2026-09-24 - University Impact District Review Board

00:03We are recording. Look at that.

00:08>> Okay. So, I think I need to swear you in

00:11first.

00:11>> Yes.

00:12>> For to tell the truth the whole truth

00:13and nothing but the truth.

00:14>> Uh, yes, I do. Mostly a lot of more.

00:16>> Very good. Uh, welcome everyone to the

00:20September 24th installment of UDB. We

00:23got a fairly brief um agenda tonight, so

00:26hopefully we can power through it uh in

00:27a hurry. I would like to call the role,

00:29please.

00:31>> Mr. Fleming is absent. Miss Gunzelman,

00:35>> yes.

00:36>> Mr. Mather,

00:37>> yes.

00:38>> Mr. Reeds,

00:39>> yes.

00:40>> Mr. Sublet,

00:41>> here.

00:42>> Mr. Samansky?

00:43>> Yes.

00:44>> We have a quorum.

00:47>> Sorry,

00:48>> we have quorum.

00:49>> Very good.

00:51Um,

00:52did everyone have an opportunity to look

00:55over the July meeting minutes?

00:58>> Yes.

00:58>> Yes.

00:59>> Any changes, any revisions?

01:01>> No. Do I have a motion?

01:02>> I move to approve the minutes as

01:05submitted.

01:05>> I will second.

01:09>> Miss Gunselman?

01:10>> Yes.

01:11>> Mr. Matther?

01:12>> Yes.

01:13>> Mr. Reeds?

01:14>> Yes.

01:15>> Mr. Sublet?

01:16>> I think I should pass.

01:18>> Abstain.

01:19Mr. Samsky

01:21>> not here either. So I was going to

01:23abstain as well. So

01:24>> as I recall, correct me if I'm mistaken,

01:26we just need a simple majority for this,

01:28right?

01:31[laughter]

01:31>> Majority of the yeses. So the motion

01:33passes.

01:33>> Okay. Awesome.

01:38>> Then we do have a um for public forum

01:41just a quick update on zone in. Okay.

01:43Okay.

01:49So I was asked to share some information

01:51uh regarding what's going on with the

01:52zone in we are currently in phase two

01:57uh which focuses on economic and housing

01:59opportunity.

02:04Uh so here on the timeline uh currently

02:07in fall of 2026 uh phase one was adopted

02:11in 2024. In 2025, we focused a lot of

02:14our efforts in um the Columbus growth

02:17strategy, which is our first citywide

02:19land use plan. Uh and then based off of

02:21the Columbus Growth Strategy, uh our

02:23recommendations for zoning for phase 2.

02:25Um and then fall 26, I'll go further

02:27into the timeline a little later um

02:29about what's going on uh with engagement

02:30opportunities.

02:33So, like I mentioned, phase two focuses

02:35on economic and housing opportunity. And

02:37here's kind of the priorities. Uh the

02:39goal will be the goals will be to

02:40leverage additional corridors to create

02:42more housing uh grow the local economy

02:44and support neighborhood investment,

02:46connect housing, jobs and transportation

02:48and to promote highquality development.

02:50Uh I know phase one uh the focus was

02:53more geared towards equitable access and

02:55supporting density on our major

02:56corridors. Uh this phase here too that

02:59we're in uh focuses more on economic and

03:01housing opportunity.

03:03And like I mentioned earlier, uh here's

03:05the Columbus land use plan from the

03:06Columbus growth strategy, uh adopted

03:08earlier this year. Uh the growth

03:11strategy, uh the first citywide land use

03:13map. It was um it divides our

03:15industrial, mixed use, commercial, and

03:18institutional areas into five land use

03:20categories. Uh those categories would

03:22are mainly business and institutional

03:24campus, industrial and warehouse, and

03:26then three mixeduse districts. Mixed use

03:28one, two, and three.

03:34Since the growth strategy was adopted

03:35earlier this year, um the city staff has

03:37attended over 1707

03:40community meetings in 2026, staff shared

03:43zoning updates and gave presentations to

03:45over uh 1,700 community members. Uh and

03:48then our staff was also able to reach

03:50out to different area commissions and

03:52major civic organizations.

03:57And currently where we are now, uh, city

03:59staff is working to draft our new zoning

04:01districts that support the goals of both

04:02zone in and the Columbus growth

04:04strategy. Uh, phase one had six, uh,

04:08proposed districts. There are nine new

04:10uh, nine new proposed districts in this

04:12phase uh, for a total of 15 zoning

04:15districts um, across the city. The three

04:17uh the nine new districts in this phase

04:19are three new mixeduse districts. Uh

04:21three new business and institutional

04:23campus districts and three uh industrial

04:25and warehouse districts.

04:30Like I mentioned earlier, this this kind

04:31of this graphic kind of shows um the how

04:34we evolved from the growth strategy uh

04:36and into forming the new suggested

04:38zoning districts. So industrial and

04:40warehouse was kind of a land

04:41recommendation and then getting into

04:42specific zoning districts such as heavy

04:44industrial or light industrial uh is a

04:46great example.

04:49And then getting into the timeline, I

04:51have a

04:53I have a page I want to show here. Um

05:00these are the opportunities for public

05:02engagement currently going on right now

05:04uh for phase 2. Right now, the zonein

05:06gallery is open over across the street

05:08here at 141 North Front Street. Uh it is

05:10open until October 23rd, and it'll be

05:13open on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00

05:16p.m. and 400 p.m. to 6 uh and open on

05:19some Saturdays from 11 to 1. Uh hours

05:21will be on our website. And then we also

05:24have a public survey and a um a survey

05:28on our map also available online on our

05:30website. One of the main forms that we

05:32uh gather community feedback in order to

05:34make revisions uh prior to passing. And

05:37then a uh we also have a a list of

05:39public engagements events. Uh public

05:41hearings uh we have a few of those. Uh

05:44coming up October 1st we have a webinar

05:46information will be sent out. Um,

05:48October 6, we'll have a blog on Reddit

05:50uh for ask me anything for uh community

05:53members to ask questions related to the

05:55phase two of the zoning update uh as

05:57well as public hearings by city council

06:00at the council chamber throughout

06:01November uh and council readings as

06:03well. So those are the public engagement

06:06opportunities uh going on right now. Um

06:09so I was told to remind everyone that

06:11the gallery will be open until October

06:1323rd if anyone would like to visit.

06:18Does anyone have any questions on zone

06:20in [clears throat] phase two or what's

06:22going on with the zone end?

06:25>> All right.

06:26>> Thanks for the update.

06:27>> Yeah.

06:38>> Roll. Yes. Ready to roll.

06:40COA 26005451

06:43Michigan Avenue.

06:46applicant is here.

06:49The applicant is requesting review and

06:51action on two new 10 ft by 7 in or 10 ft

06:567 in x 6' 5 in pressuret treated front

06:58porches with associated stairs and

07:00railing for the duplex at 1501 Michigan

07:03Avenue. The proposed porches will be

07:05pressuret treated lumber painted to

07:07match the trim color. The applicant

07:08confirmed that they are planning to use

07:10vertical boards as the skirting. The

07:12submission includes existing condition

07:13photos and plan details showing the

07:15proposed porches, railing, and column

07:17details. The proposal includes a round

07:20and half round column for each porch.

07:22Staff notes the original front porch

07:23were previously replaced without a

07:24certificate of approval. The applicant

07:26is not seeking approval of those

07:28replacement decks, rather a new design

07:29permitted drawings. The applicant

07:31received several code violations for

07:33completing work without a COA. The

07:34parking pad and windows have already

07:36been resolved with the UIDB. The

07:38university district plan recommends

07:40preservation of original architectural

07:41features, specifically listing porches.

07:44The plan also recommends that new front

07:45porches should be in scale and

07:47proportion to traditional porches in the

07:49district. After the July 2026 UIDB

07:52hearing, the applicant has since

07:53submitted updated materials reflecting

07:55the round and half round column

07:56specifications and proposed railing

07:58details consistent with previous board

08:00recommendations. Updated drawings also

08:02indicate vertical board skirting

08:04replacing the previously submitted

08:05lattice design. Staff recommends

08:07approving the application as submitted.

08:11And we have some hand drawings that were

08:13submitted here.

08:17Hand rail details um with corresponding

08:20measurements.

08:23Some more information here um about the

08:26decks.

08:28Here we go.

08:34Elevation drawing here.

08:37the vertical boards on the skirting

08:40and indicating the um half round and

08:42round column

08:46and further specification on column

08:49here.

08:51Existing photographs taken from a

08:53previous application for windows

09:01and rail detail.

09:11Everything?

09:12>> Yes.

