Canal Winchester approves New Life Church site plan; parking‑screening requirement remains

The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site development plan July 14 for a New Life Church project on a 6.09‑acre parcel on Groveport Road, but the commission did not reverse the zoning administrator’s interpretation that parking areas abutting residentially zoned parcels must include vegetative screening. The decision allows construction of an 8,162‑square‑foot church with a roughly 74‑space parking lot and a 238‑seat sanctuary to proceed subject to staff conditions, including parking‑lot screening per Chapter 11.91 of the zoning code and additional requirements for lighting, HVAC screening and utility review. The site development plan was presented by Diego, a summer planning intern for the city, and by applicant Greg Hesterman, who identified himself as a pastor at New Life Church and a realtor. Hesterman told the commission the church has limited funds and said the property already has substantial vegetation along its east and west lot lines. "As a small or medium sized church, our funds are limited," Hesterman said, adding that existing vegetation along the east (Columbus Metropolitan Library) and west (a vacant parcel owned by the Feasel family) sides “would not change things really as far as the impact to our neighbors.” Diego reviewed the plans and staff recommendations, noting the application proposes an 8,162‑square‑foot church, a single 18‑foot driveway off Groveport Road, a 74‑space parking lot on the east side of the building, 35 proposed trees and seven parking‑lot light poles. Staff recommended as conditions of approval that parking‑lot screening be provided per Chapter 11.91, that parking lights have anti‑glare shields, that HVAC and electrical equipment be screened, that the private force main alignment be reviewed in civil engineering review, and that the two parcels be combined prior to final occupancy. Commissioners asked applicants about distances between the parking edge and the tree line; Hesterman estimated the distance to the Columbus Metropolitan Library vegetation at “in excess of 150 feet.” The city’s law department reviewed the zoning administrator’s interpretation and told the commission it agrees with the administrator that the code language applies where off‑street parking for more than five vehicles “abuts a residential zone district,” and that the applicant may apply for a variance if relief is needed. The law department representative said the city’s interpretation of the code was consistent with the written standard. Rather than overturn the administrator’s interpretation on an appeal, the commission voted to approve the site development plan with staff’s five conditions. The motion to approve SDP25005 was made by Eileen Gooden and seconded by Steve Paulsgrove; the roll call vote was Yes from Joe Donahue, Deborah McDonald, Eileen Gooden, Steve Paulsgrove and Joe Waldenthaler, and the motion carried. Commissioners and staff noted the lot’s flag‑lot configuration and the existence of dense vegetation on neighboring parcels as relevant context. Several commissioners said they would likely support a variance for the side bordering the library because of the existing dense tree line and the distance to the proposed parking, but they stopped short of overturning staff’s interpretation. Staff and the applicant agreed the applicant could pursue a variance and still have the site plan move forward, with screening remaining a condition to satisfy prior to final approval or to be addressed by a future variance request. What happens next: the applicant will work with staff during civil engineering review to finalize utility alignments, lighting shields and HVAC screening; the two parcels must be combined prior to final occupancy; and the applicant may separately file for a landscape‑screening variance if it believes the existing vegetation and setbacks meet the intent of the code.