Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV26-026
APPLICANT: Metro Development LLC c/o Jeffrey L. Brown, Atty.; 172 East State Street, Suite 550; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
GREATER SOUTH EAST 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 #1531-2026; Z26-011) to the L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District for a multi-unit residential development. The requested Council variance will allow a reduced building setback line from 40 feet to five feet along Long Road for a proposed 288-unit apartment complex development. Staff supports the proposed building setback variance because Long Road will be widened and will include a multi-purpose trail along the western boundary of the site, and will encourage a more pedestrian-friendly site design in this area with buildings closer to the trail.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Section 3333.18, Building line, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 7210 LONG RD. (43110), to reduce the required building setback line for an apartment complex in the L-AR-1, Apartment Residential District (Council Variance #CV26-026).
Body
WHEREAS, by application #CV26-026, the owner of the property 7210 LONG RD. (43110), requests a Council variance to reduce the required building setback line for an apartment complex in the L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District; and
WHEREAS, Section 3333.18, Building lines, requires a minimum building setback line of 40 feet along Long Road, while the applicant proposes a reduced building setback line of five feet along Long Road; and
WHEREAS, the Greater South East Area Commission recommends approval; and
WHEREAS, City Departments recommend approval because the because the requested building setback variance will encourage a more pedestrian-friendly site design in this area with buildings closer to the proposed multi-purpose trail; 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 7210 LONG RD. (43110), in using said property as desired; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a variance is hereby granted from the provisions of Section 3333.18, Building line, of the Columbus City Codes; for the property located at 7210 LONG RD. (43110), insofar as said section prohibits a reduced building setback line from 40 feet to five feet along Long Road; said property being more particularly described as follows:
7210 LONG RD. (43110), being 14.8± acres located at the northeast corner of Long Road and Abbie Trails Drive, and being more particularly described as follows:
Situated in the State of Ohio, County of Franklin, Township of Madison, Range 20, Township 15, Section 6, Congress Lands and being 14.8+/- acres of land, said 14.8+/- acres being all of that 1.314 acre tract of land conveyed to James W. and Christine A. Beaty of record in Instrument Number 201708150112901, being all of the 1.951 acre tract of land conveyed to Tamara Carey and Robert W. Martin of record in Instrument Number 200411030253870, all of a 1.471 acre tract of land conveyed to Tamara Carey and Robert W. Martin of record in Instrument Number 200411030253862, being all of a 6.194 acre tract of land conveyed to James W. Beaty of record in Instrument Number 202308030078363 and all of a 3.248 acre tract of land conveyed to James Aaron and Shanda M. Delong of record in Instrument Number 202510310124180, said 14.8+/- acres of land more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at the southwesterly corner of said 1.951 acre tract and of the northwesterly quarter of said Section 6, Township 15, Range 20, being the northwesterly corner of said 1.314 acre tract and the southwesterly quarter of said Section 6, Township 15, Range 2, being the easterly line of a 2.496 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 201909180121408 and Section 1, Township 11, Range 21 and being in the westerly right-of-way line of Long Road (R/W-40’) as dedicated in Road Record 5, Page 210;
Thence N 04° 12’ 10” E, along the westerly line of said 1.951 acre tract and said 1.417 acre tract, along the easterly line of said 2.496 acre tract and a 22.852 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Official Record 11172H07, along said westerly right-of-way line and across said Long Road (R/W-40’) right-of-way, 184.12+/- feet, to the northwesterly corner of said 1.417 acre tract, being the southwesterly corner of a 20.509 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 200208230207986 and being in the northerly right-of-way line of said Long Road (R/W-40’);
Thence along the northerly line of said 1.417 acre tract and the southerly line of said 20.509 acre tract, the following two (2) courses:
S 86° 38’ 24” E, 403.22+/- feet,
N 73° 02’ 11” E, 190.56+/- feet to an angle point thereof;
Thence S 86° 19’ 27” E, along the northerly line of said 1.417 acre tract, along a southerly line of said 20.509 acre tract and a southerly line of a 36.014 acre tract of land described as the Reserve at Abbie Lakes Condominium of record in Condominium Plat Book 305, Page 874 and declared in Instrument Number 202412270135998, 146.91+/- feet, to the northeasterly corner of said 1.417 acre tract and a southwesterly corner of said 36.014 acre tract;
Thence S 05° 15’ 17” W, along the easterly line of said 1.417 acre tract and along the westerly line of said 36.014 acre tract, 246.57+/- feet, to the southeasterly corner of said 1.417 acre tract, being the northeasterly corner of said 6.194 acre tract and being at an angle point in the westerly line of said 36.014 acre tract;
Thence S 06° 37’ 36” W, along the common lines of said 6.194 acre tract and said 36.014 acre tract, along the westerly line of a 1.067 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 200205130120113 and crossing the right-of-way of Long Road (R/W-60’), 701.02+/- feet to an angle point at the southwesterly corner of said 1.067 acre tract and being in the centerline of said Long Road (R/W-60’);
Thence S 50° 15’ 37” E, continuing along said common line and said centerline, 92.48+/- feet to a common corner thereof and being in a curve being in the northerly right-of-way line of Abbie Trails Drive (R/W-60’) and a 2.373 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Columbus, Ohio of record in Instrument Number 199912290317412;
Thence along the southerly line of said 6.194 acre tract and along said northerly of said 2.373 acre tract and said right-of-way line, with a curve to the left, having a central angle of 37°29’47” and a radius of 1050.00 feet, an arc length of 687.16+/- feet, a chord bearing and chord distance of N 86° 53’ 01” W, 674.96+/- feet to the southwesterly corner of said 6.194 acre tract and being at the right-of-way intersection of Abbie Trails Drive (R/W-60’) and a relocated Long Road (R/W-50’);
Thence along the common lines of said 6.194 acre tract and said 2.373 acre tract, the following five (5) courses:
N 17° 42’ 03” W, 64.70+/- feet to a point of curvature;
with a curve to the right, having a central angle of 10°54’27” and a radius of 475.00 feet, an arc length of 90.43+/- feet, a chord bearing and chord distance of N 12° 14’ 49” W, 90.29+/- feet to a point of curvature;
with a curve to the right, having a central angle of 101°40’57” and a radius of 25.00 feet, an arc length of 44.37+/- feet, a chord bearing and chord distance of N 44° 02’ 28” E, 38.77+/- feet to a point;
N 04° 12’ 56” E, 10.00+/- feet to a point at a northwesterly corner of said 6.194 acre tract, being in the southerly line of said 3.248 acre tract and in the centerline of Long Road (R/W-60’);
N 85° 12’ 57” W, 69.24+/- feet to the southwesterly corner of said 3.248 acre tract, being in the centerline of Long Road (R/W-60’) and in the westerly right-of-way line of Long Road (R/W-40’);
Thence N 04° 12’ 10” E, along the westerly line of said 3.248 acre tract and said 1.314 acre tract, along the easterly line of a 1.1066 acre tract of land conveyed to Tanika N. Flowers-Sykes of record in Instrument Number 202206210091746 and said 2.496 acre tract and along said westerly right-of-way line, 573.19+/- feet to the True Point of Beginning, and containing 14.8+/- acres, more or less.
Subject, however, to all legal highways, easements, and restrictions. The above description was prepared by Advanced Civil Design, Inc. on February 17, 2026 and is based on existing records from the Franklin County Auditor’s and Recorder’s Office. No survey work was conducted during the preparation of this description. A drawing of the above description is attached hereto and made a part thereof.
This description is to be used for zoning purposes only and not to be used in the transfer of land.
All references used in this description can be found at the 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 L-AR-1, Limited Apartment Residential District, specified by Ordinance #1531-2026; Z26-011.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance is further conditioned upon the applicant obtaining all applicable permits and Certificates of Occupancy for the proposed development.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.