Subject: STAFF REPORT
Subject: (VAR0803-2) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirement at
661 and 671 Mobley Road.
Planning Recommendation: DENIAL
PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY
Applicant: Shannon Arnette & Heather Benson
Owner: Same
Acreage: 15.0 total acres
Current Zoning Classification: SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
Current Use of Property: Undeveloped
Proposed Use of Property: Rural residential (3 lots)
Planning District: Planning District 2
Future Land-Use: Low Density Residential
Environmental Impacts: Property will require a stream buffer variance for
development if replatted.
Surrounding Zoning: East ? SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
West ? SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
North ? SFR3 (Single Family Residential 3)
South ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential 1) / SFR2 (Single Family
Residential 2)
Traffic Impact: None.
Planning Department
Recommendation: DENIAL - based upon the fact that the use of the property
may be utilized in its current form.. The applicant is seeking to create a
separate lot for the access easement that will serve the two existing
properties. A better solution to addressing the access easement is by deed,
not creating a separate lot that land-locks the existing flag lot.
Reasonableness of Request: The proposed variance is not reasonable based on the
existing lots of record that exist. Both lots are suitable for single family
residential development as they exist today. An access easement should be
created by deed, and not by creating another lot.
APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL
The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and
allow a 5.11-acre lot (Parcel C) to serve as the access which would serve
Parcels A and B as the primary right of entry onto the subject property. The
proposed replat is consistent with the SFR2 minimum 10,000 square feet lot size
requirement for newly created lots.
The lot at 671 Mobley Road is being subdivided to create a separate lot that
will serve as the access easement for the existing lot at 661 Mobley Road and
the newly created Parcel B. The lots, as they exist today, can be left as is
and attain the same result, with the exception that the access easement would
be by deed and not as a lot.
VARIANCE CRITERIA
In order to grant the requested variances, the City Council must make a
decision that is based upon all of the following findings required by the
variance regulations of the Columbus Zoning Ordinance:
The granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public safety,
health or welfare or injurious to other property;
The granting of this variance will not adversely affect neighboring properties.
The conditions upon which the request for a variance is based are unique to the
property for which the variance is sought and are not applicable generally to
other property;
The conditions are not unique to either the property or the area. The property
known as 661 Mobley Road is grandfathered in as a land-locked lot. However,
there is no reason to create another land-locked lot to achieve the purpose of
the applicants.
Because of the particular physical surroundings, shape, or topographical
conditions of the specific property involved, a particular hardship to the
owner would result, as distinguished from a mere inconvenience, if the strict
letter of these regulations are carried out; and
The topography and physical surroundings of this property are not a factor.
The variances will not in any manner vary the provisions of the Zoning
Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan or Official Map.
Granting of the variance will vary the provisions of the Unified Development
Ordinance due to the fact that the request is unnecessary.
The granting of this variance to waive the minimum street frontage requirement
will detract from the intent and spirit of the Unified Development Ordinance
and will adversely impact the overall objectives of the area as outlined in the
Comprehensive Plan.
Respectfully,