Far Northwest Coalition

MAY 2005 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

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

May 25, 2005

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, Joe McCumber, Mike Brown and Rich Herner.

John Best opened the meeting by giving the group an update on the Sawmill/Billingsley Road improvements. He said work is scheduled to start in the summer 2006. He said there was nothing new on any of the old zoning issues.

Best then discussed the Northwest Plan group’s meeting from this month concerning the St. Rt. 161 corridor. That discussion will continue into the June meeting. The July meeting will focus on parks, green space and recreation issues. A public open house with the information discussed to date is tentatively scheduled for August.

Jill Tangeman, Mike Kenny and Nick King then made a presentation to the FNWC to request a zoning variance for the property located at 8400 Sawmill Road (The Reserve at Sawmill Park). This is the condo development just south of Chapman Elementary School. The request is to allow a setback variance for two of the buildings, one on the south and the other on the north side of the property. Decks were inadvertently constructed on these properties in violation of the building setback line. The applicant discovered the error and was trying to get the problem rectified. Apparently the decks appeared on the building plan, and were constructed, but did not appear on the zoning plan, where the setback lines were outlined. The decks are only 8x8, with 4 backing up to Berber Street properties and 6 facing the Chapman Elementary drive. They range from being 3 feet over the setback line for the inside 4 units and 7 feet for the 6 outside units. The building setback line is 25 feet, so the closest the decks would encroach the lot line would be 18 feet. The Berber Street property owners will be notified of the BZA hearing. Kenny said that patios would be allowed but since the decks attach to the condo units, the setback is required. He said since the decks were already constructed, he would rather not tear them down, plus the decks would be consistent with the other units in the development. He also said he would be willing to add to the condo declarations that no further encroachment on the setback lines would be permissible.

Scott Saffel of the WKHS Wolves, Inc. group then made a presentation to the group concerning a graphics variance request to allow an electronic message sign in front of WKHS located at 1499 Hard Road, which is in a residential zoning classification. The proposal is to move the existing sign to the middle of the yard area in front of the school facing Hard Road and then adding the electronic message boards on each end at a 45 degree angle, visible then from both directions on Hard Road. The electronic messages will be text only, no pictures and will be advertise school functions and the like; no advertising, birthday messages, etc. Both signs will have the same message at any one time. The signs will be 7 feet long, with 3 feet high message area, with 3 lines of text. The sign will be concrete, with a brick and stone fa?§ade to complement the school building. The group had applied for the graphics variance and if approved, will install the sign this summer, ready for next school year. The FNWC asked whether the text will be full screen or scrolling and questioned the color of the text. It was noted that the FNWC did not want to see any scrolling text, which could distract drivers trying to read it. Worthington Schools has apparently approved the project and the request will go to the Graphics Commission on July 19.

Jeff Brown, as agent for the owners, made a presentation for a building setback variance for property located at 7189 Linworth Road (Lakes of Worthington). The request is to build a fence, wall and gateway arches within the building setback. Brown said since the wall would have a foundation, it fell under the setback rules. The wall would not exceed 6 feet in height, and the setback would be encroached from 6 inches to 6 feet in spots, depending on the location. It is to be an ornamental metal fence, with parts being stone and brick with a cap. There should be no issues with traffic sight lines. Since the fence was not in the original PUD language, the variance is necessary.

Brown then also made another presentation, as agent for the owner, for property located at 2441 Billingsley Road (Dennis Hyundai). The request is for a graphics variance for signs on the new Dennis Hyundai building and property. The request is essentially the same as presented the month before, with a monument sign on Billingsley, a service sign on both sides of the building, 2 other signs on the building facing I-270, plus a free standing sign to face I-270. Brown said he thought the Highway Beautification Act was more for billboard type signs than building signs, so he didn’t think that was an issue. He said Columbus code says that buildings backing up to a freeway can only have a wall sign or a road sign, but not both. However, all of the existing car dealerships in the area have both signs. In addition, the variance requests sign square footage sizes well in excess of that allowed by the code for the signs in question.

Best then had the group review the Minutes from the last FNWC meeting. It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes as presented. Motion passed.

Best then advised the FNWC that the traffic study of Sawmill Road in front of Chapman Elementary was completed but had not been put into a public draft format yet.

The FNWC then discussed the deck setback encroachment for the Reserve at Sawmill. It was noted with the size of the decks, and being 7 feet over the setback line for some units, the building must have been within one foot of the line itself. It was then moved and seconded, to approve the variance request as presented for the property located at 8400 Sawmill Road and allow the already constructed decks to remain in place and encroach on the building setback line. Motion passed.

After a brief discussion of the graphics variance request for the property located at 1499 Hard Road (WKHS) concerning the manner in which the text would appear on the sign and the color of the text, it was moved and seconded to table the graphics variance request for the additional information. Motion passed.

The FNWC then discussed the setback variance request for the Lakes of Worthington on Linworth Road. It was noted that a wood fence would have been allowed but since the proposed treatment would involve a foundation for the fence supports, the setback issue is relevant. It was also noted that the fence could possibly be moved back a couple of feet along Linworth Road, but the interior setbacks may still be a problem. The group was pleased that the proposed fencing will give the area a much nicer treatment and feel than an allowed wood fence. It was moved and seconded to approve the setback variance request for the property located at 7189 Linworth Road as presented. Motion passed.

The FNWC then held a lengthy discussion about the graphics variance request from Dennis Hyundai. It was noted that the overall square footage of the signs requested fell within the code but the size and location of individual signs did not fall within the code. In fact, the sign on the building exceeds the allowable square footage by nearly 60%. In addition to the size concern was the fact that the request was for a free-standing street sign and building signs all facing onto I-270, which is not permissible under the current code; even tho the other dealers in the immediate area already have graphics of this nature. The concern for future property uses along the Billingsley Road corridor were considered and the type of precedent this could set for later. It was then moved and seconded, to reject the graphics variance request for the property located at 2441 Billingsley Road as presented, and a request made by the FNWC that the applicant return and present a revised graphics plan that does fall within the current code to the FNWC and the local community. Motion passed to reject the request.

The FNWC then briefly discussed the sign for the Glenmuir apartments along Billingsley Road. They have added a directional sign to the original sign and it was questioned whether that additional square footage is allowed under their approved graphics package.

Best also mentioned that he had received an email from the Northwest Civic Association president Bill Schuck concerning an inquiry that he had received about property along Federated Boulevard, which backed up to properties on Skyline Drive. There is some talk of a used car lot at the property. Best said he would keep the FNWC informed if he hears of anything else.

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary