ThisWeek CW 12/05/2012
The Canal Winchester Landmarks Commission approved new paving projects in the historic district during the Nov. 26 meeting.
City resident Jennifer Solomon, 16 N. High St., is in the process of dividing property she owns, which currently includes her home and the Canal Winchester Area Chamber of Commerce building at 20 N. High St.
According to Planning and Zoning Administrator Andrew Dutton, beyond the legal division of the property, new utility work must be done under the current chamber parking lot and a new “runway drive” will need to be added to Solomon’s separated lot between her house and the chamber office.
“(Solomon) will have this runway drive with these two parallel cement paths to the back of her property where the garage is and the chamber will need to resurface their parking lot after installing the new utility lines,” Dutton said.
Paradise Froyo owner Charles Stilwell requested a certificate of appropriateness to resurface the gravel lot behind his business at 33 W. Waterloo St., and add fencing around the recently built outdoor dining area.
Commission members quickly agreed that paving the gravel lot is appropriate but had further questions about the type of fencing and the material being proposed for the dining area.
Commissioner Will Bennett questioned Stilwell on how the fencing would be made to match the rest of the building, which has been converted over time from residential to commercial use.
“I’m not sure how fencing that area is going to fit with the rest of the property, really,” Bennett said. “In the back, we’ve got that mismatched fire escape and that’s really the only thing I see this fencing being like.”
Dutton used Town Hall’s video monitors to display exterior photos of the building and the aluminum fencing that Stilwell is proposing for the project.
“I’d like to do further improvements to the building … the back is horrible right now,” Stilwell said. “Right now, that’s my old pool furniture out there so we’re going to put something else out there; my wife would like something with umbrellas.”
He said the project will be relatively inexpensive so he hopes to complete the work quickly, well ahead of next spring when the patio, in particular, will once again see a lot of use.
Following the discussion, Bennett voted against approving the application because of the proposed fencing, but all other commissioners voted in favor of it, with the stipulation that the aluminum fencing shown to them on the monitors be the fencing used in the project.
Due to the Christmas holiday, the December Landmarks Commission meeting has been cancelled.