ThisWeek CW 11/06/2014
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/11/03/council-oks-variances-for-moose-lodge-on-main.html
Groveport City Council approved variances last week allowing Moose Lodge 1245 to move forward with its plans to make 220 Main St. its new home.
The lodge currently operates out of Gahanna Moose Lodge 2463, at 335 W. Johnstown Road, boasts about 700 members.
The lodge requested a variance for the Main Street property in September to allow it to operate the members-only club in what was most recently used as a church, and what currently carries a planned shopping center zoning designation.
City Building Inspector Mike Poirier recommended that council approve the variance that would allow organization to use the property. He also recommended approval of variances related to buffers between the lodge and neighboring residential buildings.
“The structure will house social events, meetings and office work. They anticipate installing a walk-in cooler and an outdoor patio,” Poirier said at council’s Oct. 27 meeting. “The condition we want is that the outdoor patio cease being used at 10 p.m., with the exception of smoking, and that landscape buffers be installed.”
According to Poirier, a privacy fence that will be 4 to 6 feet high and plantings are expected to be part of the buffer, but due to the time of year, the city should allow the Moose Lodge until November 2015 to complete the project.
Councilman Shawn Cleary said he was concerned that the fencing would prevent residents of the apartment complex adjacent to the property from continuing to use a cut-through across the building’s parking lot, which might lead to complaints from neighbors.
Moose Lodge 1245 representative Ken Fridley said a gate would be maintained for this purpose.
“We’ve noticed there’s a lot of foot traffic through there and we’ve talked about putting a gate in the fence,” he said. “We want to welcome, not offend, anyone by blocking them off.”
Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert said the gate would be OK, but noted the lodge “may not want to be liable for people crossing their property.”
Councilman Ed Rarey cast the only vote against granting the variances because he is concerned about the serving of alcohol in what is predominantly a residential area.
“Alcohol is the main thing. We’ve gone through this before and had issues,” Rarey said. “I’m an old-timer and I’ve seen this — a number of things that have happened in regard to alcohol.
“There’s nothing wrong in regard to the Moose Lodge,” he added. “It’s just that there’s a family that lives right next door to them with children, and I’ve been in education for a number of years, and I can be overprotective in regards to my students. I think they could’ve picked a better location.”