East Franklinton board continues 640 West Town Street project; asks developer to restore design elements, clarify parking and site details

The East Franklinton Review Board voted to continue consideration of a revised application for a proposed multifamily development at 640 West Town Street, directing the applicant to return next month with design changes and clarifications.

Board members said the current submission differs materially from a 2022 approval and they want revisions to better align the project’s appearance and amenities with the earlier submittal and neighborhood expectations.

Board members said the parcel’s visibility from I‑315 and its location at the Arts District gateway mean design changes are significant for the district. The board’s concerns centered on removal of rooftop amenities and balconies included in the prior approval, changes to façade articulation and window proportions, a reduction in landscape trees, and the appearance and height of a proposed retaining wall and attached fence. Members also pressed the applicant on parking counts, the use of stacked parking, and whether spaces in an existing limited‑access right of way would count toward the total.

During discussion, staff and applicants described tradeoffs tied to shifting the proposal from market‑rate to affordable housing. The applicant said density was increased to yield more units and that some amenities were removed for budgetary reasons. Staff confirmed the project is similar in footprint to the earlier approval but has higher unit count and fewer exterior design elements.

Board members asked for specific design revisions: reintroduce facade articulation (for example, revisiting the use and placement of balconies or varied materials), consider reverting the lower facade treatment to the earlier submission, increase street and site trees to meet the one‑per‑10‑dwelling‑unit standard, reassess the short wood fence atop a two‑foot‑six‑inch cast concrete retaining wall, and provide clearer renderings showing grade changes and where green spaces will be accessible to residents. The applicant indicated some changes — for example, converting a Hardy plank panel band from three to two stories — would be relatively low cost, while rooftop reinstatement would be structurally and financially complex.

On parking, the board sought clarity about a stated 35–37 parking spaces, noting stacked parking may not be approved and that some spaces sit in a limited‑access right of way historically controlled by ODOT; staff explained the limited‑access designation can be removed through the city process and that parcels have varied histories. Members requested a definitive count of usable spaces and clearer identification of on‑ and off‑site parking access.

The board also discussed public‑facing opportunities on the building’s ground plane and along Towne and Chapel streets, including small amenity spaces, bike storage and the possibility of mural art. Staff cautioned that Ohio Department of Transportation rules restrict signage and certain imagery within a buffer around an on‑ramp; members asked staff to confirm ODOT’s buffer distance and whether ground‑level art on the east side of the building would be permissible.

After extended deliberation the board voted to continue the application to the next meeting so the applicant can submit revised drawings addressing the board’s comments. Staff agreed to circulate a written summary of the board’s design and technical guidance to the applicant by the end of the week.

Votes at the meeting reflected board consensus to continue the item. Nolan (planning staff) called the roll; the recorded votes were: Fergus—yes; Way—yes; Crowley—yes; Schmidt—yes; Benner—yes; Sweeney—yes; Hamilton—yes. The motion to continue passed.

The item returns to the board next month for a resubmission with revised materials and responses to the board’s list of design and technical clarifications.