Subject: STAFF REPORT
Subject: (VAR0711-03) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements
at 659 Dogwood Drive.
Planning Recommendation: Approval
PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY
Applicant: A.B. Moon Jr.
Owner: Willie L. King
Acreage: 5.95 acres
Current Zoning Classification: SFR2 ? Single Family Residential 2
Current Use of Property: Residential
Proposed Use of Property: Residential
Planning District: Planning District 11
General Use: Residential
Environmental Impacts: None
Surrounding Zoning: East ? SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
West ? SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
North ? SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
South ? SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
Traffic Impact: None
Planning Department
Recommendation: APPROVAL - based upon the fact that the strict enforcement
of the provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance is not applicable to the
subject property and this is the best use of the property to date. This
property has been considered for various uses over the last seven years. A
rezoning request for a master planned RMF1 development was denied about five or
six years ago. Property ownership changed hands soon afterward and the new
property owner met with staff on numerous occasions to develop the property.
None of the ideas presented were feasible without disrupting the neighborhood.
The current development plan for this property is unobtrusive to the
neighborhood and will further secure the single family tradition of the
area.
Reasonableness of Request: The proposed variance is reasonable based on the use
of the property, and its ability to provide a primary right of entry via a
20-foot joint-use access easement.
APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL
The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and
allow a 20-foot access easement to serve 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.
Section 7.3.5 (F.2) of the Columbus Unified Development Ordinance states, ?all
lots shall front on a minimum of 25 feet of dedicated public right-of-way or
upon a right-of-way that has received the legal status as such.? The proposed
subdivision of the existing lot creates one (1) lot that does not meet the
minimum street frontage requirement as stated above.
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.
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 not vary the provisions of the Unified
Development Ordinance. It will preserve the existing character of the
neighborhood and retain the scope of the Unified Development Ordinance and
Comprehensive Plan.
The granting of this variance to waive the minimum street frontage requirement
will not detract from the intent and spirit of the Zoning Ordinance and will
not adversely impact the overall objectives of the area as outlined in the
Comprehensive Plan.
cc: Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity