[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6165855,"mediaKeyId","5417353-d98b7d4ced7365d6112dffa123a1ac45","parentId",5417353,"title","Planners propose B2 corridor on Columbus‑Lancaster to limit drive‑throughs, prioritize neighborhood businesses and walkability","audioSeconds",615,"startMs",1441000,"endMs",2056000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5417353-d98b7d4ced7365d6112dffa123a1ac45&start=1441&end=2056","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5417353-d98b7d4ced7365d6112dffa123a1ac45/thumbnail_1441000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6165855/Ohio/Planners-propose-B2-corridor-on-ColumbusLancaster-to-limit-drivethroughs-prioritize-neighborhood-businesses-and-walkability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165855-db2ad0c14ce885b1181e41238c88df63/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575952&Signature=MAzmivwvLLUTmNyvMhxgISrvH93v7UzIR7nA-2V7OO51~DsjnjbLzVmmZLrPDivonoItQWCxVzyCojyHre3hdXVQ6GP6blRq9YbgAgglGPiFmGriHLTFFgOxnMC471sZPzuPxCnCXWlEUEqwTAOI~5j~Hso3bTzwsqvFF8A9CuIEecGypnYHasoXaMNd4MReAyQ3G3VppuolV9DKoJBIeItDrPOzRs7Ut3dUbsR3c9M4H3JAgMHjd8gPtebQObTaKlIG9YC-u6DLdGuqReTMFqaf7v0YQ5E25DVCiVMIdWMh4bVTicCSkq~-WgUhop5seulgeioj-DqGPOLbvTb83Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Athens Ohio","date","2025-07-17T04:34:08Z","article","The Athens City Planning Commission reviewed a proposed rezoning map July 16 that would reclassify portions of the Columbus–Lancaster–Columbia Avenue corridor, shifting some areas from B3 to B2 to limit drive‑through restaurants and promote small neighborhood businesses and housing.

City staff summarized changes made after a public meeting and community comments. “We did modify a lot of stuff. As you can see, the main corridor is going to be a B2, B3, rather than just a B3 area,” said David Riggs, a city staff member who presented the draft map. Riggs said the B2 designation does not allow drive‑through restaurants, a change intended to address community concerns.

Riggs explained how the code treats existing nonconforming uses. Under the city’s code, a grandfathered use that ceases for more than a year loses that protected status; staff said the former Dairy Queen on the corridor had been a nonconforming use and could lose its grandfathering if inactive for a year or more. Riggs noted an earlier federal court case involving the city and right‑of‑way use; the decision related to right‑of‑way restrictions rather than the current zoning map change but informed the city’s approach. He also said the code treats pickup‑window‑only operations differently from classic drive‑throughs and that pickup windows could be permitted where a drive‑through would not.

Residents who attended the earlier public meeting favored small, walkable neighborhood businesses. “People want it to be more walkable, some place they can walk to a business from their house,” said Rob Delich, a resident who spoke during the meeting. City staff said parks and open space are covered under open‑space zoning and that if the city owned a future park it could place a park regardless of zoning; no specific park location was identified in public comments.

Planners said the revised map keeps a large portion of surrounding blocks as R1 single‑family but creates pockets of neighborhood business zoning intended to support local shops, cafes and second‑floor residential above ground‑floor commercial units. Staff also noted that some B1 or B3 parcels could retain ground‑floor commercial uses with residential units above, depending on future development.

No formal vote was taken; staff said the map will be revised to reflect public comments and will return as a communication at a future meeting for potential forwarding to city council. The planning commission packet distributed to commissioners includes the July 16 proposed zoning map and public comments gathered at the neighborhood meeting.

