JANUARY 9, 2012 ZONING MEETING NOTES AND VOTING RECORD
JANUARY 9, 2012 ZONING MEETING NOTES
AND VOTING RECORD
248 E. 11TH Avenue – Pride Center
Present: Bill Graver, Dick Talbot, Susan Keeny, Joyce Hughes, Tom Wildman, Joaquin Serantes (arrived @ 6:45 pm)
Excused: Seth Golding
Meeting was opened by Chair Keeny. We went over the revised agenda and timelines.
AGENDA:
6:30 PM: Parking variance for 1211 Grant Ave. This is a request to reduce the number of code-required off-street parking spaces for residential new construction from 2 to 1 parking space. The applicant is Linda Menerey.
This property has an existing 1-car garage with a paved parking pad to the north side. Vehicular access to this parking pad is blocked by the placement of an existing utility pole. The committee was in agreement with the request but directed the applicant to immediately contact the utility company and request that the pole be moved. At such time as the utility pole shall be moved, the paved area would become a code-required parking pad.
Motion to approve the request for reduced parking with the condition that NRP request that pole be relocated by the utility company, allowing the paved area to become a parking pad - Bill Graver – seconded, Tom Wildman
Motion Passed unanimously
7:00 PM: N. High St. Mixed-Use Development – corner of 7th and High Streets. Request for variances include:
Increase the allowable height from 35 ft. to 75 ft.
Sect. 3372.605 (E) - request that 2nd story windows be “open air”
Applicant is the architect, JL Bender, Inc. Please note that due to plan modifications, the number of variances requested is reduced from the original 4 to the 2 variances listed above. The modifications include the addition of more retail along the High Street façade to increase both the building frontage and the adjoining uses along High Street.
The committee expressed continued concern about the proposed building height and the vehicular exit/entrance off High Street. Traffic engineers at the City are still reviewing the vehicular access to the site.
On Jan. 15th the architect and developer are scheduled to present the proposed plan to the Weinland Park residents to communicate the plan revisions and to solicit community response.
Motion to approve dividing the variances into two separate votes, Joaquin-seconded, Dick. Motion passed unanimously.
Increase the allowable height from 35 ft. to 75 ft. – There was much discussion regarding the Commission’s past votes on requests to increase the allowable height in the University District. It was noted that height increases have been allowed. Dick Talbot presented the Weinland Park Plan which stipulates a 1-3 stories max. building height, and a 0 ft. setback for buildings on the property @ 7th & High Streets.
Vote: 1 yes 4 no – Motion failed
Sect. 3372 605 (E) – request that 2nd story windows be “open air” – Motion to move to a vote, Joaquin-seconded, Dick. The 2nd level of this structure is parking garage, and the request for ‘open air’ widows is to meet the ventilation requirements for parking garages. The window openings would be ‘screened’ to prevent projectiles from the 2nd floor.
Motion passed unanimously
7:30 PM: 264 W. Norwich Avenue - Request for 9 variances for a proposed 56-unit (156 beds) apartment building, 3-4 stories high, that sits atop a 2-story parking garage (1 level above grade, one level below grade). Applicant is Mike Shannon for the Edwards Company. (Last month the applicant appeared for a preliminary project review. This month’s presentation is for the final review and committee vote.)
The existing site contains 48 units and 12 parking spaces. Tuttle Park is directly north of the property.
Variances requested are:
Vision Clearance - driveway to lower parking garage does not have a 10-ft. clear vision triangle.
Rear Yard – required rear yard is 10,089 sq. ft.; proposed rear yard is 1,359 sq. ft.
Landscaped Area – 5% of the lot area (20179.95 sq. ft.) shall be planted. Proposed area for landscaping is 1,350 sq. ft.
Max. Lot Coverage – max. coverage is 40%; proposed lot coverage is 74.7%
Parking – required parking is 206.11 spaces; proposed parking is 150 spaces
Building Lines – min. setback from neighboring building is 40 ft. from street R.O.W. (Right of Way) ; proposed setback varies from 3-6 ft. from Norwich R.O.W.
Building Separation & Size – no building shall exceed 10,200 sq. ft.; proposed building is 79,259 sq. ft.
Max. Floor Area (floor area / lot area) – max. Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) is 0.80; proposed F.A.R. is 1.96
Height – max. height is 35 ft.; proposed building height is 60 ft. (building height varies from 38 ft. to 60 ft. due to sloping site)
Motion to approve, Joaquin – seconded, Bill
Vote: 1 yes, 4 no - Motion failed
8:00 PM: 150 W. Lane Avenue – Request for 6 variances for proposed 40-unit (112 beds) apartment building, 4 stories high above a ‘podium’ garage. Applicant is Mike Shannon for the Edwards Company. (Last month the applicant appeared for a preliminary project review. This month’s presentation is for the final review and committee vote.)
The existing site contains 36 existing units. Variances requested are:
Max. Lot Coverage – max. coverage is 40%; proposed lot coverage is 42.99%
Parking – required parking is 151.17 spaces; proposed parking is 60 spaces
Building Lines – min. setback from neighboring buildings is 18 ft.; proposed setback is 11 ft. 4 in.
Building Separation & Size – no building shall exceed 10,200 sq. ft.; proposed building is 57,808 sq. ft.
Max. Floor Area (floor area / lot area) – max. Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) is 0.80; proposed F.A.R. is 1.61 sq. ft.
Height – max. height is 35 ft.; proposed building is 60 ft.
Motion to approve, Bill – seconded, Joyce
Vote: 1 yes, 4 no – Motion failed
8:30 PM: 19th Hole Restaurant – 19 E. 13th Avenue, west of Pearl Alley. Request for a parking variance from 35 to 0 spaces due to a change of use from retail to restaurant at this existing property located off Pearl Alley. There are currently 10 existing shared parking spaces in this parcel. Outdoor patio dining is planned on the existing above-grade covered porch. The applicant, Tony Colosimo from 3D Group Inc., presented a signed lease for 8 leased parking spaces @ 51 E. 13th Avenue, to be shared in common with the other tenants at that location.
It was noted that the architect had made a considerable effort toward obtaining a portion of the required parking spaces. The architect stated that he will continue to research places to secure additional parking for this proposed restaurant project.
Motion to approve, Bill – seconded, Susan
Vote: 1 yes, 4 no – Motion failed
9:00 PM: New Signage at 5th & Forsythe – Request for final review of proposed new sign for the new music school/business in the former 5th Avenue Elementary School. Last month, the architects met for a preliminary review. They now have a sign contractor contracted for the job. The plan has been revised and has taken into account comments and suggestions from the Zoning Committee:
30 ft. x 30 ft. ‘Clear Vision Zone’ at the corner is clearly noted on the plan
A licensed sign contractor has been contracted to create the final sign design and construction specifications per the City code.
A non-uniform surface is specified on the low wall of the sign to prevent recreational use (skate boards, etc.)
The wall width is narrowed to discourage use as sleeping bench
Static text on Forsythe arm of sign is specified – no changeable LED text
The committee commended the architects for their thorough presentation and their attention to design details that are appropriate for the site.
Motion to approve, Bill – seconded, Joyce
Motion Passed Unanimously
9:30 PM: Riverwatch Tower, 364 W. Lane Avenue – Request for continuation of Special Permit (3375.12) for off-premise advertising banner within the Urban Commercial Overlay & Variance 3372.606. Applicant will be presenting to the Graphics Commission on Feb. 21, 2011.
The existing banners have been removed, and the applicant is seeking approval for the off-premise advertising banner for one year. The advertiser is AT&T, a sponsor of OSU athletics.
It was noted that the last banner was installed in violation of the code. This proposed sign seeks to follow the process in seeking the required variances before the installation of any signage.
Motion to approve, Joyce – seconded, Susan
Vote: 4 yes, 1 no – Motion Passed
Meeting Adjourned
UAC ZONING DATE: January 9, 2012
CASE
Seth Golding
Bill Graver
Joyce Hughes
Susan Keeny
Joaquin Serantes
Dick Talbot
Tom
Wildman
Passed
Failed
Y-N-A
Y-N-A
Y-N-A
Y-N-A
Y-N-A
Y-N-A
Y-N-A
1211 N. Grant Ave
Excused
Y
Y
Y
Absent
Y
Y
Passed
7th & High Part “A”
Excused
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Failed
7th & High Part “B”
Excused
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Passed
264 W. Norwich Ave
Excused
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Failed
150 W. Lane Ave
Excused
N
N
N
Y
abstain
N
Failed
19 E 13th
Excused
N
N
Y
Y
N
abstain
Failed
5th & Forsythe Signage
Excused
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Passed
Riverwatch Tower 364 E. Lane
Excused
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Passed
PLEASE NOTE the following parameters for all participants in Commission meetings with regard to zoning cases, per our bylaws, Article IV – MEETINGS, Section 7:
The following time limits will be adhered to for all zoning cases heard before the Commission:
1. Applicant presents case - 5 min. max
2. Zoning Committee report/recommendation - 2 min. max
3. Public comment (max 3 people each pro/con) - 3 min each max
4. Applicant rebuttal - 2 min. max
5. Commission debate - 2 min max per commissioner who wishes to speak.