Far Northwest Coalition

JULY 2003 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

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

July 30, 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, John Murley, Mark Seeger, Kelly Thompson and Rich Herner.

John Best opened the meeting with introductions of the Board members. The Minutes of the last meeting held on June 25, 2003 were read and approved as written.

Best noted that the CarMax rezoning application had been tabled at the Development Commission meeting because of the site plan as presented. He said that there was too much pavement, which could kill the root systems of the remaining trees. A new site plan was to be developed and that CarMax would again appear before the FNWC tonight with an amended plan.

Best also advised the group that the rezoning request for 7140 Linworth Road on tonight’s agenda, had been pulled from the agenda, at the request of the applicant. The applicant was still working on a new site plan with the neighbors in the area.

Best told the group that ODOT was going to do an exit study on I-270 from SR 315 to I-71. He noted that MORPC had looked at this stretch of roadway 5-6 years ago about exit and entrance ramps but not much had been done lately. He said he was looking for a volunteer to attend these meetings and give input and report back the FNWC. He asked that any FNWC members interested to see him after the meeting. It was also noted that the Hard Road construction project was now underway.

Dave Brehm then made a report to the FNWC on the CarMax negotiations that he, as a resident, had been involved in. He said that CarMax had been very cooperative in the changes made to the site plan. He felt that if all the details can be worked out, that the project would become an asset to the community. He felt it would be a regional draw, bringing back consumers to the Sawmill corridor area. He noted that CarMax had agreed to lower the foot candles of their lighting in the display area to 70FC and to 35FC in the parking area, as well as to reduce these lighting levels by 50% one hour after closing.

George McCue, as representative of CarMax, then presented to the group many of the changes agreed upon in the site plan and text, including a new landscape plan. He said that the changes, including the new landscape plan, will be complete before the next Development Commission meeting on August 14.

McCue advised the group of extensive landscaping changes to enhance the site, as well as having moved the setbacks farther back to 20’ on the side fronting the commercial property and to 25’ fronting the residential area on Farmers Drive. He said the block wall fronting that side will be 6’ in height, and the text will be amended to indicate that height. He also noted that the car wash/prep building would be moved back so that it would have a 150’ setback. By moving the buildings back, he indicated that a row of cars in the display area would probably be lost. Landscaping clumps will be planted along the wall to break up the wall area, as well as in the car display area to break up the large amount of asphalt. He also said that no signage on the building wall would face south, toward the adjacent residential areas.

McCue again mentioned the significant monetary investment being made by CarMax and the new jobs and income tax revenues that will be provided to the area. In addition, the increased property taxes for the schools were discussed. He said that they would put in writing the fact that CarMax would participate in the necessary road improvements for Sawmill, Snouffer, Caine and Farmers Roads. He noted that Carmax would like all of the improvements to be in place before opening up for business. He suggested that perhaps the other businesses in the area that would benefit from the improvements could also participate in the cost.

The FNWC members then discussed some other issues which McCue agreed to add to the text and landscape plan. There should be landscape screening on the west end of the site to keep any headlights in the parking lot from distracting motorists merging onto eastbound I-270. There should also be landscaping at the end of Caine Road in front of the detention area, and the entrance to the site from Farmers Drive should not be across the street from the residential area to avoid headlights shining into residents’ homes. McCue then asked the FNWC for its conditional approval of the project, conditioned on the landscaping plan and the other changes being in place.

Dave Straub, the applicant for a rezoning at 6826 Sawmill Road (Flanagan’s fronting on Caine Road), along with the architect Chris Humphrey, discussed the request to purchase the lot from BP Procare directly to the east of the BP Procare building to be used as additional parking. This would provide ample parking for Flanagan’s, as well as allow him to add another sand volleyball court on his lot. He agreed to provide some additional landscaping along Caine Road to be compatible with that already in the area.

The FNWC then again discussed the CarMax application and the agreed upon changes to the text and the landscape plan. The ingress and egress for car haulers and customers was again brought up as well as the regional draw of shoppers to the area and the local economic advantages that would be provided.

It was then moved, and seconded, that the FNWC give conditional support to the rezoning request by CarMax for the property located at 2650 Farmers Drive from L-C-4 and C-2 to L-C-4, as represented for the purpose of building a Car Max dealership. This conditional support is subject to the receipt of the detailed landscaping plan, which will include landscape screening on the west end of the site for the I-270 entrance ramp and at the end of Caine Road to screen the detention area. In addition, it is conditioned on CarMax committing to participate in the necessary road improvements to Sawmill, Snouffer, Caine and Farmers. The support is also subject to language in the text limiting the height of the wall along Caine Road to 6’ and that the entrance to the site will not be across the street from any of the residential areas on Caine Road. Motion passed.

The FNWC then moved and seconded conditional approval for the request to rezone 6826 Sawmill Road (Flanagan’s) to allow the lot behind the BP Procare building to be used as a parking lot by Flanagan’s. This support is conditioned upon a satisfactorily detailed landscape plan for the frontage along Caine Road, consistent with the neighboring properties. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary