CITY OF PICKERINGTON

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2003

PUBLIC HEARING

7:20 P.M.

OPEN DISCUSSION REGARDING THE REZONING OF 1.22+/- ACRES LOCATED AT 150 HILL ROAD NORTH FROM C-3 (COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL) TO P-M (PLANNED GENERAL INDUSTRIAL) FOR THE DONLEY CONCRETE CUTTING AND DRILLING COMPANY

Mr. England opened the public hearing at 7:20 P.M., with the following members of the Planning and Zoning Commission present: Mr. Pruden, Mr. Smith, Mr. England, Mr. Bosch, and Mr. Maxey. Others present were: Lance Schultz, Lynda Yartin, Bob Mapes, David Donley, John Donley, Patti Spears, Chuck Loving, and others.

Mr. England asked if there was any discussion for or against the proposed rezoning.

Mr. David Donely stated he had purchased this property and he wanted to expand his business to this property.

Mrs. Patti Spears, 154 Hill Road North. Mrs. Spears stated she thought this had been discussed earlier and had been dropped. She stated she had taken up a petition at that time and she did not want general industry behind her knowing what it could be. She stated if Mr. Donley sold this property and it had general industrial zoning, someone could come in there and put in something the neighbors would never approve of. She stated she knew Mr. Donley wanted a garage, but she thought anything could be put in there at another time.

Mr. David Donley stated he intended to put in a 40 by 170 foot building with service bays, and an office. He stated the building would run parallel to the railroad tracks and would not be directly behind Mrs. Spears’ property. Mrs. Spears stated she was just against the property being zoned general industrial.

Mr. Donley stated he was also going to donate the portion of the property fronting S.R. 256 to a depth of approximately 110 feet to the city if this zone change is approved. Mr. Schultz stated the City would most likely use that portion as a landscape buffer. Mr. Donley stated the building he was proposing would accommodate up to eight vehicles and two or three offices. Mrs. Spears stated with a garage going in there she did not see why it could not just stay commercial.

Mr. Schultz stated if restrictions were put on this zoning change that it could only be used for vehicle storage and offices, then in the future if anyone wanted to purchase it, it would have to remain storage unless they came in and asked for a change. Mr. Schultz stated it cannot remain commercial as Mr. Donley’s use is an extension of industrial. Mr. England stated along that whole strip that piece is the only one that is not already zoned industrial, and Mr. Schultz stated that is correct. Mr. Schultz stated the conditions would be attached to the zoning change.

Mrs. Spears stated the word industrial did still scare her, and Mr. Schultz stated this request is for a planned industrial district so any modification would have to approved by this commission. Mrs. Spears clarified that planned industrial district means the City still has some control on what could be put in in the future. Mr. Mapes stated that meant if there were to be a substantial change to the plan, it would have to be approved through this same process. He stated if someone wanted to purchase the property and use it for storage, they could do that. However, if they wanted to manufacture something, they would have to come to this Commission as ask to change the plan. Mr. Mapes stated at that time the neighbors would be notified, and we would do this process all over again.

Mr. Loving stated he owned the property across and when he was first notified of this hearing he was concerned because the name of the company said concrete cutting and drilling. He stated he had envisioned noise, dust, and so forth. Mr. Loving stated after speaking to Mr. Schultz and Mr. Donley he was satisfied with the zoning change.

Mr. England stated he would close the public hearing at this time, and further discussion would be appropriate at the time the Commission considered this item on the agenda.

The public hearing closed at 7:30 P.M., April 8, 2003.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ATTEST:

____________________________ __________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Lance A. Schultz,

Municipal Clerk Director, Planning and Zoning

CITY OF PICKERINGTON

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2003

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

7:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. England called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows Mr. Smith, Mr. Bosch, Mr. Maxey, Mr. Pruden, Mr. England, and Mr. Nicholas present. No members were absent. Others present were: Lance Schultz, Lynda Yartin, Bob Mapes, David Donley, John Donley, Patti Spears, Chuck Loving, Dan Heitmeyer, and others.

Mrs. Yartin stated she would like to add, for the record, that Mr. Pruden had been appointed as Mayor Postage’s representative to the Commission, he was sworn in prior to this meeting and he would be a voting member of the Commission.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF March 11, 2003, Regular Meeting. Mr. Bosch moved to approve; Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Smith, Mr. Bosch, Mr. Maxey, Mr. Pruden, Mr. Nicholas, and Mr. England voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 6-0.

