Far Northwest Coalition

JANUARY 2006 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION

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

January 25, 2006

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 Maccomber, Chris Anderson & Rich Herner. John Best opened the meeting with an introduction of the FNWC Board members to the group in attendance.

It was moved and seconded to accept the Minutes from the prior meeting, with one small spelling mistake. Motion passed.

Best reported that the 2006 annual dues for the FNWC were now due and owing.

Best reported that the 1st phase of the Hard Road project was nearing completion. The underpass for the railroad is now open, with another layer of asphalt and restriping to be finished in the spring. He said he has asked the City about the start date for phase 2 (from Linworth to 315) but he has yet to hear from them. He anticipates a summer start for that section.

There was a question from the Board about the possibility of a thru street from Worthington Hills directly to Hard Road from the current stub street that is there. There seemed to be no definitive answer at this time. In addition, it was reported that the widening of Sawmill Road, north of I-270 up to Billingsley, should commence this summer. Also, the ODOT project for the I-270 interchanges should get started this year with the change to the I-7/I-270 junction. This will be a reconfiguration of exit and entrance ramps, including a flyover ramp.

Best reported that he had been told by the attorney involved in the condo project at Snouffer & Skyline Drive that the deal had fallen thru and would not come to fruition at this time. There was also a lengthy discussion about a possible traffic signal at the Sawmill Forest entrance area at Sawmill Road.

Lyle Whittemore of 981 Cross Country Drive then made a presentation to the FNWC concerning his request for variances regarding a driveway expansion on his property, one of which is a 5’ side yard setback, whereby this expanded drive would lower that to 4.3’. He wishes to widen his driveway to be able to park another car. Many cars are already parked on the street in the neighborhood and he has children who will be driving shortly and he feels it would be safer if he could park another car directly on his property in the driveway. The proposed drive would be wider than the width of his current front load garage. There are 14 neighbors within a 125’ distance of his property. He has spoken directly to 10 of them who have no problem at all with his request. However, the immediate neighbor on the side where the expansion would take place is in opposition. This neighbor feels the driveway expansion would lower the value of his property. Several pictures of the area were provided by the applicant, as well as the fact that many properties in the local area have exactly the same driveway configuration that he is asking for. The variance request goes to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) on February 23.

Best then gave a Parks update. There are 2 properties in the Sawmill Forest area of 15A and 9A respectively that may be available. He reported that the northwest communities in Columbus are the most under-parked areas of the City. He encouraged local civic associations to contact the City about possible purchase of these properties.

Jeff Pharion and Rob McNeal, of the City Code Enforcement Office, then spoke to the group in attendance about zoning violations in general. McNeal said that Tobin was again parking cars on the Buckeye Landscaping property in Perry Township. He also said he has spoken to both Tobin and Dennis about cars being on the grass off Snouffer Road instead of on the display pads. He also said that the Bent Tree Apartments had been taken to criminal court over their repeated unapproved display signs. Pharion noted that he tries to build a case of repeated violations so he can then receive a civil injunction against the offending party.

They noted that there are a couple ways to contact the City about these types of violations. There is a Call Center which can be used for any questions to the City: 614-645-3111. The City may also be contacted thru the Internet at cityofcolumbus.org. They noted that city codes are available on that web site. In addition, once they receive a zoning complaint, they are to respond within 3-5 days.

The FNWC again discussed the variance request of Lyle Whittemore. After this additional discussion, it was moved and seconded, that the FNWC conditionally approve the variance request of Lyle Whittemore for his property located at 981 Cross Country Drive, with the stipulation that the driveway not encroach on the 5’ setback requirement. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,


Rich Herner, Secretary