Planning commission denies rezoning request for East Bellevue lot

The City of Pacific Planning and Zoning Commission on March 11 denied a map amendment request to rezone roughly 0.51 acres on East Bellevue Street from R-2 to R-1A.

The applicant, Eric Rodriguez, had asked to rezone the parcel so he could build a single-family residence and an attached garage on the site. Commission members voted 7-0 to deny the request after members raised concerns about a concrete culvert that crosses the property and whether a house could be sited within required setbacks.

Planning staff described the lot as roughly 0.51 acres located near East Bellevue in north Columbus and said surrounding parcels along the block are zoned R-1A. Realtor Bridal Simon, who said she represents the parties involved, confirmed the culvert crosses near the northeast corner of the lot and that it likely falls within the building setbacks.

"It cuts right about through the property line... and I'm pretty confident it falls in the setbacks," Bridal Simon said during the hearing. Rodriguez told the commission he had owned the lot for more than 10 years and said he intended to build a garage large enough to store a vehicle overnight.

Commissioners said they want a plot plan and more precise locating of the culvert before approving any rezoning. Staff also noted that an adjacent lot the applicant is considering would require a separate procedure if combined with this parcel.

The motion to deny was seconded by Commissioner Weimer and carried 7-0. The commission closed the public hearing on the map amendment after the vote.

The denial leaves the parcel zoned R-2; any future rezoning or combined-lot application will require renewed review by planning staff and a return to the commission.