3. SCHEDULED MATTERS:

A. Review and request for motion to approve the rezoning of 28.548+/- acres from AG (Rural District) to R-4 (Residential District) for a single-family development located north of Long Road and south of the railroad tracks and just west of the proposed Long Estates Subdivision for Rockford Homes (Woodward property). (TABLED, 11-12-02)

B. Review and request for motion to approve Olde Pickerington Design Guidelines Certificate of Appropriateness for signage for Pickerington Heating and Cooling at 22 North Center Street. (TABLED, 11-12-02)

C. Review and request for motion to approve a final development plan for Long Estates Phase II a single-family development on approximately 79.89 acres for William Lane located north of Long Road and south of the railroad tracks (Lane property). (TABLED, 11-12-02)

D. Review and request for motion to approve proposed rezoning of 150 Hill Road North from C-3 (Community Commercial) to P-M (Planned General Industrial) for Donley Concrete Cutting and Drilling Company. Mr. Schultz stated the owner proposed to construct a garage/office facility on the site that would serve as an expansion to the current concrete and drilling use. He stated the building would be approximately 172 feet long and 40 feet wide for a total of 6,880 square feet. He stated the building would accommodate up to eight vehicles and two to three offices. Mr. Schultz continued the Comprehensive Land Use Plan identifies this area as a special district in the old downtown. He stated the Olde Pickerington Village Development Plan, which was adopted in 1993, encourages a residential village in this area. He further stated that concept at this location would require a single developer to acquire several individual parcels and that is not feasible. Mr. Schultz continued that with the current density requirements a residential village concept is not economically feasible for any developer. Mr. Schultz stated this property is currently zoned community commercial and that allows a wide variety of commercial uses. Mr. Schultz further stated the garage/office use requires a zone change because it is an expansion of an existing light industrial use and it would likely be less intense than most commercial uses. Mr. Schultz stated access to the garage/office use would be from Borland Street through the existing business, and the owner would dedicate the property fronting S.R. 256 to a depth of approximately 110 feet to the City if this zone change is approved. Mr. Schultz stated the City would most likely use that property as a landscape buffer. Mr. Schultz stated the site plan will require approval of Certificates of Appropriateness for building materials, landscaping, lighting, and signage if the zone change is approved. He continued the owner has committed to the location of the proposed building and parking lot, and the Board of Zoning Appeals would have to approve the building and parking setback variances along the west and southwest property lines. Mr. Schultz also stated the buffering adjacent to the residential districts would have to meet the zoning code requirements of mounding, fencing, and landscaping or a combination of the three.

Mr. Schultz stated staff supported the rezoning although it is not consistent with the Olde Pickerington Village Development Plan, as the site would not likely be an appropriate location of a residential village concept, the land is currently zoned commercial and the proposed use is likely less intensive than most commercial uses, there would be no additional curb cuts on Hill Road, and the zone change would likely retain a business in the City since without the expansion the business may have to relocate. Mr. Schultz stated he would support the rezoning with the restrictions that the site plan and building meet the City’s Commercial Design Guidelines, the Board of Zoning Appeals approve the building and setback variances, that the site be used for storage and office uses only and no drilling, cutting, etc., activities are permitted on the site.

Mr. Maxey clarified that Mrs. Spears did not feel comfortable with the industrial zoning, but as this was a planned industrial district the City would have some control over what could happen at this location in the future. Mr. Bosch clarified that even if there were conditions placed on the zoning Mrs. Spears was still not comfortable with the zoning change. Mr. Maxey stated he understood Mrs. Spears concerns about what could happen in the future and clarified that the restrictions would be on file at the City with the property files so if someone wanted to use the property for another use they would find that record. Mr. Mapes stated if a future property owner wanted to change the use of the property they would have to come before this Commission as it would be a substantial change to the planned industrial district that was approved. Mr. Mapes stated at that point the neighbors would be notified and this entire process would be enacted again. Mr. Maxey clarified for Mrs. Spears that this did not get a final approval this evening, it will still go to Service Committee, to the Board of Zoning Appeals for the variances, and it could even come back to Planning and Zoning before going on to Council. Mr. Mapes stated there would also be another public hearing held at Council. Mr. Schultz stated as this is zoned commercial now, just about any commercial use could go in without any public hearing. He stated if restrictions were placed on the zone change it would most likely be more restrictive than any commercial use that could go in there. Mr. England clarified that with the existing zoning someone could come in and put a service station in without any notification to the neighbors. Mr. Bosch moved to approve the proposed rezoning with the restrictions that the site plan and building meet the City’s Commercial Design Guidelines, that the Board of Zoning Appeals approve the building and setback variances, that the site may be used for storage and office use only, and that the property fronting S.R. 256 to a depth of approximately 110 feet be dedicated to the City; Mr. Maxey seconded the motion. Mr. Maxey stated he felt the restrictions being put on the property helped the neighbors out, and ascertained Mr. Donley had no objections to these restrictions. Mr. Smith stated the C-3 zoning is a fairly intensive commercial zoning and he felt with the restrictions this was much better for the neighbors. Roll call was taken with Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Pruden abstaining, and Mr. England, Mr. Bosch, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Maxey voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

