Far Northwest Coalition

NOV 2003 FNWC MINUTES

FNWC NOV 2003 MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION
P. O. BOX 340285
COLUMBUS, OH 43234-0285

November 25, 2003

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, Mark Seeger and Rich Herner. This was not a quorum present to conduct full business.

John Best opened the meeting with a description of the FNWC boundaries and introductions of the Board members present to the residents present. The Minutes from the last meeting were tabled at that time.

Best discussed the issue of a new billboard sign at the corner of Smokey and Hard Roads. The concern is the size of the sign and its close proximity to a residential neighborhood. Michelle Williams, the City Liaison to this area said she would check into it.

Best also discussed the possible extension of Linworth Road northward into Worthington Hills. He said there are apparently ongoing discussions on this matter. He had also heard that Worthington Hills residents had been split on the idea but have since come out against the road extension. He noted that there will probably be further discussions after the first of the year. He asked that Michelle Williams find out what position the City had on the issue.

Rich Herner reported on the I-270 North Central Outerbelt Study. There has only been one meeting so far. The State is still looking at alternatives and any further meetings and discussions will not be held until after the first of the year.

Michelle Williams then briefly discussed with the group and residents the proposed 2004 City of Columbus budget. She said that residents may comment on the budget at the City’s Web site. She said there are fewer state and federal funds available to the City but safety and basic city services will not be cut. Garbage and snow removal services will continue as always, as well as keeping several rec centers and swimming pools open. She said the City is trying to live within its means and the budget has been set without any increase in the income tax.

Matthew Cooke of 906 East Linworth Road then presented his zoning variance request again to the FNWC. It had been tabled from the previous month’s meeting. Cooke is looking for a side yard variance to construct a deck. Cooke noted that he has now received a favorable response for his request from all of his neighbors, including the owner next door, immediately adjacent to the proposed deck. The FNWC had requested the tabling from last month to allow Coalition members to opportunity to visit the neighborhood and for Cooke to obtain the approval from the immediately adjacent property owner. The BZA of the City also allowed the tabling, without extra cost, and Cooke will go back to the BZA next month.

The deck and fence, as proposed, would be within 12-15 inches of the side yard property line. However, it appears that many of the residents in that immediate area already have decks which are in the same type of situation as this, with very little side yard setback. Cooke noted that his fence poles had been in the ground for several years but now when he finally wants to add the deck, he has run into trouble with the zoning issue. FNWC members had looked at the neighborhood and taken pictures, which were presented to the group, which verified the fact that many others on the street had decks that encroached on the side yard setback. Cooke also presented letters of approval from his neighbors in the area, including the property owner immediately adjacent to the proposed deck. FNWC also addressed drainage issues with Cooke and how the deck addition may or may not affect any water flow in the area and any possible effect on his neighbors.

Laura Comek, as representative for CarMax, then presented the proposed sign package for the property located at 2650 Farmers Drive. This had also been tabled from the last meeting, waiting on additional information concerning site lines from the freeway. This package is to go to the Graphics Commission on December 16. Comek represented that the freeway sign would need to be 45 feet high so it could be seen above the Sawmill Road overpass as motorists drove eastbound on I-270. This illuminated sign would be 10’ by 28’ in size.

She also presented the fact that CarMax was still requesting monument signs at the end of Caine Road and at the entrances to the site. The original request was for an 8’ high illuminated sign at the end of Caine Road (Caine & Farmers) and at the entrances. The new proposal is still looking for an illuminated 8’ high sign at the end of Caine Road but the entrance signs have been scaled down to 6’ in height. However, what is not immediately evident on the overall sign plan view is the width of these signs. FNWC members specifically looked at the sign detail page and it was discovered that the Caine Road sign is proposed to be nearly 15’ long and the entrance signs are proposed to be 9’ wide. FNWC members stated their objections to the overall size of these signs, stating that they were entirely too big for the intended use. Signs of this proposed size were definitely not necessary. Comek noted that negotiations are still ongoing for the directional signs at Sawmill and Snouffer and for Snouffer and Caine. She said these larger signs, as proposed, are needed to keep customers coming once they get turned onto Caine Road. FNWC members said that once customers get that far onto Caine Road, they will not be able to miss this car lot because of the sheer size of the lot itself.

Further discussions followed about the size and height of the signs requested and how this would impact the car dealers on the other side of I-270. FNWC members were concerned of the precedent that may be set by allowing signs of this size and height in the area. Comek noted that since the CarMax location is located in a harder to access area, they need the additional signage. FNWC members said that CarMax should address their location in their advertising and that CarMax should have thought of these access issues before choosing the site. Also, the other car dealers would have basically the same problem with customers going eastbound on I-270.

The FNWC members then again discussed Matthew Cooke’s request for the side yard variance at 806 East Linworth Road to construct a deck. It was noted that he now had approval from his neighbors for the deck, that there already were several decks in the immediate area encroaching on the side yard requirements and that there were no apparent drainage issues with the proposal. The FNWC members present were all in favor of supporting the variance request.

The FNWC members then discussed the CarMax sign proposal. The group again noted the immense size and height of the sign requests and the precedent that may be set for other dealers in the area. The group felt that all of the signs were entirely too large for the intended use. Each member of the FNWC present stated that he would not support this proposed sign package.

There being no further business to come before the FNWC, the meeting was adjourned.

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary