Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV17-058
APPLICANT: FGW Investment Properties LLC; c/o Melva C. Williams-Argaw, Agent; 3354 East Broad Street; Columbus, OH 43213.
PROPOSED USE: Mixed-use building.
NEAR EAST AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site is zoned R-2F, Residential District, and is developed with a vacant two-story commercial building. The requested Council variance will permit approximately 2,100± square feet of limited commercial uses in the whole building, or commercial uses on the first floor with two second-story apartments. The R-2F, Residential District was established as part of the 1974 Model Cities down-zoning of the neighborhood which rendered many commercial and mixed-use properties non-conforming. A variance is necessary because the R-2F District prohibits commercial uses. Variances to reduce the required number of parking spaces and to conform existing site and building conditions are included in the request. The site is located within the planning area of the Near East Area Plan (2005), which recommends higher-density residential and mixed-use development for this location, and is within the Urban Commercial Overlay. Staff supports the commercial uses noting that the mixed-use building predates the existing residential zoning district, and that the building is located on an established urban commercial corridor. The parking reduction request is supportable because of the walkable nature of the neighborhood, abundant on-street parking, and proximity to public transit on East Long Street. Additionally, Staff concludes that the requested commercial uses and variances for existing conditions are consistent with similar mixed-use projects in the neighborhood.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Sections 3332.037, R-2F, Residential district; 3312.21(D)(1), Landscaping and screening;...
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