E Review and request for motion to approve Commercial Design Guidelines Certificate of Appropriateness for building materials for 5 West Church Street (Heitmeyer property). Mr. Schultz stated this site was rezoned C-2 in 1990 and the owner is proposing to renovate the house into an office with a parking lot at the rear of the building. Mr. Schultz stated the site plan does not meet the parking setbacks established by the zoning code, which requires a 25 foot setback along the western property line and an 18 foot setback along North Center Street. He further stated buffering would be required adjacent to the existing residence and adjacent to North Center Street. Mr. Schultz stated parking variances and buffering requirements would have to be approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals. Mr. Schultz stated this is a unique site as it is a small site in the old downtown and most of the renovations over the years have not included parking in the rear of the property. He stated to allow parking, which is beneficial to the city, variances would have to be approved. Mr. Schultz stated the owner is proposing white wood siding or hardy plank siding, with white aluminum soffit and facia. He stated it does not appear the roof will be modified and the windows appear to remain the same. Mr. Schultz stated staff supports the certificate of appropriateness for building materials with the conditions that the wood siding be two to three inches in width to be consistent with other buildings in the area, and that all the windows shall have muttons and mullions, and that the Board of Zoning Appeals approve the variances for parking setbacks. Mr. England stated we are sorely in need of having parking in that area and he felt this would be an improvement. Mr. Maxey clarified the house would be Mr. Heitmeyer’s office. Mr. Heitmeyer stated the siding he intends to use is called New Albany style siding and is approximately three to three and one-half inches wide. Mr. Heitmeyer stated he did question the requirement for the muttons and mullions on the windows as he does not plan on doing that. He stated the windows that are in the house right now are the original windows and there are no muttons and mullions on them. Mr. Bosch clarified that at the last meeting the Commission had required the muttons and mullions be put in on the renovations being done by Dr. Carmen. Mr. Mapes stated the staff’s recommendation required the siding to be 2-3 inches in width and Mr. Heitmeyer has proposed siding that is 3-4 inches. Mr. Maxey stated this Commission has wanted to get back to the old Pickerington, but everyone’s view seems to be different and there seems to be a grey area regarding the muttons and mullions. Mr. Smith stated his chief concern was that this Commission be consistent and Mr. Bosch stated that was also his concern, if we require one individual to do it, we should require everyone. Mr. Bosch stated he did not recall what the Commission required of Dr. Carmen. Mrs. Yartin clarified from the minutes at the last meeting that this Commission had approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for Dr. Carmen’s office with the condition that all proposed windows have muttons and mullions and that the existing second floor window fronting Columbus Street have muttons and mullions. Mr. Nicholas stated Columbus Street is not consistent in this regard, and he felt that if these are the original windows they should stay as they are. Mr. England stated he concurred with Mr. Nicholas. Mr. Bosch stated he agreed as well, but he still felt they should be consistent. Mr. England stated he felt if every building in town had muttons and mullions it would be boring. He further stated as he remembered growing up, all the buildings did not have them. Mr. Smith stated his concern was not if we required the grids or not, he just felt the Commission should be fair with everyone. Mr. Nicholas stated if this Commission is trying to match everything, make sure everything looks exactly the same, then we do need to require Mr. Heitmeyer to put in muttons and mullions. He further stated if the intent is to preserve historical authenticity, and these are the original windows, then he did not feel we should require him to put them in. Mr. Maxey stated he felt the intent of the Commercial Design Guidelines and the guidelines for the downtown area is so we do not end up with a hodge podge of every different architecture, building materials, etc. Mr. Maxey stated he did feel at times we got a little bogged down in the finite details and this Commission should look at it on a broader scale. Mr. Maxey stated he looked at his role on this Commission as one of making certain the area looked good, not to make certain that every shingle is the same. Mr. Maxey stated he also felt we needed to have a little variety and not cookie cutter type buildings. Mr. Maxey continued he felt that every case should be looked at individually. Mr. Nicholas moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for building materials for 5 West Church Street with the condition that the siding be no greater in lap distance than 2-4 inches, that the windows not have muttons and mullions, and that the Board of Zoning Appeals approve the parking setback variances; Mr. Maxey seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Maxey, Mr. England, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bosch, Mr. Nicholas, and Mr. Pruden voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.

4. REPORTS:

A. Planning and Zoning Director - Lance Schultz

(1) BZA Report. Mr. Schultz stated the Board had two cases on their agenda for April, the parking setback variances for Mr. Heitmeyer, and a variance to approve a garage larger than we allow.

B. FCRPC - Lance Schultz. Mr. Schultz stated the Commission had no developments adjacent to the City on their agenda.

5. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.

A. Tree Commission. No report.

6. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Smith moved to adjourn; Mr. Bosch seconded the motion. Mr. Bosch, Mr. Maxey, Mr. Smith, Mr. England, Mr. Nicholas, and Mr. Pruden voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 6-0. The Planning and Zoning Commission adjourned at 8:20 P.M., April 8, 2003.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

___________________________ _________________________

Lynda D. Yartin Lance A. Schultz

Municipal Clerk Director, Planning and Zoning