Planning Commission

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Planning Commission Michael Greenberg, Chair Michael Tamarkin, Vice Chair Bobbie Burba John Hicks Thomas Shapaka Michael Suriano Thomas J. Wester Krystal Gonchar, Deputy Clerk of Council Wednesday, February 24, 2021 7:00 PM Virtual Meeting Meeting Call-in Details: Tel- 513-306-4583, Conf. ID- 966 706 614# Speakers must contact planningcommission@gahanna.gov one hour prior to the start of the meeting, and provide name, address, phone number, and item you wish to speak on. A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ROLL CALL Gahanna Planning Commission met in virtual session via Microsoft Teams on February 24, 2021. The agenda for this meeting was published on February 19, 2021. Chair Greenberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Present 6 - Michael Greenberg, John Hicks, Michael Tamarkin, Bobbie Burba, Michael Suriano, and Thomas J. Wester Absent 1 - Thom Shapaka B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2021-0029 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from February 10, 2021. A motion was made by Hicks, seconded by Burba, that the Minutes be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Burba, Suriano and Wester Absent: 1- Shapaka D. SWEAR IN APPLICANTS & SPEAKERS City of Gahanna Page 1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 24, 2021 Assistant City Attorney Matt Roth administered an oath to those persons wishing to present testimony this evening. E. APPLICATIONS - PUBLIC COMMENT Walnut Creek Surgical Suites DR-0005-2021 To consider a Design Review Application for a demolition, site plan, landscaping plan and building design for property located off Buckles Court North; Parcel ID No. 025-013773; Current Zoning SCPD; Walnut Creek Surgical Suites; Larry Canini, applicant. City Planner Michael Blackford provided a summary of the four applications submitted for the Walnut Creek Surgical Center; see attached file (staff presentation). Blackford reviewed the requirements for granting approval for the application types; reviewed code requirements; described surrounding area development; explained that this is part of a larger project for the Crescent at Central Park area; the use is allowed by right; future land use designates this area as professional office; meets highest and best use. Blackford said the code provision for landscaping barriers is something that the department will be reviewing for changes in the near future; this type of variance has been approved several times for other projects in the last few years; reviewed other options and explained they are not ideal; staff believes the wall signage is more to scale for the large building; none of these requests would have adverse effects on neighboring properties. Staff is in favor of the applications. Chair opened public comment at 7:15 p.m. Larry Canini, applicant: thanked Blackford for the presentation; was able to get these applications through efficiently; trying to move this along quickly for spring; Buckles family is committed to opening up that area; the arrangement for Tech Center Drive improvement took away an important tool for tax abatement; without that abatements on the remaining properties to the south, the family took advice to spend the money to update the site; seeing the fruits of that effort after the family invested $1.5M; the goal of the surgeons in that building is to attract doctors and provide an opportunity to own the building; those same doctors requested a surgery center; have brought in additional 6 surgeons as part of this project; very excited about this project; a great opportunity for a competitive lease rate; we did not create individual lots in order to accommodate a site like this. Wanted to keep the design similar to the other building; hoping to create pedestrian connectivity to the other site; proposed sidewalk between the two; proposing a regional City of Gahanna Page 2 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 24, 2021 storm basin up to the north in hopes that there will be smaller basins on other lots. Chair closed public comment at 7:23 p.m. and called for questions from the commission. Wester: have no questions but thinks this is a good project; a good proposal and good use for the property. Hicks: agrees with that; the project is getting a lot of positive attention. Suriano: thinks the materials are consistent with neighbor; that will build consistency over time; variances seem reasonable and rational given the site layout. Burba: very happy that Larry has brought this surgical center to Gahanna, we need one of our own; asked if this will be associated with any particular specialty. Canini said the surgeons come from a variety of areas; everything from orthopedics to plastics to spinal; surgeons will also come from the New Albany surgical hospital; no direct affiliation with any hospital so anyone can use it. Burba said that is a good thing. Greenberg: asked if the detention basin will empty into nearby walnut creek. Canini said yes, but it is a water quality design so it will filter and clean the water before it is dumped. Greenberg asked about the squares going around the building, is that lighting? Canini said those are catch basins for stormwater; so that water is getting off site as quickly as possible, would see more in the design. Greenberg asked Blackford about the lighting, if it meets all current standards. Blackford confirmed. Greenberg commented on the landscaping; concerned about the trees along the north end of the property; concerned that the trucks will damage the canopy. Canini said he will review with landscaping to determine if it is just the drawing and would ensure a clearing. A motion was made by Suriano, seconded by Wester, that the Design Review be Approved. Discussion on the motion: Wester- will support this because it is a good project; glad to see the applicant is making good use of the property. Suriano- agrees that this is a good use and thinks it is consistent with its neighbor. Tamarkin- commented that this is a great project and thanked the applicant for bringing it to fruition; regarding the parking island, when they are parallel with the building they are more of a hazard; visitors must walk through the bushes to City of Gahanna Page 3 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 24, 2021 get through the building; any traffic island or landscaped islands should be reviewed in future code changes; two years ago, at the Blues & Jazz Festival someone broke their leg and filed a lawsuit due to walking through the island; islands running perpendicular work. Greenberg- in support of this development. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Burba, Suriano and Wester Absent: 1- Shapaka FDP-0002-2021 To consider a Final Development Plan Application for property located off Buckles Court North; Parcel ID No. 025-013773; Current Zoning SCPD; Walnut Creek Surgical Suites; Larry Canini, applicant. (see discussion above under file DR-0005-2021) A motion was made by Wester, seconded by Suriano, that the Final Development Plan be Approved. Discussion on the motion: Wester- echoed his comments from earlier. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Burba, Suriano and Wester Absent: 1- Shapaka SWP-0002-2021 To consider a Subdivision Without Plat Application to split 1.57 +/- acres of a 14.87 +/- acre parcel for property located off Buckles Court North; Parcel ID No. 025-013773; Current Zoning SCPD; Walnut Creek Surgical Suites; Larry Canini, applicant. (see discussion above under file DR-0005-2021) A motion was made by Burba, seconded by Hicks, that the Subdivision Without Plat be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Burba, Suriano and Wester Absent: 1- Shapaka V-0008-2021 To consider a Variance Application to vary sections 1151.04(b)(14), 1163.08(h) and 1165.08(b)(3) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Gahanna, for property located off Buckles Court North; Parcel ID No. 025-013773; Current Zoning SCPD; Walnut Creek Surgical Suites; Larry Canini, applicant. (see discussion above under file DR-0005-2021) A motion was made by Hicks, seconded by Tamarkin, that the Variance be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Burba, Suriano and Wester City of Gahanna Page 4 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 24, 2021 Absent: 1- Shapaka F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. G. NEW BUSINESS: None. H. OFFICIAL REPORTS Assistant City Attorney No report. City Planner No report. Council Liaison Shapaka was absent, so Blackford provided details from the last Council meeting; they approved the rezoning and variance for the Crescent project but reduced the footprint slightly; and reduced the units to around 250; that concludes the Council process. CIC Liaison Hicks said the CIC met last week and approved a revised code of regulations; the board of trustees will be 12 going forward; 5 of the 12 will be appointed officials; as of now the Planning Commission will not have an appointment going forward; hopes they continue the precedent of having someone form the Planning Commission, but will be represented by the Director of Development for now. Chair No report. I. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: None. J. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT: None. K. ADJOURNMENT: 7:46 p.m. City of Gahanna Page 5 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 24, 2021 City of Gahanna Page 6