Size, use of tents limited in Canal Winchester

ThisWeek CW 11/14/2013

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2013/11/11/size-use-of-tents-limited-in-canal-winchester.html

After a contentious public hearing in October about a new ordinance aimed at curtailing long-term use of tents in Canal Winchester, City Council members unanimously passed the legislation on its third reading at their Nov. 4 meeting without even an audience.

Westchester Golf Course owner Charles Ruma said during a public hearing last month that was aimed directly at shutting down his business.

The ordinance limits tent size to 200 square feet total, and limits use to 18 days per year.

However, neither Ruma nor any other business owners or residents attended the Nov. 4 meeting to offer further comment or debate.

The Westchester Golf Course has been in operation for nearly 20 years and uses tents at the site for golf outings and other events. instead of building a permanent structure, such as a clubhouse.

“We have a tent that is typically used for our outings, which are about 20 percent of the business and represents about $150,000 in annual revenue,” Ruma has said. “I’ve operated the course for 20 years and we don’t have a permanent clubhouse because I haven’t had any one year where we’ve had a profit.”

Ruma told council that not being able to use the tent “will be devastating to my operation.”

Earlier this year, he was granted a variance to construct a shelter house, but after resident Corey Berta appealed the planning and zoning commission’s decision, the golf course withdrew its application and instead re-erected a tent.

City officials and residents believe they were promised a clubhouse when the Westchester Golf Course and residential community were developed.

Council President Steve Donahue said he “can’t think of any (other golf courses) that have had a tent for 15-17 years.”

Donahue’s concerns have been echoed by several residents who live in the Westchester development, including former mayor Jeff Miller, who said he was promised the clubhouse would be built when he chose to buy in the community.

During the appeal of the shelter house variance, council was presented with an original sales brochure for Westchester showing renderings of a clubhouse.

Ultimately, Canal Winchester Development Director Lucas Haire said this is a public safety issue, and council passed it as such.

“A lot of events and associations put tents up, like for festivals and Christmas tree sales,” Haire said. “Some that are being used are being made more permanent.

“We’ve had tents blow over and there is deterioration that takes place when the tents are up for a long time, which is a public safety concern.”