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Board allows existing gravel driveway at 13570 Graham Road, despite code requiring hard surfaces in platted subdivisions
Summary
The Board of Appeals granted variance VA‑26‑015 allowing a gravel driveway at 13570 Graham Road, conditioned on obtaining permits within one year. A neighbor questioned whether the road is properly treated as a platted subdivision because many nearby drives are gravel.
The Pataskala Board of Appeals on July 14 approved variance VA‑26‑015, permitting the retention of an existing gravel driveway at 13570 Graham Road despite a code provision requiring hard‑surface driveways in platted subdivisions.
Planning staff told the board the 0.2‑acre lot sits in a platted subdivision and that Section 12.91.02(a)(4) requires driveways in platted subdivisions to be concrete, asphalt or pavers. The gravel driveway was constructed without a permit and staff said it was discovered only after the applicant submitted building plans for a proposed home; staff noted other aspects of the house application meet code but county well and septic approvals remain pending.
Applicant Mikaela Drum identified herself and had no additional comments beyond the staff report. Neighbor Philip Drumm Jr. of 13592 Graham Road said many driveways on the road are gravel—he estimated roughly 30 of 47—and asked why the property is being treated as part of a platted subdivision rather than a country road, arguing the variance seemed unfair given local conditions.
The board reviewed the findings of fact and voted to approve VA‑26‑015 with the condition that the applicant obtain all necessary permits from the City of Pataskala within one year.
Staff advised the applicant to secure required county approvals for well and septic as part of final building permit review.
