Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV20-025
APPLICANT: Turner Construction; c/o Charlie Egbert; 262 Hanover Street; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Temporary parking lot.
NEAR EAST AREA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The site is zoned C-1, Commercial District and is currently being used as a temporary parking lot as approved by Ordinance #2874-2016 (CV16-055). That ordinance was conditioned on the use variance expiring three years from the effective date of the ordinance (12/21/2019). This Council variance will permit a three-year extension for this temporary gravel parking lot used by construction employees for their person vehicles. Variances to C-1 District uses, and requirements for setbacks, landscaping/screening, and parking lot standards are carried over in this request. The site is subject to the East Main Street Urban Commercial Overlay and is located within the planning area of the Near East Area Plan (2005), which recommends higher density residential and mixed use development along the northern half of the site. The area plan also encourages UCO guidelines for parking lots, which includes the lot being screened from public streets with a four-foot-high decorative metal tube or solid metal bar fence and landscaping, or a masonry or stone wall. Although the plan endorses these UCO guidelines for parking lots, Planning Staff recognizes that this parking lot is temporary in nature and is a renewal of an existing Council variance. Staff is supportive of the temporary parking lot as it will alleviate short term parking issues created by construction projects in the area, will only be used for workers’ private vehicles and not construction equipment, and will be screened appropriately. The variances for reduced development standards and gravel surface are also supported due to the temporary nature of the proposal. The site is also subject of Ordinance # 3052-2015 (CV15-049) which will remain...
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