Far Northwest Coalition

SEPT 2002 FNWC MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 25, 2002 FNWC MINUTES

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

September 25, 2002

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board
were John Best, John Murley, Mark Seeger, Eric Goldsmith, Scott Fair & Rich Herner.

Best opened the meeting at 7:00 pm with introduction of the FNWC board members. Best discussed various code enforcement issues with
the group. Jeff Pharion, of City code enforcement was present and advised Best that he had formally answered questions previously posed by Best by email. Pharion also noted that the new City liaison for this area was Michelle Williams (641-0155).

Best reported that 40 acres of the Antrim property purchase by the City would be closing soon. He said there have been many suggestions by residents as to what facilities they would like to see on the property. He said it appeared like most wanted a multi-age use type park, with a multipurpose rec center and a swimming pool.

Best reported that there was not much new information on previous zoning issues. There was a brief discussion concerning the Beth Tivkah project to be built at the northwest corner of Smoky Row and Snouffer Roads.

Jeff Brown, attorney for Byers Mazda Subaru located at 2455 Billingsley Road made a presentation to the group concerning a graphics plan change for the property. They are requesting to upgrade the current sign package with the new sign requirements for Mazda dealerships. Brown stated that all of the wall signs and the sign along Billingsley Road as proposed are smaller than code allows. However, the proposed signage along I-270 is larger than code allows. He said code allows 194 sq. ft. but the request is for a Mazda sign of 139 sq. ft. and a Subaru sign of 144 sq. ft. He said the existing Mazda sign is 125 sq. ft. and the existing Subaru sign is only 20 sq. ft. The Mazda sign is to be 31' 4" high, with
the Subaru sign being 25' 9' high. He suggested that the FNWC look at the entire graphics package, rather than just at individual signs when considering the request. Brown said the change request had been filed for quite a while but it took Mazda and Subaru a long time to finish their internal requirements.

Brown also made a graphics change request presentation for Tire Kingdom, located at 2437 Billingsley Road (the old Mueller Tire).
He said one existing sign on the south side of the property, left over from the previous owners, did not have approval under code. The request was not to change any of the current signage but only to get formal approval of the sign, which is already on the property.

Laura Comak, James Gilbert and Jeff Shoemaker made a preliminary presentation to the FNWC for a zoning change from Commercial Planned
Development (CPD) to Limited Commercial Development (L-C-4) for the property located at 6822 Sawmill Road (the old BP station just north of Snouffer Road). The property is to transfer from BP to Dale Property Co (Imke Cadillac) and close once all of the tanks have
been pulled from the property and inspected by BUSTR. Previously, the property was an LCD for the BP station and the Pro Care on the
property. The lot was split and the Pro Care now stands on its own. Imke is purchasing the BP location to move their pre-owned Cadillac
dealership to the location. They stated that the Imke property on the west side of Sawmill (in Dublin) was being renovated. They are moving their Honda dealership from Dublin-Granville Road over to the Sawmill location and need extra room for the pre-owned Cadillac sales, which is why the subject property was being purchased.

The back portion of the lot (currently grass, will be paved over for the vehicle inventory. The gas station canopy will basically stay, with it being used to down light cars for sale. The existing store area will be somewhat enlarged, to allow room for sales people. The property has two curb cuts on Sawmill and both will be utilized. The southern cut will steer traffic to the Imke dealership. The north cut will be jointly used with the Pro Care shop. In addition, they plan to move the entrance from Caine Road, which is on the south side of the lot to the north side of the lot for better access by both Imke and Pro Care customers. They said the property will be lighted and have security cameras. They did not feel there would be any foot traffic from the Imke dealerships across the street that would try and cross Sawmill Road. They aid any traffic of that type
would be taken by vehicle.

The proposal is more conceptual at this time, with many details still to be worked out. The building materials will be stone and the like, very much like the current Imke dealership on the west side of Sawmill. They stated they wanted to make this into a campus type atmosphere with similar building materials and appearances. The group also discussed some lighting (no high intensity lighting) and landscaping issues. They again stated they want the property to be very similar to the Imke site on the west side of the road.

The FNWC then discussed the assorted color schemes associated with the Tire Kingdom application, in regards to the current signage. It was then moved, and seconded, that the FNWC recommend approval of the graphics plan and package, as presented for the property located
2437 Billingsley Road (Tire Kingdom). Motion passed.

It was moved, and seconded, that the FNWC reject the graphics plan and package as submitted for the property located at 2455 Billingsley Road (Byers Mazda Subaru), based upon the size of the proposed signs facing to I-270. This led to a lengthy discussion by the group concerning the other signage included in the package proposal. After this discussion, the motion was rescinded.

It was then moved, and seconded, that the FNWC recommend conditional support of the graphics plan and package for the property located at
2455 Billingsley Road (Byers Mazda Subaru), subject to the signs along I-270 being held to the square footage and height, as permitted under City Code. Motion passed.

It was moved, and seconded, that the FNWC table the zoning change request from Dale Development (Imke Cadillac) for the property located at 6822 Sawmill Road (old BP station) for further information. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,


Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary