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Bexley zoning board approves tenant signs and planters, denies narrow side-yard parking variance
Summary
At its July 23 meeting the Board of Zoning and Planning approved a tenant sign package for 2200 East Main, granted a special permit for up to five planter boxes at 43 South Cassingham, denied a request for a narrow side-yard parking space at the same property, and approved a patio and landscaping at 2690 East Main and a side-yard putting green at 189 North Parkview.
The Bexley Board of Zoning and Planning met July 23 and approved several land-use actions while denying one variance request they said would not meet code requirements.
Staff presented a tenant sign package for 2200 East Main that the Architectural Review Board had reviewed positively for wall and blade signs; the planning board voted to grant a certificate of appropriateness for the tenant signage while leaving final approval of the Fitzgerald building sign and the public parking garage wording to the ARB. Jason Hockstock, the applicant, said the immediate need was to start signage for an incoming office tenant, a Coldwell Banker location: "we'd like to start the signage process for that tenant, which is specifically Coldwell Banker." The board recorded approval on a motion to adopt findings of fact and conclusions of law.
On a separate application at 43 South Cassingham the board granted a special permit under Bexley code section 12.64 to allow up to five planter boxes along the driveway (required to remain outside the city right-of-way and placed beginning at the southwestern corner of the driveway). Staff had recommended conditions on number and placement; the findings read that the planters "start at the southwestern corner of the driveway and extend towards the right of way." Neighbors’ counsel objected that the application lacked a landscaping plan and sufficient detail.
The board considered, then denied, a related variance request from Bexley code section 12.62 that would have allowed a smaller-than-permitted side-yard parking space at the same address. Multiple members said the proposed space was too narrow to accommodate a car; Board member Schick explained during roll call that his "no" vote was because "the space is not large enough to fit a vehicle," language the board directed staff to include in the written findings for appellate purposes.
The board also approved a certificate of appropriateness for 2690 East Main that authorizes a larger front patio and the submitted landscape plan for a prospective plant store tenant. Staff and the city’s landscape consultant recommended plant substitutions (for example preferring Emerald Green over Green Giant arborvitae) and a wider planting bed where appropriate.
Finally, the board granted a variance to allow an accessory putting-green use in the side yard at 189 North Parkview, conditioned on submittal and city approval of a landscape plan and a consent/hold-harmless agreement for the small area of adjacent city property used for screening and mounding. The meeting adjourned with no further business.
Actions at a glance: approval of tenant signs at 2200 East Main (certificate of appropriateness); special permit for up to five planter boxes at 43 South Cassingham; denial of the parking-space variance at 43 South Cassingham; certificate of appropriateness for expanded patio and landscaping at 2690 East Main; variance granted for a putting green at 189 North Parkview.
