Far Northwest Coalition

MAY 2004 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

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

May 26, 2004

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, Kelly Thompson, Mark Seeger, Scott Fair, Dave Kassner and Rich Herner. John Best opened the meeting with an introduction of the FNWC Board members to the group in attendance. Minutes from the meeting of April 28, 2004 were approved as presented by motion and vote.

Best notified the group that the TND proposal for the Linworth area on S.R. 161 had a split vote at the Development Commission (2 to 2), with the 5th person abstaining from the vote. That technically is then entered as a “no” vote. The NWCA will meet on Tuesday, June 2 at Centennial High School, with an agenda item being continued discussion of the TND concept and the Don Scott runway extensions.

It was noted that the widening of Sawmill Road from I-270 to Billingsley Road is still being considered as part of the Columbus Bond package. There was also general discussion concerning Delaware County traffic and how the widening of Sawmill Road would funnel more traffic into the local area.

Best advised the group that he had met with Dmitri Smirniotopoulos, along with the adjacent neighbors concerning his council variance request for his property on St. Rt. 161. Best noted that it appears that Smirniotopoulos plans to continue to pursue the variance request. Best also noted that he had not heard anything from the Development Commission on the rezoning request for 6208 Thompson Street.

Best again discussed with the group the Columbus Bond package to fund capital improvements, which will be on the ballot in November. He said the City is looking for comments from residents. He is concerned that the City may not commit to projects in the FNWC area. He urged residents to be aware of the package and to contact the City about needed capital improvements needed in the local area.

Herner advised the group of the I-270 North Outerbelt Study with ODOT, and that there will be another public meeting on the subject on Wednesday, June 9 at the Worthington Schools Administration building on E. Wilson Bridge Road at 5:00 pm. There was also a brief discussion on the sound walls being put up along the north I-270 corridor.

Jeff Brown, representative for M/I Homes and Daryn Fair of M/I Homes then made a presentation to the group to rezone the property located at 7189 Linworth Road (The Lakes at Worthington) from R-1 to PUD-4. The property is essentially the southeast corner of the intersection of Hard and Linworth Roads (Antrim property), extending from Kilbourne High School on the west, along I-270 on the south side of the property. The rezoning request is essentially for the southern portion of the property, adjacent to I-270. The remainder of the property should fall within the R-1 current zoning designation. The entire project will fall into the Worthington School District.

M/I plans on two different types of housing units in the area to be rezoned, however all will be single family units. On the southeastern portion of the property, they plan on 3 story town homes, up to 80 total units; which will basically be attached condominium units with 3-8 units per building. The other area in question would have single family homes, with garage entrances from a rear alley in a traditional neighborhood development (TND) setting. There would be no garages fronting on the main street. All streets in the area would be public and the M/I representatives admitted that the HOA may have to contract with an outside firm for snow removal, especially the alley areas in the rear of the homes in this TND area. They plan on about 41 homes in this area with a lot width of 55 ft. and a depth of 90 ft. There are to be sensor lights in the alley areas, as well as sidewalks in the entire development.

Overall, the developer plans to preserve as much open green space as possible, including the lakes area. They also plan to maintain as many tree lines as possible, especially along I-270, which will help as a buffer to that highway. They also plan to minimize the number of homes in the development backing up to Hard Road. They hope to have street trees and landscaping all along Hard Road, including at the Hard Road entrance to the development. The HOA is to maintain the treed and grassy median on Hard Road. They are still working on a plan for walkway access to the anticipated parkland on the north side of Hard Road, as well as a trail system in the wooded lakes area. Brown noted that the walking trails would be for private use of the homeowners.

The development is scheduled in 3 phases, with the first phase being the homes on the north side of the project, on Hard Road. A left turn lane will be added on northbound Linworth Road for residents to turn into the development. They may put estate type homes on the extreme northeast portion of the property but have not completed that portion of the plan yet. Homes of that type would probably not need any zoning changes.

The group then discussed the retention pond along Billingsley Road, specifically its maintenance and grass mowing. The group also talked about the park land area and the fact that the City has yet to approve the Parkland Master Plan. It was then noted that Car Max has yet to break ground on their property and some of the I-270 North Outerbelt Study options were discussed.

The group then discussed the development project presented at the meeting by M/I Homes. The consensus was to table the request for more information on the project. Information possibly to be requested would be the number of M/I homes in the area, a clarification on public/private use of the walking trails in the proposed development, as well as written responses to other pertinent issues. Questions and issues to be raised are to be funneled to John Best by June 4 for his preparation, to then be presented to the developer and agent.

Upon motion, and second, the FNWC tabled the rezoning request for 7189 Linworth Road from R-1 to PUD-4, pending further information. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,



Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary