Hilliard board approves setback variances for new Brown Elementary site

HILLIARD, Ohio — The Hilliard Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously April 16 to grant variances needed for the proposed Brown Elementary School at 2900 Walker Road.

Planning staff told the board the roughly 70,000‑square‑foot elementary school site on 19 acres had been annexed April 8, 2026, into the city’s Big Darby Employment District and received a conditional‑use recommendation from the Big Darby advisory panel. The applicant needed two variances: a one‑foot reduction on the primary‑street parking setback (75 feet required, plan shows 74 feet) and relief for a southern parcel parking setback (50 feet required, plan shows 37 feet).

“Interior landscaping islands were omitted for bus circulation and snow clearance,” planning staff said, recommending that the eight required interior trees be shifted to the vehicular‑use perimeter as a condition. Staff concluded the variances were not substantial and would not substantially alter neighborhood character.

Board members had no substantive objections. Chair called the motion to approve with the three staff conditions; the motion passed 7‑0.

The approval included the staff recommendations that the applicant refine interior‑parking landscaping offsets, meet the conditions listed in the staff report, and secure any required zoning compliance certificates before occupancy. The planning staff noted that the planning‑commission review on April 9 had already forwarded a positive Level B site‑plan recommendation to city council for the conditional use.

Next steps: the applicant will continue through the city’s conditional‑use and permitting process; the board’s action was limited to zoning variances for setbacks and landscaping.