Council approves rezoning and variances for 3451 Treview Road to allow 300‑unit apartment complex after neighborhood debate

Columbus City Council voted to rezone approximately 11.2 acres at 3451 Treview Road and approved concurrent variances that allow a 300‑unit apartment complex under the AR‑1 apartment residential district.

City staff, the planning division and the Department of Development supported the rezoning, saying the proposed density (about 26 dwelling units per acre) aligns with the Trey‑Roberts area plan’s “neighborhood mixed use” guidance and with the citywide C2P2 design guidelines. The record shows a traffic impact study was completed and staff included developer commitments to intersection and access improvements near Treview Road and McKinley Avenue.

The applicant’s attorney, David Hodge, and developer Jared Smith said the proposal had been revised after earlier neighborhood comments: building heights on the Treview frontage were reduced from four to three stories, first‑floor mixed‑use retail was removed and the density was lowered from an earlier figure. Hodge said the developer will commit more than $1 million toward road improvements in the immediate area and that the variances were consistent with the commercial overlay standards recommended by the area plan.

West Scioto Area Commission zoning chair Rita Cabral testified to council that the commission had tied on its recommendation and expressed concern the developer removed the previously proposed 10,000 square feet of retail. Cabral cited a string of recent multi‑family projects nearby and told council the site and neighboring blocks will see large increases in residents without replacement retail space in walking distance.

A city resident also testified about access and safety concerns at the Treview and Hague intersections; traffic management staff said required improvements and developer commitments were included in the ordinance language and would be reviewed during permitting.

Councilmember Dorrance, chairing the zoning committee for the meeting, said he considered the planning guidance and design commitments and moved the measure for passage. The rezoning and the companion variance ordinance both passed by roll call. The variance approval incorporates a submitted site plan and building elevations as conditions, which councilmembers said gives the city leverage to hold the developer to the visual and site standards described during the hearing.

Council action allows the developer to proceed with the AR‑1 development under the limitation text and commits the site to the plan and architectural renderings filed with the council variance application.