Far Northwest Coalition

ZONING, DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS NEWS

Sep 20, 2003

NEW NORTHWEST PARK PURCHASED FOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT !!!

2002 will be remembered in the Far Northwest as the year the City purchased 40 acres from the Antrim family on Hard Road. Mayor Coleman and Recreation and Parks administrators were on hand for a press conference in July announcing the $3.9 million purchase. The property is immediately east of the Worthington Kilbourne High / McCord Middle School area on the north side of Hard Road bordering Worthington Hills.

The City of Columbus Northwest Plan adopted in the early 1990's called for development of a regional park in that specific area. Prior to the purchase, the Far Northwest area had only 30 acres of parkland for its 40,000 plus residents.

Columbus Recreation and Parks conceptualizes development of a $5 to 6 Million Recreation Center on the property with a playground, shelterhouse, tennis and basketball courts and a baseball/ softball diamond. A walking / biking path would encircle the property. More than half of the property would be left in its natural state since it includes a wooden ravine and a winding stream within the park.

This park will be a great community asset with improved access and circulation of a widened Hard Road with bike lanes leading to the park and many potential recreational amenities. Ideas for other recreational uses or development should be forwarded to johnwbest@juno.com


TRAFFIC & ROAD CONSTRUCTION

The growing pains of playing catch up in America's 8th largest city in area and 15th largest in population will be with us for some time. Discussions on mitigating Central Ohio congestion took place on January 30, 2001 between 11 mayors in the region and various other stakeholders. Hopefully, regional cooperation and better transportation alternatives and routes will be the result over the course of time.

Here are the north and northwest significant projects completed in 2000 through 2002 and those to be completed in 2003 and beyond in the area.

I-270 WIDENING AND SAWMILL ROAD INTERCHANGE

The opening of four moving east and west bound lanes on I-270, a functional interchange at Sawmill Road and reconstruction of SR 315 were significant milestones and a cause for celebration when completed in Northwest Columbus. The Westerville portion of the I-270 project (SR 3 to Conrail RR tracks) was completed in September 1999 followed by the Dublin (US33 to CSX RR tracks) and Worthington sections in late Fall 2000.

Kudos go to the late U.S. Representative Chalmers P. Wylie for securing funding for study of the project back in the early 90's and U.S. Representative Pat Tiberi for anchoring an advocacy group to secure funding. Governor Taft and ODOT are also to be commended for appropriating funds and expediting the completion approximately six months ahead of schedule in December 2000.

As a result of the improved efficiency of the 270 / Sawmill interchange, vehicles are exiting the highway so quickly that it creates significant, hazardous stacking on northbound Sawmill. The City of Columbus is planning on widening Sawmill to Billingsley Road beginning in Spring 2003.

SR 315 Reconstruction, Repaving and Widening
In 1999 and 2000, SR 315 was reconstructed from Ackerman Road to Hard Road. Work was concentrated north of Henderson Road during 1999 where widening to three north and southbound lanes occurred between SR 161 and I-270. Three north and southbound lanes were rehabilitated and opened north of Bethel Road as of July 2000. Reconstruction of SR 315 between Ackerman and Bethel Road continued during the 2000 construction season and was completed in November 2000.

2001 & 2002 HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

2001 Highway construction proved to be much tamer on the north end. Work continued on I-71, which was widened to four north and southbound lanes between SR 161 and Polaris Parkway and three lanes between Polaris and SR 36 / SR37 in the heart of Delaware County. Work also began on widening State Route 161 in Dublin between Sawmill Road and Riverside Drive, which was completed in late 2001.

ODOT announced in November 2000 that Powell Road at SR 315 will have turn lanes added going east and west at this busy intersection, which was completed in 2002. Nearby SR 315 and Jewett Road should have a traffic signal added in the near future. In a few years, Powell Road will also be re-routed around the Columbus Zoo and Wyandot Lake to tie in opposite Glick Road. This will eliminate the often dangerous Powell Road / Riverside Drive ( SR 257 )intersection.

EMERALD PARKWAY
In 2003 Dublin is appropriating $2 million toward the extension of Emerald Parkway from Riverside Drive to tie into Sawmill Road. Residential development near Dublin Scioto High School and surrounding commercial development in east Dublin and nearby Delaware County have necessitated the need for this vital link encircling the 270 northwest outbelt.

OTHER INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS
Billingsley Road and Smoky Row Road was improved adding left turn lanes for eastbound Billingsley and northbound Smoky Row Roads. Traffic patterns were evaluated for possible signalization of the intersection. Approval was given in Spring 2002 with signal installation to be done in 2003.

Another intersection studied in 2001 is Sawmill Road and the eastbound branch of Summitview Road. This is another dangerous intersection with a high accident rate. A signal is approved and a traffic signal will be installed in 2003.

Linworth Road and Wilson Bridge Road had turn lanes and a signal added in 2002.

HARD ROAD AT SMOKY ROW
This intersection, the 2nd most accident prone intersection in the entire city, is undergoing reconstruction in Spring 2003. The intersection arose to this accident prone status after a rezoning added a non-community supported Rite-Aid, now CVS commercial corner. Expansion phases for Hard Road widening are described below.

TIMETABLE OF FUTURE ROADWAY PROJECTS

An update was received from the City Engineers Office in September 2002 as follows:

Hard Road - Phase 1 - Smoky Row to Linworth Rd ( Center ) SPRING 2003
Hard Road - Phase 2 - Linworth Road to SR 315 ( East ) 2006
Hard Road - Phase 3 - Sawmill to Smoky Row ( West ) 2008

Smoky Row ( not yet split into phases ) 2005 (may need to move date due to traffic maintenance conflicts with Hard Road.

SR 161 at one time had a timetable of 2005-2007, but it is now listed as indefinite due to non-resolution of the number of lanes with the City of Worthington.

Sawmill Road widening from SR 161 to I-270 will be re-prioritized with the 2004 City Budget preparation.

Snouffer Road widening from Linworth to Sawmill Road is now estimated as a 2020 project, essentially off the table.

TIMETABLE COMMENTS

Far Northwest Coalition received a copy of the Columbus point system rankings for prioritizing arterial improvements during 2000. Sawmill Road from SR 161 to I-270 ranked number one in the entire city indicating the city will likely place this project on the fast track.

It is also expected that the City will eventually update its Thoroughfare Plan changing the classification for Sawmill Road north of I-270, where it is expected to eventually be seven lanes at least as far north as Hard Road and possibly to Saltergate Drive.

Hard Road's realignment with SR 315 should occur in 2006 as noted above. Shortly after this time, SR 315 will be widened between Hard Road and Clubview Drive, the gateway to Worthington Hills. Due to SR 315's scenic river status, it is unlikely that this state highway will ever be widened anywhere to the north of Worthington Hills.

NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING

In the late 90's Sutter Parkway and Olde Sawmill Boulevard were fit with speed tables at numerous intersections and a choker at Seddon Drive and Sutter to slow traffic down in the Olde Sawmill subdivision of 1,000+ homes. Sawbury Boulevard had traffic calming treatments installed in 2001 and nearby Stanburn Road in 2002.

For a listing of other northwest streets evaluated for traffic calming or to have your street studied, contact City of Columbus Traffic Engineer John Sliemers, JDSliemers@cmhmetro.net at 645-7790. Traffic signal requests should be directed to Phyllis Harrington at PMHarrington@cmhmetro.net

RAILROAD CROSSING ( Snouffer Road ) RECONSTRUCTION

Franklin County Engineers began re-grading and reconstructing the railroad crossing in June 2000 to improve sightlines and safety. Snouffer Road's railroad crossing was reopened to traffic in early September 2000. State Representatives Linda Reidelbach and Jim Hughes have written letters to Governor Taft to obtain funding for an underpass here and at Hard Road. Our representatives also need to be encouraged to seek an underpass for SR 161 by writing them.

A successful test of an automated horn system took place in Worthington in January 2001. FNWC will continue to seek funding for such a system and/or advocate new federal regulations allowing community control of railroad "quiet zones." Four quadrant gates are proposed by the feds to disallow travel around gates. Additional information is available at www.railroadcontrols.com or www.fra.dot.gov/site


ZONING & DEVELOPMENT

Year 2002 rezonings recommended for approval by FNWC include :
* 6822 Sawmill Road (near Snouffer) from CPD to L-C-4 to allow Crestview (Immke) Cadillac to raze the former BP station and relocate its used car division. This 1.5 acre site was recommended for approval by City Council at the January 9, 2003 Development Commission meeting.
* 3510 West Dublin-Granville Rd. (at Federated Blvd.) from CPD to CPD allowing a small strip shopping center next to the Trillium Place senior high-rise.
* 2690 West Dublin-Granville Rd. annexed to Columbus and rezoned from the Perry Township zoning class to C-2. An adjacent property at 2704 West Dublin-Granville Rd. was annexed but was dropped from rezoning to office use. It was not supported by city staff, who they felt it would lead to further commercialization of the north side of SR 161.
* 943 Mulberry Drive, Hickory Bluff Farms, annexed 214 acres to Columbus seeking future residential development.

Year 2001 rezonings recommended for approval by FNWC include :
* 7860 Smoky Row Road to allow automating two of the eight bays at an existing car wash.
* 6208 Thompson Street for Single Family Residential (SFR), where this rezoning encompasses 23 lots on 9.34 net acres.
* 7140 Linworth Road (Foster Woods) - PUD zoning allowing 40 homes on 10 acres.
* 6209 Hutchinson Street involving a lot split for residential development of three houses.

Year 2000 rezonings recommended for approval by FNWC include:
* 845 Linworth Road East, allowing a split of a lot to allow two residences. Passed by Cols. City Council 5/8/2000. A subsequent rezoning application was filed to place seven homes on the same 2.17 acres. This went to the Columbus Development Commission on 9/14/2000 and it was recommended 4-1 for disapproval. FNWC did not support the new rezoning application due to density and the development being out of character in this specific area. This went to City Council on 12/4/2000, where it passed 6-1.
* 6790 Sawmill Road (at Snouffer Road) allowing the expansion of the convenience store at the Shell gas station. This was passed by City Council on 11/27/2000.
* 2662 Hard Road (east of NW Library) conditional on inclusion of specific building materials, sidewalk or asphalt path on Hard Road, upscale street lighting, landscaping and tree plantings between NW Library property and building site. The applicant partners were formerly with Homewood Corporation. Developers have put together language to address these concerns. The Columbus Development Commission heard this case in July 2000 recommending approval and it was later approved by Columbus City Council on 9/25/2000. It is undergoing development at this time.
* 2441 Billingsley Road (conditional approval) allowing Cleveland based Mueller Tire to build upon the site in between Krieger Lincoln Mercury and NTB. FNWC sought a better landscaping plan and a footpath along Billingsley Road. Mueller Tire agreed to these conditions and FNWC and the Columbus Development Commission recommended approval. This was passed by City Council 7/24/2000. Mueller Tire opened in late April 2001 and it was purchased in 2002 and changed to Tire Kingdom.

Several rezonings, heard during the latter half of 1999, are supported by FNWC and were passed by Columbus City Council :
* 2202 Sawmill Place Blvd. ( next to Andersons General Store ) -
Rezoning Z99-083 to include 220 Assisted Living Units on approximately six acres. Recommended for passage by the Columbus Development Commission on 11/11/99. Passed by Columbus City Council 2/14/2000 Availability can be determined by contacting Brandon Russell, brussell@brookdaleliving.com
* 2437 Billingsley Rd - Byers Auto Dealership rezoning, formerly Patrick Motors, allows a 5000 square foot used car sales building behind the 200 foot setback from Billingsley Road. Landscaping improvements will also be made. Recommended for passage by the Columbus Development Commission and passed by Columbus City Council on 12/13/99.
One rezoning that went before the Perry Township Trustees was opposed by FNWC since contrary to the Northwest Plan developed by Columbus and Perry Township residents.
* 2704 W. Dublin-Granville - Rezoning to allow scuba training facility and retail shop on a residential property in Perry Township. A 3000 square feet residence would have been expanded by 4000 square feet toward SR 161 and have a total of 24 parking places. Perry Township received a letter in early April 2000 withdrawing the application for this rezoning.


OTHER NORTHWEST BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Hard and Sawmill Roads
CVS opened in late January 2000 on the northeast corner of Sawmill and Hard Roads. Next door to CVS, Max & Ermas opened in August 2000. A third building housing Ritter's Custard opened in the fall 2000.

Sumenos Restaurant, formerly in Northwest Square a few years ago, reopened in the site of the former Ironwood Cafe on the Southeast corner of Sawmill and Hard Roads.

The northwest corner of Sawmill & Hard Roads is advertising will build to suit on the corner. The Pittsburgh based Giant Eagle Supermarket chain was interested in the site and had filed a rezoning application with the City of Dublin. Dublin Planning and Zoning heard the initial presentation in December 2000, where it was tabled indefinitely and is a dead proposal.

Sawmill Road / SR 161 Area
Lowes opened in early 2000 on SR 161 west of Sawmill. Eastside Marios Restaurant closed in late 1999. Buget Rent A Car leasing business is now doing business on the property. Damons relocated from Dublin Village Center to a site on the south side of Sawmill Place & SR 161 where it opened in March 2000.

