Far Northwest Coalition

FEBRUARY 2012 FNWC MINUTES

Far Northwest Coalition

Columbus, OH

 

February 29, 2012

 

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library on Hard Road.  Members present were John Best, Kelly Thompson, John Murley, Mike Brown, Gary Bruck and Rich Herner. 

 

Best led a general discussion about recent development in the FNWC area; particularly the new restaurants in the New Market area along with the closing of the gym there and demolition of some of the other buildings.  He also noted that he would like to get a drive going to see that Sawmill Road be widened to better handle the increased traffic load that the area has experienced.

 

The FNWC reviewed the minutes from the prior meeting.  There was a motion and a second to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion passed.

 

The Zoning Chair of the Northwest Civic Assn, Rosemarie Lisko talked to the group about dues collection in for the NWCA and some of the things dues are spent on.  She said that they specifically notify nearby residents of zoning requests and give an explanation of the changes being asked for.  She said they also require that applicants provide zoning request documentation to all members of the board ahead of the meeting date so that all may have sufficient time to review the proposal and formulate any questions or concerns ahead of time.  The group also briefly discussed the City plan for area names and signage in conjunction with the City celebration.

 

Lisko also noted that the OSU Trustees were again looking to possibly sell the OSU airport, including the farm to developers.  She said she may request that the FNWC write a letter in opposition to any sale of that area for development.  She said that the NWCA will keep the FNWC apprised of any updates on the possible sale.

 

David Hodge, as representative of Byers Auto, then made a presentation to the group requesting that an amendment be made to the zoning text for the property located at 2455 Billingsley Road.  The request would amend the existing CPD to increase the size of the currently smaller building on the lot along I-270 to a size no greater than 10,000 sq. ft.  Hodge said the site has been rezoned several times through the years and the 200’ minimum setback would be maintained.  The request is only to increase the size of the used car building to no greater than 10,000 sq. ft.  The building is located on the southwest corner of the lot and is currently about 4,200 sq. ft.  They don’t plan to exceed 8,000 sq. ft. but want to have the expansion ability available if needed in the future.  The building addition would extend to the north, along the western lot line.  Byers plans to separate their two auto lines, Subaru and Mazda, and operate their new car sales for each brand from the separate buildings.  Used cars will be sold from the current building to the north on the lot.  The main building can be up to 50,000 sq. ft. under the existing zoning but Hodge was not sure exactly how big it is currently. 

Hodge noted there are no plans to change any graphics; if so, it would have to come back to the FNWC and the City Graphics Commission.  There was discussion that they may have to add a sidewalk along Billingsley Road since the city sidewalk requirements may be triggered with the zoning change.  When asked, Hodge did not think there was any side yard setback requirement currently on the property.  He also noted that he anticipated staff support from the city.

 

David Brown and Heidi Rose then made a presentation for their client concerning the property located at 2435 Billingsley Road.  This is the old Dent Wizard location.  The request is to change the zoning text to allow used car sales on the lot.  Current zoning only allows used car sales in conjunction with new car sales on the property.  The former owner of Immke Honda wants to open a used car sales business on the lot; there would not be any new car sales there, consequently the request for change.  The individual has a 5 year lease option on the building with a right of first refusal to purchase, with another option to re-lease after that. 

 

They presented a very preliminary site plan to the group and talked about other possible changes such as moving the driveway from the east side of the lot to the center.  This would be preferable since the property abuts directly to residential apartments on the east side.  They noted that all setbacks would be adhered to but they would like the ability to add to display pads on the north side of the lot for 3 cars each, as the other dealers on Billingsley currently have.  They plan to use the existing monument signage currently in place.  They would also pave over grass with concrete (less than an acre) immediately north of the building for additional auto storage and display up to the setback line as the other dealers have done.  FNWC members asked about drainage with that much grass being paved over and they replied they would do whatever the City required in that area.  The plan had just been filed with the City and anticipated staff review by March 15 and hearing before the Development Commission in April

 

They also noted that the building is currently in poor repair since it has been vacant for quite a while.  Plan is for a service department inside the building but it will have not have any outside speakers or pagers.  Exterior doors may be changed to accommodate the service area, as well as the reconfiguration for a showroom; looking to be like CarMax on a smaller scale with upper scale used cars.  Their plan is to have about 60 cars in inventory at any one time and would employ about 12 people.  FNWC members voiced concern over the use of the property as a “used car lot” when current zoning only allows used car sales in conjunction with new car sales.  The concern had to do with the possibility at some point of having lower end used cars being sold on the lot.

 

The FNWC then had additional discussions concerning the request to rezone the property located at 2435 Billingsley Road to allow for the sale of used cars on the lot without the current requirement to also sell new cars.  Again, concern was voiced over the possibility of lower end cars being sold from the property in the future.  It was also noted that new car dealers generally have certain requirements of their dealers for the presentation of the brand.  This would not be the case here and the owner would be able to pretty much do as he pleases, without the stricter requirements of a new car dealership.  In addition, concern was voiced over the precedent that would be set by allowing only used car sales on the lot, in contravention of what current dealers have been required to do for years.  Since the plan presented lacked much detail, it was moved and seconded to table the request to rezone the property located at 2435 Billingsley Road for additional information.  Motion passed.

 

The FNWC then discussed the request to rezone the property located at 2455 Billingsley Road to allow the owner, Byers, to increase the size of one building to allow for new car sales from it and effectively segregate the two brands being sold form the property, Mazda and Subaru.  Since it appears that the “side yard” setback is only 5 feet, the FNWC members were concerned that the rough doubling of the building size along that setback line will subject the neighbor immediately to the west to having a long concrete wall to look at.  There was also a concern that the presenter did not know the sizes of the current buildings in relation to the requested increase.  The group was still concerned about how to make this expansion request acceptable. 

 

It was then moved and seconded to conditionally approve the zoning change request for the property located at 2455 Billingsley Road, subject to the applicant having an aesthetic treatment for the west facade of the building; such as the use of contrasting materials, decorative paneling, recessed panels, colors or textures which should be consistent with the architectural scheme on all sides of the building.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

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

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 Rich Herner

FNWC Secretary