Explanation
Council Variance Application CV20-053
APPLICANT: Crew SC Stadium LLC, c/o Philip Dangerfield; 76 Lou Groza Boulevard; Berea, OH 44017.
PROPOSED USE: A video billboard.
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The property is comprised of two parcels under construction with the Columbus Crew Stadium, zoned DD, Downtown District. The requested Council variance will allow a video screen which will include both on-premises and off-premises advertising to be erected on the stadium as part of a planned plaza. Due to the off-premises nature of the advertising being proposed for the video screen, it meets the definition of a billboard. Billboards are prohibited in the Downtown District and can only be established by an approved Council variance. The Downtown Design Guidelines (2013) state that special consideration should be given to video screens proposed in the High Street Corridor and the Arena District. The Guidelines support the development of regional facilities, including professional sports. The proposed video screen is part of the Columbus Crew Stadium, which is unique in being one of only three professional sports stadiums in Columbus. Outdoor video screens of this nature are typical of professional and collegiate sports facilities, and function to help enliven the surrounding public spaces and provide energy. The video screen will measure approximately 24 feet wide and 15 feet tall, and will face a public plaza on the southeast corner of the stadium site. The proposal generally meets the Guidelines' design principles for outdoor electronic displays and video screens. The Downtown Commission has issued a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed public plaza and video billboard.
Title
To grant a Variance from the provisions of Section 3359.17(B)(4), Permitted, prohibited and uses permitted only by certificate of appropriateness, of the Columbus City Codes, for the property located...
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