09:12>> Very good. See the applicants here. I

09:14need do need to swear you in. Do you

09:15swear affirm to tell the truth, the

09:17whole truth, nothing but the truth?

09:18>> I do.

09:19>> Very good. Do you have anything you'd

09:20like to add to the city's overview?

09:21>> No.

09:22>> No.

09:24>> Questions from the board comments.

09:32So, it's all going to be painted to

09:33match the trim color of the house.

09:36>> The skirting as well.

09:38>> And then that's black aluminum raillet,

09:40>> right? Except that

09:46>> look much better.

09:47>> Mhm.

09:54Is the uh half round column the round

09:57columns are are they simply round

10:00cylinders or is there turning that uh

10:05>> um that was the material that was sent

10:08by my contractor from his booklet I

10:12believe is solid rather than the

10:16wraparound PVCs. No, I actually was

10:18wondering whether or not uh there there

10:20was whether it's simply straight

10:22cylinders or if there is uh some

10:25decorative uh

10:27>> fluting or turning or anything.

10:29>> I think it's just straight maybe with a

10:32cap on the top and the bottom.

10:33>> Okay.

10:35>> Which was how it is and also what the

10:38neighbors have.

10:39>> Okay. Thank you.

10:45I have no comments.

10:48Do I have a motion

10:54to approve?

10:56>> I'll second.

11:00>> Miss Gunselman.

11:01>> Yes.

11:02>> Mr. Mather.

11:04>> Yes.

11:04>> Mr. Reeds?

11:05>> Yes.

11:06>> Mr. Sublett?

11:07>> Yes.

11:08>> Mr. Samansky?

11:09>> Yes.

11:11Uh,

11:12>> motion passes. Congratulations.

11:15I think you're done.

11:21>> See you later.

11:22>> Okay,

11:27>> that's it.

11:28>> Oh, moving on to COA 26000778

11:3221 East Arcadia Avenue.

11:34>> All right, quick note for the record.

11:36Miss Gunselman has recused herself from

11:37this application.

11:41The applicant is requesting review and

11:43action on a proposed renovation and

11:45expansion of a former AA substation into

11:47a food court. The proposal includes

11:49renovation of two existing buildings on

11:51the site, 289 ft addition for the west

11:54building, 604 square ft twotory addition

11:58for the east building, new hardscaping

12:00and landscaping, and no on-site

12:02vehicular parking is proposed. The

12:04submission includes existing condition

12:06photos, site plan, selective demo plan,

12:09floor plans, elevation sections,

12:11landscaping and lighting plans,

12:13renderings, and proposed materials. The

12:16proposal is generally generally

12:18consistent with recommendations of the

12:19university district plan. The plan

12:21recommends a variety of uses on the site

12:23and prioritizes preservation of

12:24potentially contributing buildings. The

12:26plan also states that new construction

12:28should be compatible with nearby

12:29contributed buildings and the

12:30surrounding streetscape and utilize high

12:32quality of design and materials as well

12:34as a high degree of transparency on the

12:36ground floor. The proposal is consistent

12:38with these recommendations. The

12:40university district plan also recommends

12:42original doors and windows be preserved.

12:44The proposal replaces the existing

12:46windows and doors but maintains most

12:47original openings with replacement

12:49windows matching existing size and

12:51configurations and creates new openings

12:53per submitted drawings. Although no

12:55parking is proposed, a driveway is shown

12:57in the front of the building. The plan

12:59recommends parking and associated

13:00driveways in circulation be located to

13:02the side and rear of buildings and

13:04screened from the public rightway. Due

13:06to the location of the buildings on the

13:07site, this is not possible. The

13:09applicant has clarified that space

13:11accessed from the curb cut will not be

13:13for visitor parking, but rather serve as

13:15access for mobile food vendors and a

13:17plaza. Permeable pavers are being

13:19proposed. The updated site plan also

13:21includes enhanced screening along the

13:23west and north property lines as

13:25previously recommended by staff that

13:27screen the hardscape portion of the

13:28site. Additionally, the applicant has

13:31provided bike parking beyond that

13:32required by code consistent with board

13:34feedback. Finally, the district the

13:37university district plan also recommends

13:38the inclusion of street trees. The

13:40applicant has indicated coordination

13:42with the city forester on street trees

13:44which are shown on the site plan as

13:45previously recommended by staff. Staff

13:47additionally notes that any signage

13:49shown is conceptual in nature and that a

13:51separate application for signage and

13:52graphics will need to be submitted to

13:53the board prior to installation.

13:56Overall, staff is in support of approval

13:58of the application as submitted.

14:01>> Very good. Uh do you need to swear you

14:04in? Do you swear a firm to tell the

14:05truth, whole truth, and nothing but the

14:06truth?

14:07>> I do.

14:07>> Very good. Do you have anything you'd

14:08like to add to the city's overview of

14:10the project?

14:10>> No.

14:11>> No.

14:13So uh so uh thank you for the last time

14:17last meeting and uh board give me some

14:20uh very good suggestion so make the

14:24design uh make more sense and better. So

14:27uh some of the major update is the we

14:31updated the plaza. We're using the high

14:33quality permanent pavers to make the uh

14:38plaza look nice and durable.

14:40And uh uh we also separate the entrance

14:45uh uh pedestrian access to the uh to the

14:50driveway. And we also uh provide a

14:53permanent sun shade as a uh uh uh

14:58recommendation to the old season. So the

15:01people can stay outside and we also

15:05provide the two options for the pre

15:08preserve the the existing window. The

15:10one is keep the existing and put the new

15:15uh window inside and there's a a open

15:18wall so it's easy to clean. Or another

15:22one is we change the existing window to

15:26the new but we keep the proportion and

15:28the material and the color

15:30uh like the existing as much and we also

15:34uh focus on the the back side. You say

15:38we are maybe in the future we're using

15:40the parking from the CVS. So most of

15:43people will come from the back. So we

15:46provide a new rendering and to show the

15:48how the back of back side of the

15:51buildings look. We also uh coordinate

15:55with the city forester and they give us

15:58some suggestion for the street tree

16:00options. So we pick the sweet sweet bay

16:04Mongolia like the uh street tree and we

16:10yeah we provide some the uh plaza

16:12lighting but uh as the new city staff

16:15common say we don't use in the cut off

16:17lighting so in the future we are using

16:20the cut off lighting in the plaza place

16:24and uh

16:27I think that's that's the most of the

16:29update.

16:31since the last version. Yeah, thank you.

16:34>> Thank you.

16:42>> Can you point out the window that you

16:43were talking about?

16:44>> Yeah. Uh the next page is the window.

16:47Yeah. Here the this is the option one

16:50which is the we replace all the old

16:53window but we using the black uh metal

16:57window and to uh make the uh energy

17:01efficient and uh you know this looks

17:04better because the existing steel window

17:07are rusted and the panel is a single

17:10panel so it's not good but we also

17:13provide the uh second option. Would you

17:16please go to the next page? Thank you.

17:18Yeah. So the the outside layer is

17:22existing but we will clean it but we put

17:25the inside the uh open ball. So it's for

17:29the inside clean. So either one are

17:32works for us is depends on the what's

17:35your comments

17:37and this is the windows uh

17:40configuration

17:45>> not I would be careful about this option

17:48>> okay

17:49>> because I worry about heat building up

17:51in between the two windows yeah in the

17:53summer

17:53>> actually the the existing window are not

17:56transparent

17:57>> so yeah it's a it's uh not 100% you can

18:02go to the existing photos and you can

18:05see it's a not 100% transparent. Yeah.

18:08So I also want to

18:10>> uh change it to the new one. Yeah.

18:15>> I like the the new window.

18:17>> New window. Yeah. [laughter]

18:34comments. So the uh can you go most can

18:37you go to the the the overall uh

18:40rendered plan? There you go.

18:42>> So the the the four trees that are in

18:44the uh on the on the deck, those are in

18:48in big planters.

18:49>> No, it's just a small one. Uh but it's a

18:51skinny but it's not a big one.

18:54>> So the planter is not big.

18:56>> Yeah.

18:57>> Okay. What what is it constructed of the

18:58planter itself?

19:00>> So maybe we will dig a plant wheel and a

19:03>> So So it's in the ground.

19:05>> Yeah, it's in the ground.

19:07>> Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.

19:09>> I think my only comment, it's a minor

19:11one, is the uh I like the uh the grass

19:14pavers. My only comment is I'm not

19:16saying you need irrigation heads, but

19:18you need to have water out there because

19:19if it doesn't rain, that'll burn up.

19:21>> Oh, yeah.

19:22>> So, just to [clears throat] have it on

19:24there, you could just, you know, keep

19:25some water on if it if you have a

19:26drought.

