Far Northwest Coalition

MAY 2008 FNWC MINUTES

FNWC - MAY 2008 MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION
P.O. BOX 340285
COLUMBUS, OH 43234-0285

May 28, 2008

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at St. Andrew Church on Smokey Row Road. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, Joe Macomber, Mike Brown, Kelly Thompson and Rich Herner.

Best briefly discussed the new units going up on Skyline Drive. There was also a lengthy discussion on the Sawmill Road speed limit issue. Macomber reported that the City told him they would look at lowering the speed limit, from the light at Bent Tree to the railroad tracks, to 40 MPH from 45 MPH. However, they expect to keep the speed limit at the present 45 MPH from Sawmill to Bent Tree. This has apparently passed a couple of hearings so far but still must be approved by ODOT.

Bill Orr, the Administrator for the Claremont Retirement Village located at 7041 Bent Tree Blvd. made a presentation to the FNWC requesting a change in the current zoning of the complex from LARLD to CPD, which would allow them to systematically change some units in the complex to “assisted living” units. He said they have started losing some residents to other assisted living complexes since they do not have that authority now because of licensing and zoning restrictions. He said they needed the zoning change before they could get the license approved.

Orr said that they have 170 units available, with 135-140 of them currently occupied. If the zoning and license restrictions were changed, they could just relocate residents to the ‘assisted living” units, without the residents having to leave the complex. He said residents’ ages range from 55 to 101. He also noted that studies have found that retirees live 5-7 years longer if they are in a home of their own, rather than going directly to a nursing home environment.

Orr said that no external changes would be necessary but they would like to rezone the entire facility so they could expand the assisted living area as needed. The CPD zoning would require that the property remain as an assisted living/retirement facility.

Dr. Ken Osborn then made a presentation to the FNWC for a zoning variance for his residence located at 3663 Snouffer Road. He is a chiropractor in practice for 25 years, 20 of which his practice had been located at 4900 Reed Road in Upper Arlington. However, the space is now too large for his needs and he wants to move his professional practice to his home. He needs the variance to allow an x-ray machine in his home, which is necessary for his practice. The variance is required for the x-ray machine only, not for the practice, since he will be using less than 25% of his home for his chiropractic office.

The FNWC members discussed with him lighting, signage and parking issues. He said he thought his driveway would handle up to 5 patients’ vehicles, including his personal vehicles and for one employee; but chances are there would be no more than 3 patients at any one time because of scheduling concerns. He noted that his standard office hours are until 7:00 PM daily, in response to sign and lighting concerns of the group.

Osborn said his attorney has a list of adjacent residents who would need to be informed but he did not know if they had been contacted or not. When questioned, he said that he has not spoken to any of his immediate neighbors. The FNWC suggested that he contact his immediate neighbors directly. The variance request is scheduled for City approval at the Board of Adjustment on July 14 and he said he would move his practice 2-3 months thereafter.

After a motion, and a second, the Minutes from the April 30, 2008 meeting were approved as presented.

It was then moved, and seconded, to approve the request, as presented, to change the zoning from LARLD to CPD for the property located at 7041 Bent Tree Boulevard (Claremont Retirement Village), to allow units to be converted to “assisted living” units. Motion passed.

After additional discussion on the subject, it was moved and seconded, to table the zoning variance request of Dr. Ken Osborn, for his property located at 3663 Snouffer Road. The FNWC is asking for additional information concerning the notification of the adjacent property owners about the variance request. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary