Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: City of Columbus April 28, 2026, Board of Zoning Adjustment Meeting
Contact Name: Phil Ashear
Contact Telephone Number: 614-645-1719
Contact Email Address: pjashear@columbus.gov
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AGENDA
BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT
CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
APRIL 28, 2026
The City Board of Zoning Adjustment hears requests for Special Permits, Appeals and Variances to the requirements of the Columbus Zoning Code, Title 33 and 34 of the Columbus City Codes. The Board does not hear applications to amend the Official Zoning Map. The City Board of Zoning Adjustment will hold a public hearing on the following zoning applications on TUESDAY, April 28, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. at the MICHAEL B. COLEMAN GOVERNMENT CENTER at 111 North Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215 in the 2nd FLOOR HEARING ROOM. You can also monitor the hearing through the City of Columbus YouTube channel at the following link: <http://www.youtube.com/cityofcolumbus>.
SPECIAL NOTE TO APPLICANT: YOU OR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE MUST ATTEND THIS MEETING. It is the rule of the Commission to withdraw or table an application when a representative is not present.
Meeting Accommodations: It is the policy of the City of Columbus that all City-sponsored public meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities. If you need assistance in participating in this meeting or event due to a disability as defined under the ADA, please call the City’s ADA Coordinator Angie Wise at (614) 645-8029 or email AMWise@columbus.gov <mailto:AMWise@columbus.gov> at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.
Further information may be obtained by visiting the City of Columbus Zoning Office website at <https://www.columbus.gov/bzs/primary/Zoning/> or by calling the Department of Building and Zoning Services, Public Hearings Section at 614-645-4522.
THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS WILL BE HEARD ON THE 4:30PM AGENDA:
01. Application No.: BZA25-015
Location: 1201 CHESAPEAKE AVE. (43212), located on the south side of Chesapeake Avenue, approximately 300 feet east of Northwest Boulevard. (010-087471, 420-304746; 5th by Northwest Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: AR-3, Apartment Residential District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3312.29, Parking space To allow 34 pairs of stacked parking spaces, and to count each individual stacked space toward the total number of provided parking spaces. 3312.49(C), Required parking. To reduce the number of required parking spaces from 162 to 138. 3312.25, Maneuvering To allow 34 pairs of stacked parking spaces that require maneuvering through another parking space.
Proposal: To construct a multi-unit apartment building.
Applicant(s): Preferred Living c/o Jared Smith 750 Communications Parkway, Suite 200 Columbus, Ohio 43214
Attorney/Agent: David Hodge, Attorney 8000 Walton Parkway, Suite 120 Columbus, Ohio 43054
Property Owner(s): Chesapeake Avenue Holdings LLC 750 Communications Parkway, Suite 200 Columbus, Ohio 43214
Planner: Adam Trimmer, 614-645-1469; ADTrimmer@Columbus.gov
02. Application No.: BZA25-134
Location: 42 E. TOMPKINS ST. (43202), located on the northwest corner of East Tompkins Street and East Avenue (010-066957; University Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: R-2F, Residential District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3321.05(B)(1), Vision clearance
To reduce the 10’x10’ clear vision triangle at the corner of East Avenue and Kinnear Alley to 0’x0’. 3321.05(B)(2), Vision clearance To reduce the 30’x30’ clear vision triangle at the corner of East Avenue and East Tompkins Street to 0’x0’.
Proposal: To construct a 6-foot-tall fence around the property.
Applicant(s): Peter Ahn 42 East Tompkins Street Columbus, Ohio 43202
Attorney/Agent: None
Property Owner(s): Global Community United Methodist Church 42 East Tompkins Street Columbus, Ohio 43202
Planner: Steven Smedley, (614) 645-6130; SFSmedley@Columbus.gov
03. Application No.: BZA25-143
Location: 3547 LINDSTROM DR. (43228), located on the southwest corner of Rosburg Drive and Lindstrom Drive (570221177; West Scioto Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: L-R-2 District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3321.05, Vision clearance
To reduce the setback for a privacy fence in a required yard from 25 feet to 6 feet.
Proposal: To legitimize an existing privacy fence.
Applicant(s): Carmelina Bache 3547 Lindstrom Drive Columbus, OH 43228
Attorney/Agent: None
Property Owner(s): Applicant
Planner: Dane Kirk, (614) 645-7973; DEKirk@Columbus.gov
04. Application No.: BZA25-148
Location: 267 REINHARD AVE. (43206), located on the southwest corner of Reinhard Avenue and Blackberry Alley (010-000685; German Village Commission).
Existing Zoning: R-2F, Residential District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3332.18(D), Basis of computing area To increase maximum allowable lot coverage from 50% to 51%. 3332.25(B)(3), Total combined side yards To reduce the total combined side yards from 6 feet to 3.1 feet. 3332.25(A)(3), Minimum side yard required To reduce the eastern side yard setback from 3 feet to 0.1 feet (existing). 3332.27 Rear Yard To reduce the required rear yard from 25% of the total lot area to 5.8% (previously approved under V92-183).
Proposal: To replace an existing fence in the same location and construct a new covered patio, paver patio, and wooden stairs.
Applicant(s): Dave Fox Design Build c/o Evan Little 3505 West Dublin-Granville Road Columbus, Ohio 43235
Attorney/Agent: None
Property Owner(s): Jennifer Barnes 267 Reinhard Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43206
Planner: Steven Smedley, (614) 645-6130; SFSmedley@Columbus.gov
05. Application No.: BZA26-004
Location: 410 HAMILTON AVE. (43203), located on the east side of Hamilton Avenue, approximately 100 feet north of Bunkingham Street (010-048784; Near East Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: R2-F, Residential District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3312.49, Required Parking
To reduce the number of parking spaces from 4 to 2.
Proposal: To construct an ADU
Applicant(s): Simplified Living Architecture 220 W. Bridge Street, Suite 109 Dublin, Ohio 43017
Attorney/Agent: Heidi M. Bolyard, Architect 220 W. Bridge Street, Suite 109 Dublin, Ohio 43017
Property Owner(s): Brandon Ivery 1391 Brice Road Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
Planner: Adam Trimmer, (614) 645-1469; ADTrimmer@Columbus.gov
06. Application No.: BZA26-007
Location: 1574 HARRISBURG PIKE (43223), located at the southeast corner of Harrisburg Pike and Midland Avenue (570-301646, 570301647; Southwest Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: CAC, Commercial Activity Center District
Request: Variances(s) to Section(s):
E.20.030.J.1, General requirements, miscellaneous,
To allow a chain link fence in the Community Activity Center District
Applicant(s): Claribel & Maximo Brito 4587 Tolbert Avenue Grove City, Ohio 43123
Attorney/Agent: None.
Property Owner(s): Applicant.
Planner: Adam Trimmer, 614-645-1469; ADTrimmer@Columbus.gov
07. Application No.: BZA26-010
Location: 6835 CAINE RD. (43235), located on the east side of Sawmill Road, approximately 300 feet north of Snouffer Road (590-191330; Far Northwest Columbus Communities Coalition).
