Homeowner withdraws variance request for rear-yard addition at 6675 Woods Edge Drive

The Reynoldsburg Planning and Zoning Board on March 20 accepted the applicant’s withdrawal of a variance request for a proposed rear-yard addition at 6675 Woods Edge Drive.

The request, filed as application 20250033 by Kevin Farrell of Great Day Improvements on behalf of property owner Toya Hall, sought a reduction from the required 30-foot rear building setback to permit a 10-foot-by-10-foot enclosed addition located 6 feet 9 inches from the rear property line. Staff recommended denial, citing the applicant’s failure to demonstrate the special circumstances or hardship required under section 1109.11(d) of the zoning code and expressing concern that approval would set a precedent for similar properties.

Board members pressed the applicant to show why alternate locations for the addition — including a blue-highlighted side-yard area the applicant had previously considered — were not feasible. Staff and the city attorney clarified that “hardship” for variance purposes equates to a deprivation of beneficial use: a property owner must demonstrate that without the variance they cannot make allowed beneficial use of their property. Board members stated they were not convinced the testimony met that threshold. Several members also noted the presence of other similarly situated corner lots in the neighborhood and expressed concern about setting a citywide precedent.

Before completing a roll-call vote to act on the application, the board chair moved to withdraw a prior motion to deny after the applicant requested to withdraw the application entirely. The chair then moved that the application be withdrawn; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. Staff advised the applicant that city staff do not have authority to waive application fees and that a denied variance would normally bar resubmittal of the same variance for one year, but withdrawal would avoid that restriction. The applicant confirmed the withdrawal.