Upper Arlington board approves setback variances for Summit Ridge home after neighbors raise septic and erosion concerns

The City of Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning on Feb. 25 approved a variance for 4462 Summit Ridge Drive that allows encroachments into required setbacks, subject to a landscape screening plan approved by the city forester and a tree-preservation plan.

Liz Alexander, representing Compass Homes, told the board the company sought either a reinstatement of a variance granted in January 2024 or a new variance under the Unified Development Ordinance. "We are asking this board to reach the determination that that prior variance ... is still valid," Alexander said, and alternatively asked the board to find the factors in UDO 4.09(d) are met.

Neighbors raised environmental and design concerns during public comment. Krista Devore, a Summit Ridge resident who said she spoke for a group of 12 neighbors, said the proposed two-and-a-half-story house and its septic system pose risks to the adjacent ravine and Slate Run waterway. "This new design home design is in violation of the current building codes. It's as simple as that," Devore said, pressing for details on the August 2025 septic plan and how runoff and erosion would be managed.

Adjoining resident Jeffrey Lewis, who identified himself as a lawyer with zoning experience, warned of potential notice and appeal issues if the board attempted to reinstate the earlier variance without resolving procedural questions. "I think there are notice issues that are inherent in your doing that," he said.

City staff summarized the property and the application, noting the lot is irregular, drops toward Slate Run roughly 50 feet and previously received variance relief in 2024 that had since expired. Staff also said Franklin County Public Health had accepted a replacement septic design and that the agency — not the city — regulates septic approval. Staff supported the application as meeting the relevant findings but recommended conditions to address screening and tree preservation.

During discussion the applicant agreed to accept the reduced setback numbers described in the staff report rather than insist on fully reinstating the earlier, larger envelope. Board members asked for and the board added a condition that a landscape plan for screening be approved by the city forester and that a tree-preservation/removal plan be submitted and approved. The board then voted to approve variance application 16-26 with findings numbers 1 and 8; the motion carried by voice vote.

The board's decision requires the applicant and Compass Homes to work with city staff and the city forester to finalize the landscape and tree-preservation plans and to ensure any county-level septic approvals are in the public permit record. No formal tally of ayes or nays was taken in the roll-call portion of the vote; the motion passed by voice vote.