Bexley council approves variance letting 519 South Drexel operate without a live‑in manager

Bexley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, June 23, to adopt Ordinance 10‑26 as amended, changing the bed‑and‑breakfast use variance for 519 South Drexel Avenue to permit operation without a live‑in owner or manager.

The hearing opened with Zoning Chair Silverman explaining procedures for the applicant, public comment, council discussion and a planned executive session. The applicant, Rob, who said he owns a Short North hospitality property and is under contract to buy the Bexley bed‑and‑breakfast, told council the request is necessary to make the property economically viable: “We would like to operate it without the requirement of an on‑site, live in manager or live in owner,” he said, describing a plan to convert the manager suite into a rentable guest room and to staff the property with on‑site employees for breakfast service, housekeeping and maintenance.

Rob described safety and guest‑service systems: contactless check‑in that integrates with property‑management software, unique temporary access codes, exterior surveillance limited to common spaces, and a protocol to remotely disable access if needed. He also said the owner intends to maintain a one‑to‑one ratio of guest rooms to guest parking and to keep the on‑site kitchen for an “elevated continental breakfast.”

After the applicant’s presentation and council questions about staffing hours, after‑hours responses and future plans for an additional guest suite, council recessed to executive session to discuss drafting issues. Back in open session, Chair Silverman moved to amend Section 1 of the ordinance by removing the prior cap limiting the number of employees on the premises and instead prohibiting employees from being present between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for emergencies. The amendment was seconded by Councilmember Marcelino and passed by roll call. The council then voted to adopt the ordinance as amended; the roll call recorded affirmative votes from the council members present, and the measure was approved.

Council members asked the applicant to keep staff and the administration apprised of construction and permitting steps; the city attorney said a formal written decision would be issued in August after the July recess. The ordinance was recorded as adopted at the meeting; execution of the applicant’s conversion and any physical changes will require the standard permitting and architectural review processes before construction may begin.

Ordinance action details and next steps are to be formalized in a decision document to be distributed to the applicant in August.