HH Gregg opened in November 2000 in the former Sun TV store within the Sun Center. Purchase by Schottensteins has led to filling of the former HQ store space. Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) located in Filene's Basement and Value City Furniture owned by Schottensteins are two tenants along with Bed Bath & Beyond.

Service Merchandise and Little Professor bookstore on Federated Blvd. near Sawmill are closed in late 1999. A craft store called Hobby Lobby opened in November 2000 in the former Service Merchandise vacancy. Office Depot announced in January 2001 that it will and has closed its Sawmill / SR 161 location.

In the Sawmill/Cranston area, Home Depot and a Sam's Club opened in January 2000. Roadhouse Grill purchased an outlot in front of the Home Depot / Sams' Club shopping complex and opened mid 2000. It closed in early 2002.

I-270 / BILLINGSLEY ROAD
Dan Tobin Buick / Pontiac / GMC Truck made a decision in Spring 1999 to renovate the former Tom Gill auto dealership, 2539 Billingsley Road. Dan Tobin owned 7 acres at 2441 Billingsley Road between Krieger Lincoln-Mercury and National Tire & Battery (NTB) and sold to GMC for $1.8 million. Cleveland based Mueller Tire filed a rezoning application heard by FNWC in March 2000 and the Columbus Development Commission in May 2000 for the 2441 Billingsley Road site. FNWC gave conditional approval and Mueller Tire has agreed to these terms. The Columbus Development Commission recommended approval and it was passed by City Council 7/24/2000.


STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Olde Sawmill Area Drainage
The City of Columbus stormwater study to address area drainage is complete. The City and its consultant, EMH&T, presented the study results in late July 2000. Questions or concerns should be directed to Engineer Jeff Cox 645-8442 with the City of Columbus. In early 2001, it was determined there is too little interest to redo drainage swales and the like in this area, so the project was dropped.


STREETLIGHTING

The City of Columbus has a plan to have streetlighting in every neighborhood by 2020. However, neighborhoods targeted for streetlighting begin in the central city and work outward year by year. This probably means the far northwest area would be among the last to receive this treatment.

Some of the newer subdivisions in our area already have streetlighting, such as Summitview Woods, Hathaway, Henry David and Tripoli Courts on Hard Road. This requirement to include streetlighting was placed on new developments in the early 1990's.

Neighborhoods without lighting may petition the City of Columbus for streetlighting to advance the process, where 60% of an area's residents must support the initiative. Petitions are in an exploratory stage in the Olde Sawmill, Summerwood and Sawmill Forest subdivisions.

The average cost is roughly $1,000 per household, which can be built into property taxes over a period of 10 years at a nominal interest rate. The estimated increase of property taxes is $8 to $12 per month. Benefits of added lighting include increased property values, safety, security and appearance.

Approximately 20 varieties of ornamental poles and styles of lighting are available and are on display at Franklin Park, home of 1992's Ameriflora exhibit.


TRASH COLLECTION & RECYCLING

Columbus and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) started a pilot project during December 2000 which lasted through 2001 in the Foxboro and Summerwood subdivisions.

A 96 gallon gallon container replaced the current 90 gallon ones. The 96 gallon containers were divided 50/50 for recylables and non-recyclables. A special truck made by Heil loads trash into a truck which also has two container compartments for recyclables and non-recyclables.

If successful, Columbus will implement the disposal system citywide. In June 2001 a separate 60 gallon recycling can was added strictly for recycling after hearing feedback from pilot participants.


FAR NORTHWEST COALITION

In 2000, This Week conducted a survey and asked the question, whether you follow what your community civic organization is doing and how effective is the organization representing your community. FNWC has been an advocate for quality of life issues affecting the far northwest side since the mid 1980's. Formerly the area was represented by what was called the Sawmill Civic Association. Our focus has been on improving area traffic congestion, acquiring and developing parkland and advocating appropriate development and redevelopment.

It is our hope that you will periodically keep up with what is happening and what is planned to improve our community in these areas and in other matters impacting our area. Far Northwest Coalition has a newsletter and a discussion area on the web at www.Neighborhoodlink.com/Columbus/FarNorthwest

The City of Columbus Northwest Plan can be viewed at www.infobase.ci.columbus.oh.us/_private/library/html/norwest.htm


The ultimate involvement would be for you to be an active participant in area decisions and be an information relay into your own local neighborhood.

Far Northwest Coalition holds an open public meeting the last Wednesday of each month at the Northwest Library, 2280 Hard Road beginning at 7 P.M. FNWC may be contacted via email, johnwbest@juno.com