New zoning guidelines expected to go into effect in January

ThisWeek CW 09/29/2011

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2011/09/28/new-zoning-guidelines-expected-to-go-into-effect-in-january.html

City planner Andrew Dutton told the Canal Winchester Landmarks Commission Monday that a plan now before city council to change zoning notification requirements would save the city more than $5,000.

In July, Landmarks Commission members began reviewing existing guidelines to create two distinct guideline books, one for the historic district and one for the preservation district, according to commission member Patrick Lynch.

Dutton said the preservation guidelines currently require two sets of public notices in the form of more than 400 certified letters — at a cost of $4.50 each — to be delivered to affected property owners.

“That’s part of the process of changing a lot of terms and language in the zoning code,” he said. “When we looked at that, we found (the city) would have to do all sorts of notifications including over 400 property owners, which would’ve cost us $5,000 or more in certified mail.

“So we have to change that requirement, which we’re working with city council to change, before we can make the changes to the zoning guidelines booklet.”

City council heard the first reading of an ordinance to modify the zoning code notification language at the Sept. 19 meeting. Two more readings are required before a final vote, which is scheduled for Oct. 17.

“We’re looking at the beginning of the year before these changes can go through,” development director Lucas Haire said.

Dutton suggested that the Landmarks Commission should not move anything forward for approval while the zoning notification changes are making their way through council.

In the meantime, commission members begin working through each chapter of the proposed guidelines for the preservation and historic districts during future monthly meetings.

“Doing a chapter at a time in our meeting would be good because we’d have (Dutton) and (Haire) to help us with the language,” Landmarks Commission member Brent Foley said.

Member Bruce Jarvis said he thinks the timing is right for a guideline review.

“I think this is really important and now we’ve got a lot more experience under our belts then when we first put the language in place,” Jarvis said.

Lynch said the group will begin the process by reviewing the first five sections of the rehabilitation guidelines at Landmarks’ next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at Town Hall, 10 N. High St.

In other business at the Sept. 26 meeting, the Landmarks Commission unanimously approved applications for a replacement roof at a residence at 65 E. Columbus St., a change in paint color for a building at 7 N. High St. and a new concrete driveway at 51 E. Columbus St.

An application for new awning signs for Bon Venturas LLC at 1 S. High St. was tabled until the applicants provide more information.