Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV19-112
APPLICANT: Homeport; c/o Laura MacGregor Comek, Atty.; 501 South High Street; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Multi-unit residential development.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site consists of one parcel developed with an office and conference center, zoned in the CPD, Commercial Planned Development District that permits C-2, Commercial district uses and conference center, catering, and bed and breakfast uses. The applicant is requesting a Council variance to permit a fifty-unit apartment complex to redevelop the site. The site is located within the boundaries of the Olentangy West Area Plan (2013), which recommends “Warehouse Flex” land uses for this location, including flex office, warehouse flex, distribution and logistics, and light industrial uses. This proposed development will be subject to a competitive funding process by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which requires certain land attributes including compliant zoning. Staff supports the Council variance process to assist in this state funding application process; however, this ordinance includes a condition that a Certificate of Zoning Clearance will not be issued until a follow-up rezoning to an appropriate zoning district has been completed. The Planning Division does not object to this limited Council variance request despite the recommendation from the Olentangy West Area Plan, but has requested the following information from the applicant when the follow-up rezoning application is filed: an accounting for how many (if any) permanent jobs would result from the redevelopment, with office being desirable; consideration of inclusion of a meeting space that can fulfill some element of the existing site’s use as an event/meeting center; verticality of development that would allow for additional open space on site; an explanation of how this site’...
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