Far Northwest Coalition

SEPT 2000 TENTATIVE FNWC MINUTES

SEPT 2000 TENTATIVE FNWC MINUTES

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

September 27, 2000

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC were John Best, John Murley, Ann Brodeur, Jayne Hopper, Ed Kromer & Rich Herner.

John Best opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Minutes from the previous meeting held August 30, 2000 were approved as submitted. Treasurer, Ann Brodeur reported on the bank account at Fifth Third and the fact a new account was
opened to get the proper fee waivers in place. Brodeur reported that the account balance was $481.76, before any interest & refund of fees applied.

Sieglinde Martin of Brookside Estates presented a proposal to the Board for a bikeway, basically a multi use trail (MUT) to run from the railroad tracks on Snouffer Road on the east, westward to the Bent Tree/161 area. The group
discussed various possibilities such as using either the north or the south side of the road as well as the possible need for a crossing light for pedestrians & cyclists to use to cross the road. Eventually, there should be MUT's in place so pedestrians could move from the Bent Tree/161 area all the way to Perry Middle School, Perry Park and Brookside School as well as to Worthington Kilbourne and the middle and elementary schools in that area. Martin asked for the support of the FNWC in the proposal of the MUT in the Snouffer Road area, to run from the railroad tracks on the east, westward along Snouffer Road to the Bent Tree/161 area. Upon motion, and a second, FNWC Board voted to support the MUT, as the FNWC being the representative of the local civic associations in the area.

Samantha Shuler, as representative for Sawmill Place Plaza Associates, asked for a zoning variance for street signage for property located at 6450 Sawmill Road (the Service Merchandise Plaza location). The retail store Hobby Lobby has moved into the old Service Merchandise location. The graphics code has allowed for 300 square feet of signage, with 50% dedicated to tenant panels and the remainder to the location designation. The variance request is to allow Hobby Lobby to have 25% of the space, Circuit City 25%, Office Depot 25% as tenant panels and the remaining 25% be allotted to the location designation. In essence, the 50% location designation under the current code would be reduced in half to allow another tenant panel. This is a shifting of location area to a tenant panel. The other sign on the location would have the same type of graphics arrangement. The group questioned the red and
blue colors of the Hobby Lobby sign but understood that this is the retail store's corporate graphics.

Atanya Brown of Neighborhood Link gave a presentation to the group. Neighborhood Link is a collection of neighborhood group, organization & club web sites. They are headquartered out of Denver and have sites throughout
the country. They have several sponsors in the local area that provide funds for their operation. Through its web site, www.neighborhoodlink.com, local groups, clubs, etc. can have their own web presence for free. Groups can post meeting dates, minutes, activities, and calendars of events as well as post links to other sites. She said there is a chat room available so a group could even have a meeting on the Internet if need be. She encouraged all groups to establish a web site on their Neighborhood Link. She said all it takes is a telephone call to 1-800-241-0123 to get a web presence set up. She said she is always available to groups and/or to individuals to help them get set up or with on going maintenance of a web site. She can be reached at 888-241-0123, ext. 305 or though her e-mail address of
atanya@neighborlink.com or 740-549-0293 or 614-332-9999.

Best then apprised the group of the disapproval of the zoning request for 845 Linworth Road, East from RR to PUD6 by the City of Columbus Development Commission. He also reported on a parks meeting he attended at the Carriage
Place recreation center. The general crux of the meeting was that Northwest Columbus needed another recreation center, a swimming pool and a senior center. The driving issue though would be the necessity of the city to find
and purchase land in the area. He also reported that the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) would be operating a pilot plan in some areas about recycling.

The FNWC Board then discussed further the zoning variance application for the property located at 6450 Sawmill Road. After the discussion, it was moved and seconded that the FNWC approve the zoning variance request with the
following stipulations: that there be only one sign at the southwest corner of the property (at Sawmill Place) and will have no more than three tenant panels. The sign on the northwest corner (at Federated Blvd.) will have no more than four panels, two full size panels and one split into two smaller panels. Total square footage of the advertising display shall not change and no additional panels can be added nor the size of the display area. All panels will be compatible, limited to the same type of material, i.e. polycarbonate face materials and of the same materials being used prior to the variance application. The motion was passed.

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Rich Herner
Secretary