Far Northwest Coalition

JUNE 2001 FNWC MINUTES

JUNE 2001 FNWC MINUTES

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

June 27, 2001

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library. Members present of the FNWC Board were John Best, Ann Brodeur, John Murley, Mark Seeger, Ed Kromer, Jim Kacpura, & Rich Herner. Minutes from the previous meetings & the Treasurer's Report were tabled until the next meeting.

John Best opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and gave updates on several issues, including a new park to be built on 35 acres in Dublin, near Scioto High School, as well as inquiries concerning the land owned by Dr. Nielsen. He also mentioned that the Beth Tivkah synagogue was looking at property on Snouffer Road near the intersection with Smoky Row. In addition, a car wash is looking to go in the spot where Mr. Mulch used to be on St. Rt. 161 in Linworth, next to the railroad tracks. Best also reported on the road closings, both to the end of August, on Linworth Road across I-270 and Olentangy River Road, just north of Bethel Road. The Billingsley Basin has algae blooms in it, which need to be addressed by chemicals or adding algae eating fish.

The group discussed the need to have the code enforcement officer look at the Far Northwest area again. Many stores are again in violation of code ordinances. Best also reported that a new community liaison police officer had been appointed. Best said he would try & have both the code enforcement people and the new police community liaison officer present at a future meeting of the FNWC.

Joe McQuade of 7759 Kellsford Road presented to the FNWC a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) fencing matter along Hard Road, which affected his property as well as others located at 7765 and 7771 Kellsford Road. Other neighbors in the area were present to discuss the situation, including Roberto Gonzales, who lives in the last property next to the railroad tracks. Apparently there is a requirement that there be a split rail fence along Hard Road on the south side. Mr. Gonzales stated that on his end, there has never been any fence at all while the others have put up their own privacy fences, which have been in place for several years. They have now received notice that the split rail fence must be put back in place by code. Their concern is that the fence was in disrepair and in some places nonexistent. In addition, in another year or so, the fence will be removed for the Hard Road widening project. They are requesting that a variance be granted & the split rail fence requirement be waived for now.

Bill Halley & Bill Kanan presented a zoning change request concerning property located at 6209 Hutchinson Road in the Linworth area. There were originally 3 lots platted on Hutchinson with 50-foot frontage. However, for some reason two of the lots were assigned one parcel number, so there are only 2 parcel numbers associated with these 3 lots. The request is to have the one parcel divided so they have a total of 3 parcels, with approximately 50 feet of frontage each. The plan to build a home on each lot (total of 3 homes), one to be around 2,200 square feet & the others to be somewhat smaller. They plan for sales in the $165,000 to $190,000 price range. They want to complement the current architecture on the street & keep the current character of the neighborhood. They feel other properties on the street have the same type of frontage and since water & sewer are now available (property located in Columbus), that the lot frontage requirements should be waived.

John Johnson of the City of Columbus Refuse Collection Division spoke to the group on the pilot recyclable program going on in the area. The city tried split cans with a special truck from the 1st of the year through May. The city is now using a large separate can for the recyclable material. They will look at the outcome of the 2 programs to get a better feel for which alternative may offer the best recyclable solution for the city. Johnson discussed the programs & answered several questions from the group. He noted that residents can also drop recyclable materials at several collection boxes all over the city, the closest being at the fire station on Smoky Row Road.

The FNWC then had a motion and a second to support the position of the homeowners in the Kellsford Road area concerning the BZA fence issue. The support is for the retention of the existing fencing, currently in place, until the construction project on Hard Road begins. The motion passed.

The FNWC again discussed the zoning request for 6209 Hutchinson Road. After discussion, the FNWC not being aware of any neighborhood opposition, moved and seconded a motion for conditional support of council variance #CV01-029 that would assign an additional parcel number for the eventual construction of 3 single family homes on the property in question.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner
FNWC Secretary