Board grants variance for 7460 Taylor Road SW to accommodate large industrial buildings

The Reynoldsburg Planning and Zoning Board on Thursday approved a variance to the Innovation Zoning District front-building setback for a proposed three-building industrial development at 7460 Taylor Road SW, finding the site’s size, topography and fire-access needs justify a deviation from the code’s 20-foot maximum front setback.

Applicant Core5 Industrial Partners requested the variance for a roughly 54-acre parcel where three warehouse buildings are planned; building footprints were described in the staff report as roughly 310,000 to 246,000 square feet. Planning staff recommended approval after reviewing site topography, potential utility easements and circulation requirements; staff said strict application of the 20-foot maximum setback would deprive the owner of reasonable use of the land for the intended large-scale development.

JD Barnes of Core5 said the company builds Class A industrial facilities and that the requested setback would allow safe on-site circulation, fire-department access, required stormwater basins and space for utilities and landscaping. Engineering and fire staff reviewed the layout and raised no objections to the variance, though engineering noted private easements will need to be recorded on the plat. A nearby resident called the project “a nightmare” and cited increased noise and traffic, while the applicant’s consulting engineer remained available to answer technical questions.

City staff and the city attorney asked the board to place on the record specific unique hardships supporting the variance—principally the parcel’s scale (more than 50 acres), a westward downward slope that concentrates drainage and proposed storm basins in the front area, the need to place hydrants and fire access outside of building fall zones and to preserve room for public-utility easements. The board’s approving motion explicitly cited the parcel size, the downward westward slope and the need for appropriate fire-department access as reasons to grant the variance.

Board member Ms. Barnhart moved for approval, seconded by Miss Allaby. The motion passed on roll call with all members present voting yes. The board’s approval allows the developer to continue through the major site-plan review and engineering-review processes; staff cautioned that traffic and other technical matters will be addressed in that separate review.

The board’s action does not change other required permitting or site-plan steps: engineering must record identified easements, and the project will proceed through the city’s major-site-plan review for traffic, utilities and detailed engineering compliance before construction permits are issued.