Far Northwest Coalition

APRIL 2003 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION

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

April 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, Gail White, Scott Fair & Rich Herner.

Best opened the meeting shortly after 7:00 pm with introductions of the members. He discussed with the group and Rob McNeil, from the city zoning department, various graphics issues in the area. Two problems specifically mentioned were the car dealers and their sales as a result of the hail storm, as well as contractors with signs in yards and street right of ways.

Best then advised the group that he had spoken to the city about the addition of more lanes to Sawmill Road, north of I-270 up to Billingsley. However, there apparently are not enough funds available as this time to start the project.

Best noted that utilities were being relocated on Hard Road in preparation for the start of that project.

Peggy McElroy of the Northwest Civic Association, and candidate for City Council, discussed with the group some of the proposed changes coming for Don Scott Field.

Harvey and Tracy West presented their request for a zoning variance at their property located at 7656 Seddon Drive. They have a 31’ motor home and want to be able to park it adjacent to their home, on a concrete pad specifically constructed for this use. The vehicle does not stick out past the front of the home for setback purposes. However, the problem is that they live on a corner, and the RV would face the corner street, and consequently, they are in violation of setback rules on that side of the house. They had signatures from neighbors that the neighbors have no concern with the location of the RV. The alternative would be to park the RV in the street but associated traffic problems in a residential neighborhood, very near Davis Middle School would be a concern. The City has suggested some screening on that side, which the Wests are agreeable to install.

Andy Bates presented his request for a variance of setback rules for his home located at 8816 Creve Coeur Lane. He wants to build a two car attached 20’ by 22’ garage, however to do so, he would have to encroach on the 25’ setback line. He had been to the FNWC the month before and he was encouraged to scale back his plans to better fall within the setback rules, as well as have a more professional presentation completed. This time he had scale and elevation drawings of the proposed addition. He had also scaled back the addition, as well as moving its location some to better fall within the guidelines. Now, the proposed garage only encroaches over the setback line 3 ½’, at the closest encroachment of the setback line.

George McCue, Linda Comek and Tony Kurp made a presentation to the FNWC concerning the rezoning of 2650 Farmers Drive from L-C-4 and C-2 to all C-4. The purpose is to build a used car dealership for CarMax Auto Superstores. This property is located on Farmers Drive, adjacent to the west of Farmers Insurance building and abuts to I-270. It is essentially just east of the southeast corner of I-270 and Sawmill Road.

The presenters said that CarMax is a national used car retailer owned by Circuit City. They deal primarily in late model used cars, average age of 2-3 years old, with almost nothing older than 6 years. It was stated that they carry a huge selection of autos, up to 500 planned spaces, with fixed prices and fixed trades. They operate just like a retail business with fixed prices and no haggling. CarMax currently has 43 superstores and over 15,000 cars in inventory. This would be their first foray into Ohio, with stores proposed for Dayton and Cincinnati also. They would employ around 150 fulltime employees and about 35 part-time. They anticipate standard retail business hours daily. It was noted that this use would be much less intensive and traffic concerns should be much smaller than other possible uses for the site, i.e. an office building.

The project would include a parking area for employees facing Farmers Drive, which would be screened from the road, as well as parking for the inventory, which would face I-270. In addition, there would be a building (standard national CarMax design-all the same) to house sales, trade-in evaluation, a small paint and repair shop; and another parking area adjacent to the Farmers Insurance building for up to 500 more cars in transition from trade-in to the sales lot. They will maintain the tree line along Farmers Drive, as well as adding a masonry wall and other screening. In addition, they anticipate one pylon sign facing I-270, as well as the normal signs on the building. They are also looking for some directional signs for Sawmill and Snouffer/Caine Roads to assist customers in finding their location. They noted that a traffic study was being done, but has not been completed.

Taxing issues as a result of the proposed project were briefly discussed, both from an income and a real estate basis. In addition, a representative from Farmers Insurance was present and stated that Farmers had been in discussions with CarMax on the proposed project and, at this time, did not have any objections to it.

Best then led a discussion concerning FNWC officers for the upcoming year. It was moved, and seconded, that the current officers be retained through the end of the year, i.e. John Best as President, John Murley as Vice President and Rich Herner as Secretary/Treasurer. Motion passed.

The FNWC group then again discussed the variance request of Harvey and Tracey West. It was then moved, and seconded, to approve the variance for 7656 Seddon Drive to allow the parking of a recreational vehicle on the property. After additional discussion, the motion was passed.

There was a brief discussion concerning the variance request from Andy Bates. It was then moved, and seconded that the variance request for 8816 Creve Coeur Lane to allow the construction of a garage on the property extending beyond the setback line, be approved as presented to the group at this meeting. Motion passed.

It was then moved, and seconded to table the request for the zoning change of the property located at 2650 Farmers Drive from L-C-4 and C-2 to C-4 inclusive because of a lack of time for further discussion. Motion passed.

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

Respectfully submitted,


Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary