BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
REGULAR MEETING - 2:00 P.M. ? August 6th, 2008
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals was held Wednesday, August
6th, 2008, at 2:00 P.M., on the 1st Floor of the Government Center Annex in the
conference room, 420-10th Street. Mr. Ralph King, Board Chairman, called the
meeting to order. The board members present were:
Mr. Wright Wade
Mr. Willie Lewis, Jr.
Mr. Bill Hart
Also present representing the Inspections and Code Enforcement Department was
Mr. Danny Cargill, Secretary of the Board, and Mrs. Ami Musselman, Recording
Secretary.
CASE NO. 08-V058-GRANTED
Mr. Bruce Jones of George Woodruff Company, for a variance from the zoning
ordinance for 5592 Whitesville Road, to increase the number of signs allowed
from two to seven, and to increase the sign area from 300 feet allowed to 478
feet. The property is zoned GC.
This is in regards to the Landings property on Whitesville Road. Mr. Jones
stated they wanted to improve the looks of the existing sign by updating it as
well as adding directory signs in the parking lot. Mr. Jones presented a
picture of the directory sign and said it would not be a lighted sign. The
signs would be the same in design and d?cor. The existing sign would be used
structurally but redesigned to be more modern and conform to the rest of the
Landings.
Mr. King asked if there were any neighborhoods surrounding the Landings. Mr.
Cargill stated there were additional commercial properties as well as the
interstate behind it.
Mrs. Diane Hewitt, sign inspector for the City of Columbus, was in attendance
regarding this variance. Mrs. Hewitt expressed concerns regarding the sign
currently existing on the right of way. Mrs. Hewitt said the sign was
approximately 5 feet over the right of way and would need to have it evaluated.
Mrs. Hewitt also stated she did not have a problem with the directory signs as
long as they were not going to have off premise advertising.
Mr. Cargill advised Mr. Jones they would need to get in touch with Ron Hamlett
with Engineering in order to verify the right of way. Mr. King advised that
the Board of Zoning Appeals does not deal with right of way issues; however,
Ron Hamlett would need to be made aware of the situation.
Mr. Wade made a motion to grant this request due to the directional signs being
for the tenants and not used for advertising. Mr. Lewis seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
CASE NO. 08-V059-GRANTED
Mr. Bruce Jones of George Woodruff, Inc., for a variance from
the zoning ordinance for 5300 Sidney Simons Boulevard, to
increase the number of signs allowed from two to three, and to
increase the sign area from 300 feet allowed to 555 feet. The
property is zoned GC.
Mr. Jones stated they wanted to re-do the sign and that it would not be LED at
this time. Mr. Jones also stated they would place a directory sign on the
property as well.
There was no opposition present for this appeal.
Mr. Wade made a motion to grant this request stating that the signs were
replacing existing signs. Mr. Hart seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
CASE NO. 08-V060-GRANTED
Mr. Nathaniel Bernard, for a variance from the zoning ordinance for 4415
Steammill Road, to reduce the side setback from 8 feet required to 3 feet. The
property is zoned SFR2.
Mr. Bernard stated he was renovating his house and wanted to extend his current
one car carport to a two-car carport. The carport will not be enclosed, it
will be open. Mr. Bernard has spoken to his neighbors and they do not have a
problem with his increasing his carport. He stated that his as well as his
neighbor?s water drainage would flow to the street. Mr. Bernard will also use
similar materials on the new carport as well as install gutters.
There was no opposition present for this appeal.
Mr. Wade made a motion to grant this request due to the existing single carport
and it would only be extending it. Mr. Lewis seconded the motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
CASE NO. 08-V061-GRANTED
Ms. Elizabeth Barker of Historic Columbus Foundation, for a variance from the
zoning ordinance for 627 Broadway, to reduce the front yard setback requirement
from 20 ft to 15 ft, and to reduce the side yard setback requirement from 10 ft
to 5 ft. The property is zoned HIST.
Ms. Barker presented photos of the historical home they are moving onto the
vacant lot. The home was built around the 1850?s and will fit into the
neighborhood nicely. The variance is needed to allow the house to be placed
further to one side of the yard in order to have a driveway on the other as
well as to align the house with other homes already present on the street.
Mr. Lewis asked whether the Historic Columbus Foundation had permission from
BHAR to relocate the home to this property. Ms. Barker was able to provide the
Certificate of Appropriateness.
There was no opposition present for this appeal.
Mr. Lewis made a motion to grant this request due to the Historic Columbus
Foundation having the approval from BHAR. Mr. Wade seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
CASE NO. 08-V062-GRANTED
Mr. Jimmy Weaver of A-Airflow Awning, for a variance from the zoning ordinance
for 5251 Ray Drive, to reduce the side yard setback requirement from 8 feet
required to 1 foot. The property is zoned SFR2.
Mr. Weaver stated the homeowner needed a side carport. Mr. Weaver advised the
slab is curved and the water flow will go to the street. The carport will be
aluminum and have gutters with down spouts.
There was no opposition present for this appeal.
Mr. Wade made a motion to grant this request due to the fact there are similar
carports in the area and gutters will be installed. Mr. Lewis seconded the
motion.
CASE NO. 08-V063-GRANTED
Mr. Chris Braswell representing Columbus Housing Authority on behalf of EMC
Engineering Services, Inc., for a variance from the zoning ordinance for 2971
Buena Vista Rd, to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 61 to 26.
The property is zoned RMF1.
Mr. Braswell explained the property was going to be a gated community for
special needs residents. Most of the residents would not have cars and would
use the public transportation, which has a stop in front of the community. Mr.
Braswell also stated the property would be graded so that if they needed to add
more parking in the future it would already be prepared. They would plant nice
shrubbery in the meantime.
David Wallace of New Horizons stated the special needs residents may have
visitors but would not be using the parking spaces on a regular, daily basis.
At any given time there would be approximately 3-4 employees on site.
Mr. King asked whether the community would look residential or institutional.
Mr. Braswell advised it would look residential and fit within the codes.
There was no opposition present for this appeal.
Mr. Wade made a motion to grant this request due to the fact the gated
community would be for special needs residents and they would not require much
parking space. Mr. Wade also pointed out they would grade the property in case
there was a need for more parking spaces in the future. Mr. Hart seconded the
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. King made a motion to accept the minutes from the July 2008 meeting as
written. Mr. Wade seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Other Business
Mr. King made a motion to excuse Mr. Borom from the meeting due to a doctor?s
appointment in Atlanta. Motion was seconded and all members were in
agreement. Mr. Borom was excused from the August meeting.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned
at 2:45 p.m.
____________________ _________________
Ralph King William L. Duck, Jr.
Chairperson Secretary
_____________________ __________________
Wright Wade Danny Cargill
Vice Chairperson Acting Secretary
Attachments
No attachments for this document.