Why this matters: The rezoning would shape what kinds of businesses can locate on Columbus Road and affect walkability, neighborhood character and future redevelopment of the corridor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Athens Planning Commission - July 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On July 16 the Athens City Planning Commission reviewed a revised rezoning map for the Columbus‑Lancaster‑Columbia Avenue area. Planners said the draft rezoning shifts parts of the corridor from B3 to B2 to restrict drive‑through restaurants, preserve nearby residential character and encourage small, walkable businesses.","taxTitle","Athens City Council, Athens , Athens County, Ohio","taxId",70977,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6165860,"Hugh White Honda proposes 24,000‑sq.‑ft. Columbus Road dealership; annexation, stormwater and utility ties remain unresolved",836,553000,1389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5417353-d98b7d4ced7365d6112dffa123a1ac45&start=553&end=1389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5417353-d98b7d4ced7365d6112dffa123a1ac45/thumbnail_553000.jpg","/articles/6165860/Ohio/Hugh-White-Honda-proposes-24000sqft-Columbus-Road-dealership-annexation-stormwater-and-utility-ties-remain-unresolved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165860-be64ef92e4be76cd91685fea44ae42a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575952&Signature=YlmR5-Wz4-QWbb6MXy5bU~-kURaxz8YgNLlj1Kd4owGkR4pWgcDLc-ROmmIOzO-xmYgpmKP8S7BfYFfFfWle3JkEQejr8r3YcKyyTzBD2wXNThfIgQi7FLXN4y7R4w2BJxlnDGnrEK8b04wYgHtW~aR9Kj67PHEggvK5qkLKy27LQ7MEV4kA6cM5SD2JoUYOjTIAM~ZEJiRjEO8b8uThjzSh~tFYoBR8mz~u~HhpcUi~iQuTgXssy4ra0VsPilFQGI5tbD9uaZUHXYmNav9l4lsFt4oKS2uUYxQWdeYmR~WfHkEH1YZKbxGgnS58QH4kdTTCv5WAMN6uTmZjytVf5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hugh White Honda presented a Title 41 site‑plan communication July 16 to the Athens City Planning Commission to build a roughly 24,000‑square‑foot dealership and service center at 250 Columbus Road, but city staff said annexation, utility tapping fees and stormwater controls must be addressed before permits move forward.

The developer’s architect, Dustin Todd of Arch Hall Architects, said the project would include a showroom and expanded service department and that the site would be raised to remove it from a flood plain. “We’re looking to do a new roughly 24,000 square foot dealership including showroom and service department just to the north of the existing building,” Todd said. He said the dealer plans to use the latest Honda prototype and is coordinating annexation and property combination with ownership.

City staff told the commission that, under city code, water and sewer service cannot be supplied to the site unless the property is annexed or a pre‑annexation agreement is approved by city council. “We’re not allowed to provide water and sewer to that site unless they’ve annexed or they have a pre‑annexation agreement by the city council,” said David Riggs, a city staff member who presented the review memo. Riggs also said staff is calculating tapping capacity fees for the development.

Staff and the developer discussed several technical issues the commission flagged. The developer plans to connect to a pressure force main, and utilities staff asked that the tie‑in be performed per city specifications. Stormwater reviewers requested additional details about detention and water‑quality controls; Riggs said the site is at least partly within the city’s wellhead protection area and confirmed the applicant will need additional reviews at permitting. Riggs said federal and state stormwater standards would apply and that staff expects the applicant to provide extra details before permitting.

Commissioners and consultants also discussed parcel configuration. The proposed development currently involves three parcels, including a triangular parcel that is outside city limits. The project team said the ownership intends to combine parcels after annexation so the new building does not cross property lines. Mason Malcolm of Kleinger’s Group, the civil engineer on the project, asked whether splitting the property into two parcels (one for each building) would trigger setback variances; staff said parking does not count as a structure for setback purposes and that splitting the parcels could simplify approvals.

The commission also raised site design items the Shade Tree Commission will review. Commissioners noted the tension between tree plantings and dealership operations—debris from trees can affect displayed vehicles—and asked the applicant to work with city staff on tree placement and quantity. The applicant said it will present to the Shade Tree Commission before returning to the planning commission.

Public safety and lighting were discussed. A city public‑safety representative said security lighting is important for a dealership and referenced a recent vehicle theft from the location; commissioners asked the applicant to use cut‑off fixtures and to follow city lighting standards by property line. The transcript records the commission discussing city light‑level standards but does not record a single numeric standard consistently in the public minutes.

No formal vote was taken at the July 16 meeting. The commission classified the matter as a communication; staff said the site plan will return as a formal case at a future meeting (the commission scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 6) and that permitting would not proceed until annexation or an acceptable pre‑annexation agreement and required technical reviews are complete.

Why this matters: The site straddles city limits and a wellhead protection area; water and sewer provision, stormwater controls and public‑safety design features determine whether the project can reach permitting and whether the city must approve an annexation agreement before utility connections are made.

Calendar note: The applicant plans to present the site plan to the Shade Tree Commission, then return to the planning commission as a case for potential forwarding to city council.","At a July 16 Athens City Planning Commission meeting, representatives for Hugh White Honda presented a Title 41 site‑plan for a roughly 24,000‑square‑foot dealership at 250 Columbus Road. City staff said water and sewer service, tapping fees and stormwater controls are contingent on annexation and additional technical reviews.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planners propose B2 corridor on Columbus‑Lancaster to limit drive‑throughs, prioritize neighborhood businesses and walkability

Hugh White Honda proposes 24,000‑sq.‑ft. Columbus Road dealership; annexation, stormwater and utility ties remain unresolved