Far Northwest Coalition

SEPTEMBER 2004 FNWC MINUTES

FAR NORTHWEST COALITION ( FNWC )

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

September 29, 2004

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, Kelly Thompson, Joe McCumber, Mike Brown and Rich Herner.

Best opened the meeting with a discussion of some code violations from the car dealers along Billingsley Road. He also noted that the Hard Road project had been delayed by some “misengineering” on the sewer lines. Consequently, the progress had not been as much as originally planned.

Best advised the group that Dennis Hyundai was looking at the property between Krieger and Tire Kingdom on Billingsley Road. In addition, he noted that other development issues in the area may include relocation of the Kroger store on Sawmill, Trader Joe’s and a Wal-Mart. He also said that DSI Architects had sold the property at 2704 W. Dublin-Granville Road to Roger Wagner, a CPA, and would be proceeding with the request for a council variance for the property.

Cheryl Roberto, the Columbus Public Utilities Director, then made a presentation to the group concerning the 2004 Columbus Bond Package, which will be on the November ballot. She said she was here as a volunteer for the committee promoting the bond issue. The issues will give authority for Columbus to sell $600M in bonds for various projects. She said Columbus has maintained its AAA bond ratings and is the only one of the largest 25 cities in the US that has retained that rating. The bonds will be retired thru regular income tax collections and utility bills.

Roberto said the total package will show up as Issues 4 thru 11 on the ballot, with varying amounts for different projects, to total the $600M. Issue 4 will raise $46M for Recreation and Parks, Issue 7 to raise $185M for streets and highways, Issue 8 will raise $95M for sanitary sewers and Issue 9 will include $100M for water improvement and maintenance, as examples.

Dave Perry, agent for, and Jim Frey of the Bob Webb Group then made a presentation to the FNWC requesting the rezoning of 9 acres located at 999 Hard Road. This is the property located at the immediate southwest corner of Hard Road and Linworth Road. The request is to change from R-1 to PUD-4, which would allow the development of 34 condominium units on the property, with a density of 3.4 units per acre. The sole entrance to the property will be on Linworth Road, and will align itself with Bluffsview Drive. There will be no entrance from Hard Road.

The units are to be 1,600 to 2,200 square feet, of all natural materials (not in PUD text) and be priced from $325K to $425K. Each will have optional finishes and have lower levels. The plan is for 17 two-unit buildings, with the provision that they can have 3-unit buildings if they wish, based on topographical issues with the back units. They said they plan to maintain as many of the trees as possible, particularly for the units backing up to the lake located on the property.

They said Bob Webb has been in the building business for 40 years and builds good, quality construction. They noted that projects of this type are more for empty nesters, with few children and not many vehicle trips, in response to residents concerns about additional traffic problems, including the other two housing developments already scheduled for the area. They said the project will probably be done in one phase, though the PUD language states it can be in multiple phases. Work would start in the spring, assuming all went well at the Development Commission meeting on November 11.

The FNWC requested that they speak with Virginia Homes and MI, to try and develop continuity to the landscaping and general appearance of the properties as you would go down Hard Road. The residents in attendance seemed to be in favor of the project, as it was presented.

After some additional discussion, the FNWC moved, and seconded, to give conditional approval for the zoning change request for the property located at 999 Hard Road from R-1 to PUD-4 as presented, subject to the following conditions: be limited to one building phase of 34 total units, use of all natural building materials on the exterior, be limited to a maximum of three 3-unit buildings in the back of the project and the recommendation that the developer attempt to coordinate landscaping treatments with the surrounding communities, not limiting that to the same tree type. Motion passed.

It was then moved, and seconded to accept the minutes from the July 24, 2004 FNWC meeting as presented. Motion passed.

The FNWC members then briefly discussed the number of dues paying members of the coalition to get a definite idea as to the number of members required to be present to maintain a quorum at each FNWC meeting.

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

Respectfully submitted,


Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary