Subject: June 12, 2007
Honorable Mayor and Councils
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council
________________________________________________________________________
STAFF REPORT
Subject: (VAR0706-01) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements
at 6551 Green Island Drive.
Planning Recommendation: APPROVAL
PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY
Applicant: Johnny Cargill
Owner: Gardiner Garrard
Acreage: 1.89 acres
Current Zoning Classification: RE1 ? Residential Estate 1
Current Use of Property: Single family residential
Proposed Use of Property: Single family residential
Planning District: Planning District 1
General Use: Residential
Environmental Impacts: None
Surrounding Zoning: North ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential 1)
East ? (RE1) Residential Estates 1)
South ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential 1), LMI (Light Industrial
Manufacturing)
West ? (RE1) Residential Estates 1), SFR1 (Single Family
Residential 1)
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.
Reasonableness of Request: The proposed variance is reasonable because it does
not disrupt the existing rural character of the neighborhood.
APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL
This application is for a replat to subdivide an existing parcel totaling 80
acres into 2 lots. There is one house on the full 80 acres and the owner is
attempting to subdivide the property to provide a separate 1.89-acre lot for a
new home.
The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and
allow an existing private drive to serve as the primary right of entry onto the
subject property. The project site is located off Green Island Drive. The
proposed replat is consistent with the RE1 minimum 1.0 acre or 43,560 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 unique to the property, known as the Green Island Ranch,
which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Garrard family lives
on the property and wants to make it possible for their children to build their
homes on the property as well. In addition, neighboring properties in the area
of Green Island Drive are subdivided into large lots with access easements as
opposed to public streets because of the terrain.
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 prohibit public
street access to Green Island Drive.
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.
Respectfully,