Far Northwest Coalition

JULY 2007 FNWC MINUTES

JULY 25, 2007 FNWC MINUTES

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


July 25, 2007

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, Joe Macomber, Mike Brown, Kelly Thompson & Rich Herner.

Best advised the group that the Northwest (NW) Plan had entered its final draft phase. Comments need to be in by the end of August and hopefully approval to the City Council by the end of the year. Best reviewed portions of the text with the FNWC and asked that members review the draft before the next meeting. He said Lori Baudro from City Staff will attend the August meeting to discuss with the FNWC & be looking for an acceptance of that draft.

Best noted that the construction on the I-270/Sawmill/Billingsley area has started. Also, the 2nd phase of Hard Road, from Linworth Road to SR 315, should begin demolition in September and then continue construction in the spring.

The speed limit on Snouffer Road, coming off Bent Tree was also discussed, in light of the recent hit and run on Snouffer. It was noted that there is no sidewalk in that area and vehicles routinely travel faster than the 45 MPH posted limit.

Jeff Pharion, from the Code Enforcement staff of the City of Columbus briefly discussed some local political signs in the area. Even though there is no impending election, he will continue to look into the situation.

Rob Meyer and Mike Kenney then made a presentation to the FNWC concerning a development on 12.38A on both sides of Skyline Drive (7331 Skyline). The proposal is to change the zoning from its current C-2 designation to an LC-4. This would allow 7A of multifamily residential development and approximately 5A for other commercial (their thoughts were possible hotel on that site). They felt this would be consistent development for the area, as it is now composed and that it would result in less traffic than the current commercial zoning might provide. The proposal should go to the Development Commission in September.

The City Staff had previously not approved the request but apparently some changes have been made to the text (provided to the FNWC) and the City Staff now was in favor. Changes included some signage restrictions (no internally illuminated or moving signs). There would 84 residential units, which would be similar in style to those that Kenney had constructed on Sawmill Road, near Chapman Elementary. He had not decided as to whether the final development would be individual condos or just a multifamily apartment complex. The FNWC members urged him to make it a condo development rather than apartments but he was unwilling to commit to that request. There would not be enough units to require land to be dedicated to parkland but a fee would have to be paid to the City in lieu of the park requirement.

The issue of drainage was brought up, since several residents had raised the issue at a prior meeting discussing this same property. The applicant advised that all drainage would be self-contained. Engineering, etc. had not yet been completed but they assured the FNWC that any drainage issues would be addressed as part of the total development.

It was felt that residential use for the other 5A would not be feasible and that the hotel concept made more sense. Kenney said he would not rule out residential for the 5A, but the market right now would probably dictate some other use.

After additional internal discussion, the FNWC moved and seconded a motion to table the request to rezone the property at 7331 Skyline Drive from C-2 to LC-4, for additional information. This additional information would be receipt of the revised position of the City Staff and the addition of language that would commit to condominiums rather than multifamily units. The motion was unanimously approved.

There was then a brief discussion about the collection of current year dues.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary