Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the request is consistent with both the South Side Plan’s land use recommendation at this location, and the existing development pattern along this portion of Hanford Street. The proposed use will not introduce an incompatible use to the area; and
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and a Certificate of Zoning Clearance for the proposed detached garage building; and
WHEREAS, said variances will not adversely affect the surrounding property or surrounding neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the granting of said variances will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to the adjacent property, unreasonably increase the congestion of public streets, increase the danger of fires, endanger the public safety, unreasonably diminish or impair established property values within the surrounding area, or in any other respect 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 owner of the property located at 427 HANFORD ST. (43206), 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 3332.037, R-2F residential district; 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area; 3332.25(A)(2), Required side yards; and 3332.25(B)(2), Required side yards, of the Columbus City Codes; is hereby granted for the property located at 427 HANFORD ST. (43206), insofar as said sections prohibit a seven-unit apartment building in the R-2F, Residential District, with increased lot coverage from 50 percent to 52.37 percent; reduced minimum side yards from five feet to 2.28 feet on the western property line, and zero feet on the eastern property line; and reduced total side yard from 16 feet to 2.28 feet; said property being more particularly described as follows:
427 HANFORD ST. (43206), being 0.29± acres located on the south side of Hanford Street, 140± feet west of Parsons Avenue, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the County of Franklin, in the State of Ohio, and in the City of Columbus:
Being Lot Numbers 5, 6, 7 of J Schmidt’s Addition, of record in Plat Book 5, page 284, in Franklin County, Ohio recorder’s office Parcel number 010-022196 and .29 acres.
Address: 427 Hanford Street, Columbus, OH 43206
Parcel Number: 010-022196
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for a seven-unit apartment building in accordance with the submitted site plan, or those uses allowed in the R-2F, Residential District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the subject site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled, "PROPOSED SITE PLAN," dated December 4, 2025, and signed by Juliet Bullock, Applicant. The plan 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 plan shall be subject to review and approval by the Director of the Department 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 a Certificate of Zoning Clearance for the proposed detached garage building.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.