ThisWeek CW 12/15/2011
The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission tabled action Monday on proposed changes to the city’s commercial development code that would greatly affect large-scale retail development.
Testimony at the Dec. 12 meeting from residents and developer Casto centered on suggested changes to requirements for in-line tenants — that is, multiple storefronts along a contiguous building structure, most commonly seen in shopping centers such as Waterloo Crossing.
“The idea is to exempt in-line retail space from some requirements if they’re not public-facing,” city development director Lucas Haire said. “They’re exempt from using the same quality of materials but could use complementary, like the rear of a building only used for a loading dock could have a lesser material used for that — at the discretion of this board.”
The Kroger on Gender Road was an example used by several commission members.
“I don’t want someone like Kroger, who puts an unfinished wall on one side of their building, to say they’ll be expanding later and now 20 years down the road, there is still an unfinished wall,” commissioner Mike Vasko said.
Commissioners Jim Knowlton and Jeff Graber said they were concerned that the city would give up the hard work it put into developing a 360-degree architecture standard which requires all sides of a building to include a similar amount of detail, based on code requirements.
During the public comment period, Casto representative Lou Visco said requiring 360-degree architecture at developments such as Waterloo Crossing would lead to businesses looking elsewhere.
“I think a lot of our comments were included in this draft and we’re happy with where this is going,” he said. “The specific request that requires in-line development to have 360 degree on a large retail tenant is going to be difficult to do.
“I’ve worked on several 100,000-square-foot-plus in-line centers and none of them have 360-degree with the same requirements for the front and rear of the building,” Visco said. “Our opinion is that current development text requirements are OK. Going to a full-blown façade on the rear of a Waterloo Crossing wouldn’t be good.”
Vasko said he was sympathetic to Casto’s position.
“I don’t want people to throw dollars at something that no one is ever going to see,” Vasko said. “But I also want to protect the city.”
Resident Mark Miller, 22 W. Mound St., said he is not sympathetic to large-scale retail developers.
“I’m not particularly sympathetic that the city should be trying to develop an economic paradigm that favors Casto’s type of development,” Miller said. “I would refute the fact that people don’t go behind Kroger. The owner behind Kroger might decide the (unsightly) rear of Kroger is a good place to put their carports. Then you’ll have a full-on thoroughfare.
“Any time you leave the back end of a shopping center like that, you’ll end up with someone else developing to that (lower standard).”
Commissioners agreed that they need to continue to take a comprehensive approach to development standards and felt more time was necessary to address the section related to in-line tenants.
The next planning commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at Town Hall, 10 N. High St.