Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV16-053
APPLICANT: City of Columbus and Community Housing Network, Inc.; c/o John Turner, Land Bank, Department of Development; 50 West Gay Street; Columbus, OH 43215; and Donald Plank, Plank Law Firm; 145 East Rich Street, 3rd Floor; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development and community garden/fruit park.
COLUMBUS SOUTH SIDE 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 # 3069-2016; Z16-055) to the L-AR-O, Limited Apartment Office District to allow the development of a 62-unit apartment development (Subarea A) and a community garden/fruit park (Subarea B). The requested variances will permit a community garden/fruit park use within the AR-O, Apartment Office District, a reduction to the width of required headlight screening, reduced parking setback lines, a reduction in the minimum number of parking spaces required from 93 to 20, a reduced vision clearance triangle at the corner of East Barthman and South Washington avenues, a reduction to building lines, and a reduction to the rear yard of the apartment building in Subarea A. These reduced development standards are supportable because they allow for better site design, traffic circulation, and building placement on this urban-infill site, and reflect parking numbers that account for residents that will not have private vehicles. The proposal also offers a 0.49± acre community garden which provides open space for the future residents of Subarea A and will benefit the neighborhood.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3304.04, Permitted uses in AR-O apartment office district; 3312.21(D)(1), Landscaping and Screening; 3312.27(3), Parking setback line; 3312.49, Minimum numbers of parking spaces required; 3321.05(B)(2), Vision Clearance; 33...
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