Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV26-059
APPLICANT: Joshua Tomey; 1286 East Fulton Street; Columbus, OH 43205
PROPOSED USE: Two two-unit dwellings.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of four undeveloped parcels in the R, Rural District after recent annexation into the City of Columbus from Sharon Township. A future lot combination has been proposed that will result in two new lots: Lot 01 and Lot 02. The requested Council Variance will allow a two-unit dwelling on each newly created lot, for a total of four dwelling units. A Council variance is required because the R district only allows single-unit dwellings as a primary residential land use. Variances to reduce lot area and building setback lines are also included in this request. Although the proposed use exceeds the Northland I Area Plan (2014) land use recommendation of “Low-Medium Density Residential (4-6 du/ac),” staff notes that Columbus Growth Strategy (CGS) (2026) Guiding Principles recommend the creation and preservation of a variety of housing types to support mixed-income communities. This includes housing that is affordable to low- and middle-income families, age-friendly housing, and missing middle housing. The request also includes building elevations that are consistent with CGS Residential Design Guidelines.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.02, R-rural district; 3332.06, R-rural area district requirements; and 3332.21, Building lines, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 6733 MAPLE CANYON AVE. (43229), to allow a two-unit dwelling development with reduced development standards in the R, Rural District (Council Variance #CV26-059).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV26-059, the owner of the property at 6733 MAPLE CANYON AVE. (43229), is requesting a Council variance to allow two-unit dwelling development with reduced development standards in the R, Rural District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.02, R-rural district, allows one single-unit dwelling on a lot as a primary residential use, while the applicant proposes a two-unit dwelling on both Lot 01 and Lot 02; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.06, R-rural area district requirements, requires that a single-unit dwelling or other principal building shall be situated on a lot of not less than five acres in area, while the applicant proposes a reduced lot area of 0.13± acres for both Lot 01 and Lot 02; and
WHEREAS, Section 3332.21, Building lines, requires a building setback line of 20 feet along Maple Canyon Drive, per the platted setback, while the applicant proposes a reduced building line of four feet on both Lot 01 and Lot 02; and
WHEREAS, the City Departments recommend approval because the requested variance will provide missing middle housing and is consistent with CGS Residential Design Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, said ordinance requires separate submission for all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed two-unit dwellings; 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 6733 MAPLE CANYON AVE. (43229), 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 3332.02, R-rural district; 3332.06, R-rural area district requirements; and 3332.21, Building lines, of the Columbus City Codes; is hereby granted for the property located at 6733 MAPLE CANYON AVE. (43229), insofar as said sections prohibit two-unit dwellings on Lot 01 and Lot 02; with reduced lot areas from five acres to 0.13± acres for Lot 01 and Lot 02; and reduced building setback lines from 20 feet to four feet on Lot 01 and Lot 02; said property being more particularly described as follows:
6733 MAPLE CANYON AVE. (43229), being 0.27± acres located on the west side of Maple Canyon Avenue, at the western terminus of Home Acre Drive and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, Township of Sharon, Quarter Township 1, Township 2, Range 18, United State Military Lands, being 0.28 acre consisting of lots 26, 27, 28 and 29 as shown and delineated upon the plat "Amended Plat of Lots 88 to 92 North Home Acre Park", a subdivision of record in Plat Book 17, Page 72, and conveyed in a deed to 6733 Maple Canyon LLC of record in Instrument No. 202109270171585 as shown on said plat, all references herein being to the records of the Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio, and being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning, at the southwesterly comer of said Lot 29, the northwesterly comer of Lot 152 as shown and delineated upon the plat "Amended North Home Acre Park #2" a subdivision of record in Plat Book 20, Page 2, said point being the northwesterly comer of a tract as conveyed to Enikimberly Avery of record in Instrument No. 201804110047411, in the easterly line of "Sharon Woods Section 7" a subdivision of record in Plat Book 43, Page 50 and at the intersection of the easterly perimeter of the existing corporation line for the City of Columbus established by Ordinance Number 1254-86, of record in Miscellaneous Volume 141, Page 472, annexation case No. COC 232 and the existing northerly perimeter of the existing corporation line for the City of Columbus established by Ordinance Number 2368-88, of record in Official Record Volume 12564, Page F18 and shown and delineated in Plat Book 69, Page 47, annexation case no. COC 53-88;
Thence Northerly along the westerly lines of said Lots 26-29, the easterly line of said "Sharon Woods Section 7", the westerly line of said "Amended Plat of Lots 88 to 92 North Home Acre Park" and in the existing perimeter of the existing corporation line for the City of Columbus established by Ordinance Number 1254-86, of record in Official Miscellaneous Volume 141, Page 472, Annexation Case No. COC 232, a distance of 122 +/- feet to a point at the northwesterly comer of said Lot 26, the southwesterly corner of Lot 25 of said "Amended Plat of Lots 88 to 92 North Home Acre Park" said point being the southwesterly comer of a tract as conveyed in a deed to Rebecca J. Lawless and Carl D. Lawless, Trustees of record in Instrument No. 202511240135697;
Thence Easterly along the northerly line of said Lot 26, the southerly line of Lot 25 and the southerly line of said Lawless tract, a distance of 100 +/- feet to a point in the westerly right of way line of Maple Canyon Avenue (50.00 feet in width) the northeasterly comer of said Lot 26 the southeasterly comer of said Lot 25, the southeasterly comer of said Lawless tract and in the westerly perimeter of the existing corporation line of the City of Columbus established by City of Columbus Ord. No. 2121-00, as shown and delineated in Plat Book 95, Page 95 of record in Instrument No. 200011150231293;
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is conditioned on and shall remain in effect only for so long as said property is used for a two-unit dwelling on Lot 01 and Lot 02, as reflected on the submitted site plan, or those uses allowed in the R, Rural District.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned on the subject site being developed in general conformance with the site plan titled, "ARCHITECTURAL SITE PLAN," dated October 1, 2026, and exterior elevations titled "BUILDING ELEVATIONS," dated June 2, 2026, both signed by Joshua Tomey, 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 adjustments to the plans 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 Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed two-unit dwellings.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.