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Commission approves landscape-plan amendment, allows fee-in-lieu for school project
Summary
Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission approved amendments to the landscape plan for Canal Winchester Local Schools at 300 Washington St. (SDP-25-008 and FDP-25-004), accepting a reduced tree planting count and permitting fee-in-lieu payments per the fee schedule; staff said the plan meets zoning code and recommended approval.
The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission approved amendments to the site and final development plans for Canal Winchester Local Schools at 300 Washington Street at its Jan. 12 meeting.
Staff said the revised landscape plan reduces the number of required building/parking trees and that the amendment still meets Chapter 1191.05 of the zoning code. Under the new plan the applicant proposed removing the previously counted 100 trees for building/parking and instead requested to pay a fee-in-lieu for some of those trees under the city's fee schedule. Planning staff recommended approval because the amended plan complies with code.
Commissioner Deborah McDonnell asked about the fee amount; staff said the schedule sets the fee at $350 per tree and that revenue is deposited to the general fund, which funds the Street Tree Program. Staff noted that previous fee-in-lieu receipts had allowed the Street Tree Program budget to be increased by about 40 percent in a prior similar situation. The applicant indicated the change is motivated by maintenance and cost concerns, including species costs exceeding replacement fees.
On a motion by Commissioner Rick Deeds, seconded by Commissioner Deborah McDonnell, the Commission approved the amendment to Site Development Plan #SDP-25-008 and the companion Final Development Plan #FDP-25-004 as presented; both motions carried 5–0.
