Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV18-053
APPLICANT: Wilcox Communities, LLC; c/o Dave Perry, Agent; David Perry Company, Inc.; 411 East Town Street, First Floor; Columbus, OH 43215, and Donald Plank, Atty.; Plank Law Firm; 411 East Town Street, Second Floor; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
NEAR EAST AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Disapproval. The site is divided into two subareas. Subarea A consists of one parcel developed with a single-unit dwelling in the ARLD, Apartment Residential District. Subarea B consists of one undeveloped parcel in the R-3, Residential District. The requested Council variance will permit the construction of an 18-unit apartment building on each subarea, for a total of 36 dwelling units on 0.78± acres. The variance is necessary because the R-3 district (Subarea B) permits only single-unit residential development. Additionally, the proposed density in the ARLD district (Subarea B) is greater than that which is permitted. Variances for building height, maneuvering, parking lot landscaping, lot area, building setbacks, and minimum side yards are included in this request. The site is within the planning boundaries of the Near East Area Plan (2005), which does not contain specific land use recommendations for this location, but it does state that, in general, housing types and density should be consistent with the housing types and densities found in the surrounding area. Furthermore, the Plan recommends that existing housing stock be preserved, avoiding demolitions. While Staff supports residential infill development at this location, Staff does not support the proposed development because it includes the demolition of an existing single-unit dwelling, and because it is not compatible with the neighborhood’s character including the surrounding housing type...
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