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Commission approves lot-coverage variance allowing rear-yard pool in Westchester neighborhood
Summary
The commission approved VA-25-011 to allow increased lot coverage—approved after the homeowner removed concrete added in a prior unpermitted project and proposed a pool that would result in 34% lot coverage, consistent with past variances in the Villages of Westchester.
The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 8 approved Variance VA-25-011 to allow the maximum lot coverage on a lot in the Villages of Westchester to exceed the 30% limit. The subject lot is approximately 11,259 square feet and currently shows a proposed lot coverage of about 34% with a planned in-ground pool and previously constructed pavilion/patio work.
Staff explained the property owner hired a contractor in February 2024 who built a pavilion and patio without permits; that work increased lot coverage from about 25% to roughly 33%. The owner later discovered the contractor had not pulled permits, worked with city staff to bring the construction to inspection, and then proposed removing roughly 245 square feet of prior concrete and installing an in-ground pool. The applicant’s revised plan would result in about 34% lot coverage, within the range of similar variances the commission approved in the Villages of Westchester since 2016.
Staff recommended approval because the application documented the prior work and proposed modifications that keep the final coverage comparable with past approvals. A commissioner noted and the applicant explored less-permanent surfacing options, such as turf, to reduce impervious area while keeping the yard functional.
The commission voted unanimously to approve VA-25-011. Roll-call votes: Donahue — yes; McDonald — yes; Palsgrove — yes; Ritchie — yes; Wildenthal — yes; Deeds — yes.
Staff and the commission emphasized the application’s context: prior unpermitted work followed by corrective coordination with city inspection, and that the final proposed coverage aligns with similar, previously approved variances in the neighborhood.
