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, March 10, 2021 7:00 PM Virtual Meeting Meeting Call-in Details: Tel- (513) 306-4583 Conf. id- 356 884 109# 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 March 10, 2021. The agenda for this meeting was published on March 5, 2021. Chair Greenberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Present 5 - Michael Greenberg, John Hicks, Michael Tamarkin, Michael Suriano, and Thomas J. Wester Absent 2 - Thom Shapaka, and Bobbie Burba B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2021-0046 Planning Commission meeting minutes for February 24, 2021. A motion was made by Hicks, seconded by Wester, that the Minutes be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Suriano and Wester Absent: 2- Shapaka and Burba City of Gahanna Page 1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021 D. SWEAR IN APPLICANTS & SPEAKERS Assistant City Attorney Matt Roth administered an oath to those persons wishing to present testimony this evening. E. APPLICATIONS - PUBLIC COMMENT DR-0007-2021 To consider a Design Review Application for a building design for property located at 62 Mill St.; Parcel ID No. 025-000084-00; Current Zoning OG-2; David Holzer, applicant. City Planner Michael Blackford provided a summary of the application; see attached staff presentation; property manager proposing to keep this color; tenant can move forward with a new design review application if he wants to change the lighting; have seen this application before, but this is the property manager applying instead of the tenant; showed existing facade and identified lighting that was not identified in the previous application; trim will be lighter gray, all colors will be lighter; if the commission prefers a color it should be specified; reviewed criteria for granting approvals for design review applications; provided examples of nearby similar colors: the Huntley apartments and the Nth Degree. Chair opened public comment at 7:10 p.m. Applicant, David Holzer: is trying to correct the issue from his tenant; explained that the photograph the commission saw before is not indicative of the actual color; would prefer to keep it the lighter color. Chair closed public comment at 7:11 p.m. and called for questions from the commission. Tamarkin: asked if the submission is that the gooseneck lights and decals will come off and the trim at roofline will change from black to gray. Applicant confirmed. A motion was made by Tamarkin, seconded by Wester, that the Design Review be Approved. Discussion on the motion: Wester- glad to see this moving forward in compliance with the commission; will be in support. Suriano- in support given the context of the area and similar (color) schemes; prefers the lighter colors and felt the darker color was too heavy. Greenberg- happy with the changes. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Suriano and Wester City of Gahanna Page 2 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021 Absent: 2- Shapaka and Burba Valvoline (1154 N. Hamilton Rd.) DR-0006-2021 To consider a Design Review Application for a site plan, landscaping plan, and building design for property located at 1154 N. Hamilton Rd.; Parcel ID No. 027-000116; Current Zoning CC-2; Valvoline; Jason Hunt, applicant. In accordance with Planning Commission Rules Section 7.4.1.1., if there is more than one application on the same project, they may be discussed as one. Blackford provided summaries of each application; explained criteria for granting approvals; expected some of these variances when reviewing in the past; parking has been moved after feedback from the commission from the last time the applicant was before them; commercial traffic will be off of the main roadway; the dumpster was also moved to accommodate feedback from the commission; moved closer to commercial property; parking impact is less than other uses, particularly office use; well over 100 plantings on site with a large amount of trees; will minimize impact to the residential area; far exceeds code requirements; renderings are very similar to what was provided in the conditional use application; is likely that any development on the site will require a setback variance; staff recommends approval; the conditional use application approval already allows for the use of an oil change facility for this site. Chair opened public comment at 7:25 p.m. Applicant, Jason Hunt: will answer any specific questions. Chair closed public comment at 7:26 p.m. and called for questions from the commission. Suriano: looking at the external materials, looks like asphalt shingles. Applicant said middle is efface and exterior insulation system and looks like stucco. Suriano asked if there's a stipulation to the amount of efface that is appropriate code wise. Blackford said no, not in this zoning. Hicks: revisited notes from the conditional use application from last year; we had placeholders that would be addressed on the final development plan. For the sign, cannot read the site plan very well but looks like #9 is the sign. Applicant said that is the proposed monument sign. Hicks said there was concern that it would be too close to Woods at Shagbark, glad to see this updated in the plan. Hicks asked about stormwater City of Gahanna Page 3 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021 management for the site. Applicant said still in engineering review; if net over, will contain on site via pipes or chambers for underground storage. Hicks asked about the easement, there is still a 20' easement noted on the site plan. Applicant said that is for a pass through for further development down the road, but not using it currently; have a curb for a drive aisle. Hicks asked about the stub road, when we had a workshop about another potential development that looked at this site, there was some confusion about what that stub's use was; asked Blackford if there are any concerns about right of use for that stub. Blackford said part of the initial review was about the road; engineer said it is a road; found no evidence that the city would extend the road farther to the north. Hicks commented on the screening, looks like that was addressed; appreciates seeing that. Tamarkin: asked if on the north side of property, does the white fence belong to Woods at Shagbark; thinks the fence is important to the entrance of Shagbark and curious if it will stay. Applicant said it is in the right of way and would need permission to remove it; if it needs to stay then ok, but if it can go would prefer that. Tamarkin said there's a fence on the right and left, and to remove one side wouldn't look consistent. Applicant said after reviewing a document, can see that it is property of Woods at Shagbark, and so they would not be able to remove the fence. Tamarkin recalled hearing residents there say they were worried about losing their entrance. Applicant said they do have a robust landscape plan. Greenberg: is happy with the dumpster being moved; thinks the property owners at Woods at Shagbark will be happy about that; asked specifically about landscape changes and is happy they complied. A motion was made by Hicks, seconded by Wester, that the Design Review be Approved. Discussion on the motion: Wester- will be supporting; appreciates the cooperation of the applicant and for making changes to the lighting and landscaping. Suriano- in support due to consistency with surrounding neighbors; reviewed the site plan and there is improvement for screening. Hicks- in support for reasons mentioned before; looks forward to the development. Tamarkin- supports those comments; the workshop meeting was beneficial to this process; the applicant heard their concerns and made improvements; these are great additions. Greenberg- echoes those sentiments about the adjustments that were made. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Suriano and Wester Absent: 2- Shapaka and Burba City of Gahanna Page 4 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021 FDP-0003-2021 To consider a Final Development Plan Application for an instant oil change facility, for property located at 1154 N. Hamilton Rd.; Parcel ID No. 027-000116; Current Zoning CC-2; Valvoline; Jason Hunt, applicant. (see discussion above under file DR-0006-2021) A motion was made by Wester, seconded by Suriano, that the Final Development Plan be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Suriano and Wester Absent: 2- Shapaka and Burba V-0009-2021 To consider a Variance Application to vary Chapter 1153.03 (for front yard and parking setback) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Gahanna, for property located at 1154 N. Hamilton Rd.; Parcel ID No. 027-000116; Current Zoning CC-2; Valvoline; Jason Hunt, applicant. (see discussion above under file DR-0006-2021) A motion was made by Suriano, seconded by Wester, that the Variance be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Greenberg, Hicks, Tamarkin, Suriano and Wester Absent: 2- Shapaka and Burba F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. G. NEW BUSINESS: None. H. OFFICIAL REPORTS Assistant City Attorney No report. City Planner Wished Burba a speedy recovery and wishes to see her back soon. Council Liaison Not present. CIC Liaison Hicks stated that the next meeting will be next Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. City of Gahanna Page 5 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021 Chair Greenberg said he wished Burba a speedy recovery and said he hopes to see her back at our first meeting in April, as there will likely be no second meeting in March. I. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: None. J. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT Wester asked if anyone signed up for the MOPRC annual meeting; would like to be registered for it; this will be virtual and one of the speakers is renowned for city planning. Suriano thanked Greenberg for an efficient meeting. Hicks wanted to bring to their attention, the proposed changes to the charter, from the Charter Review Commission; there's a proposed change that will change how appointments will be confirmed by Council, to be allowed before January 2, which would help administratively; another change that is concerning would make planning commission members unable to hold a position on another board or commission; many planning commission members have held positions on other boards or commissions in the past and currently; would like to address this formally; encourages members to review changes. Greenberg asked the clerk to add that as a discussion item on a future meeting. Clerk stated that the commission could draft a letter stating their position and could send that to the clerk of Charter Review Commission to have something official on the record. Wester asked if a planning commission member was appointed to the Charter Review Commission. Clerk stated that the Charter Review Commission members cannot be members of another board or commission. K. ADJOURNMENT: at 7:52 p.m. City of Gahanna Page 6