Explanation
Council Variance Application: CV21-027
APPLICANT: Columbus Limestone Inc.; c/o Laura MacGregor Comek, Atty.; 17 South High Street, Suite 700; Columbus, OH 43215.
PROPOSED USE: Outdoor automobile storage.
CITY DEPARTMENTS' RECOMMENDATION: Approval. The 227.54± acre site consists of a single parcel which has been historically operated as a sand and gravel quarry in the EQ, Excavation and Quarrying District. The mining, excavating, and quarrying operations include ancillary manufacturing uses, including but not limited to outdoor storage and office and warehouse structures. The site was part of the 1956 annexation of Merion Village into the City of Columbus, and as a result of the annexation, the EQ District was also established in 1956. Ordinance #1037-2008 (CV08-013), passed July 23, 2008 permitted the establishment of the City of Columbus’ Impound Lot at this location. The requested Council variance will legitimize the automobile storage use for a nearby automotive auction and other businesses in addition to the excavation and impound lot uses.
Portable trailer/buildings are already in use on site, permitted via Special Permit #BZA21-024. Variances to driveway width, dumpster area, lighting, landscaping and screening, maintenance, maneuvering, parking setback line, parking space, striping and marking, access and circulation, required surface for parking, wheel stop device, minimum parking spaces, loading space dumpster area, and required conditions are included in this request. The site is within the boundaries of the Scioto Southland Plan (2007), which recommends “Park” land uses at this location once the quarrying operations become obsolete and “Light Manufacturing” uses. Additionally, the Plan includes adoption of the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) Design Guidelines (2018). Staff notes that the proposed use is an expansion of a similar existing use, and the Plan notes that the "Park" recommendation should only be applica...
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