Existing Zoning: CAC, Community Activity Center District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): E.20.030.C.1.a, General Requirements Ground Floor Design To not provide a building entry along each abutting street. F40.030.A.1, Large Site Standards Site Plan for Large Development Sites To not provide a break in the street frontage. E.20.030.H.3, General Requirements Pedestrian Access and Circulation To not provide sidewalks or striped crosswalks from buildings to public sidewalk systems. E.20.080.C, Community Activity Center (CAC) Building Placement To increase the allowable building front setback from 25 feet to 2 feet 5 inches along Caine Road and from 25 feet to 55 feet along Sawmill Road, to reduce the side building setback from 5 feet to 0 feet, and to decrease the total minimum length of façade E.20.080.F, Community Activity Center (CAC) Façade To reduce the required facade transparency required from 60% minimum to 0% along Caine Road and Sawmill Road F.20.050.C.1, Blank Wall Treatment Blank Wall Treatment Standards To reduce the percentage of blank walls that must be visually treated from 50% to 0%. F.30.030.C, General to Frontage Types To not include a building frontage type. E.20.080.G, Community Activity Center (CAC) On-Site Parking To allow a loading space and maneuvering / drive aisle to be positioned between the principal building and Caine Road, and to reduce the front parking and loading/maneuvering setback from 30 feet to 9 feet, 9 inches. G.20.030.A.1, Landscaping Development Site Landscape Requirements To reduce the minimum percentage of front yard landscaping from 70% to 30% along Caine Road and from 70% to 3% along Sawmill Road. G.20.020.B, Lighting To increase the maximum height of light fixtures from 28 feet to 44 feet.
Proposal: To expand an existing indoor volleyball court.
Applicant(s): DLS Dublin, LLC c/o David Straub 6835 Caine Rd. Columbus, OH 43235
Attorney/Agent: Joseph A. Moss, Architect 221 N. 4th St. Columbus, OH 43215
Property Owner(s): Applicant
Planner: Dane Kirk, 614-645-7973; DEKirk@Columbus.gov
08. Application No.: BZA6-011
Location: 2167-2187 E. LIVINGSTON AVE. (43209), located on the southwest corner of East Livingston Avenue and Sheridan Avenue (010-004419; Mideast Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: CAC, Community Activity Center District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): G.20.040.B.4, Screening, Dumpster and Bulk Refuse Pick-Up Area Screening
To allow dumpsters between the principal building and a side street at a 0 foot setback. 3312.09, Aisle To reduce the drive aisle width from 20 feet to 12 feet for the northern drive aisle. 3312.25, Maneuvering To reduce maneuvering from 20 feet to 12 feet along E. Livingston Avenue for the current sign and to 0 feet along undeveloped Sheridan Avenue.
Proposal: To bring an existing non-conforming property into compliance.
Applicant(s): Property Owner
Attorney/Agent: Laura Comek, Attorney 65 East State Street, Suite 850 Columbus, Ohio 43215
Property Owner(s): Real Estate Investments, Inc. 700 Bryden Road, Suite 219 Columbus, Ohio 43215
Planner: Steven Smedley, (614) 645-6130; SFSmedley@Columbus.gov
09. Application No.: BZA26-019
Location: 411 COMMERCE SQUARE (43229), located on the north west side of Commerce Square, approximately 160 feet west of Exchange Drive (010-143090; Greater Hilltop Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: M, Manufacturing District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3363.41, Storage
To reduce the storage setbacks from 20 feet to 10 feet along interior parcel boundaries, and from 30 feet to 20 feet along the public right-of-way.
Proposal: To expand open storage area.
Applicant(s): Rio Property Group LLC 2834 Fisher Road Columbus, Ohio 43204
Attorney/Agent: Ice Miller, c/o Molly Gwin 250 West Street Columbus, Ohio 43215
Property Owner(s): Applicant
Planner: Adam Trimmer, 614-645-1469; ADTrimmer@Columbus.gov
10. Application No.: BZA26-021
Location: 1288 INDIANOLA AVE. (43212), located on the east side of Indianola Avenue, approximately 50 feet south of East 6th Street. (010-063720; University Area Commission).
Existing Zoning: R-4, Residential District
Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 3325.211, Floor Area Ratio To increase the maximum permitted FAR from 0.40 to .7 (.6952).
Proposal: To construct a single unit dwelling and an accessory dwelling unit.
Applicant(s): Charles Fitch
1575 North Crest Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43220
Attorney/Agent: None
Property Owner(s): Brothers for life LLC 1575 Northcrest Ave Columbus, Ohio 43220
Planner: Adam Trimmer, 614-645-1469; ADTrimmer@Columbus.gov