19:29>> Cool plan.

19:30>> Yeah.

19:34>> Would you mind flipping through the

19:35eleation or the architectural

19:36elevations, please, when you get a

19:38chance?

19:58So that's the window you're talking

20:00about that.

20:01>> Yes, those two. Yeah,

20:03>> those two.

20:18What's the material between or at the

20:20base of the curtain wall or the

20:23storefront and at the floor levels?

20:25>> Oh, it's a fibrous cement panel.

20:28>> Okay. And that's a storefront system.

20:31>> Yes.

20:35Then the gray color is a corrugated

20:37metal panel.

20:39>> Yeah.

20:52>> I don't know. It's not the like.

20:58>> It's It's great to see the buildings

21:00reused in this way.

21:01>> Thank you.

21:02>> Yeah. It's a handsome old building.

21:05>> Yeah. And then the landscape. Yeah. I

21:08know the the last time I we only focus

21:10on the buildings, but we think about

21:13Yeah. the landscape, the outside space

21:15also uh important for the people, not

21:19only the the buildings.

21:21>> Yeah. So

21:25motion

21:26motion approve as

21:28>> Yeah.

21:31He said,

21:34>> "Mr. Mather,

21:36>> yes."

21:37>> Mr. Reeds,

21:38>> yes.

21:39>> Mr. Sublet,

21:40>> yes.

21:41>> Mr. Zemensky,

21:42>> yes.

21:44>> Motion carries.

21:45>> Thank you so much.

21:46>> Thank you.

21:46>> Yeah.

21:50>> I look forward to going.

21:51>> Yeah.

21:55>> A slew of staff submittals.

21:58>> Yes.

21:5919 or 20 of them. I think half of them

22:02from August, other half from September.

22:04>> Ah, okay. Forgot about that. Yeah. Okay.

22:08>> I think we do need approve to approve

22:10staff approvals. Do we not?

22:12>> Um,

22:14I think we need a motion to approve

22:16staff approvals.

22:17>> Yes.

22:18>> Second.

22:30Look at that.

22:31>> Where?

22:31>> Yay.

22:32>> It's a motion to prove staff approvals.

22:36>> Did someone Did someone make a motion in

22:37second?

22:39>> I have a second. Who made the motion?

22:42>> Thought you made

22:43>> I can't make motions.

22:46>> Would someone like to

22:47>> I move to approve the staff.

22:49>> Okay.

22:50>> Thank you.

22:52>> Okay. Okay.

22:52>> He needed me for something.

22:53>> Seconded a non motion. [laughter]

22:56>> Do it again.

22:58>> All right. Miss Gunselman.

23:00>> Yes.

23:01>> Mr. Matther?

23:02>> Yes.

23:03>> Mr. Reeds?

23:04>> Yes.

23:05>> Mr. Sublet?

23:06>> Yes.

23:06>> Mr. Samsky?

23:07>> Yes.

23:08>> Motion passes.

23:10>> Yay.

23:10>> Thank you.

23:13>> And in nearly record time.

23:15>> Yeah, that was a quick one.

23:17>> This doesn't This isn't record.

23:19>> No, it's actually not. I think we got

23:22done with one in

23:2515 minutes. Ridiculous.

23:28>> Yeah.

23:28>> Huh.

23:28>> Yeah. There was like no staff.

23:30>> I thought there would be more,

23:31especially after last month. Oh,

23:32>> I did.

23:33>> I keep thinking those guys are going to

23:34come back on North High Street with the

23:36guys with the uh

23:37>> Oh, yeah.

23:38>> Five or six story building. Oh, yeah.

23:39>> I mean, they've been away for two or

23:41three months now.

23:42>> So, what's interesting and I don't know

23:44if this is what's expected, but like so

23:45I told you we're going to that

23:47>> far northwest.

23:49So, we're up against the clock because

23:51the part with the zone in is you have

23:54for your zoning, you have to then be

23:56able to have the zoning and get a final

23:59site compliance plan in before the end

24:01of the year basically.

24:03>> So, that may be affecting there. We're

24:05trying to push forward because if not,

24:07we're just sitting here dead for months,

24:09which is probably what they're doing

24:11because they know they won't get through

24:13that to have

24:14>> process to Yeah.

24:15>> Now, I guess they're zone in phase one,

24:17so they're already done. Yeah,

24:19>> pushing up against it.

24:21>> But so I don't know. I mean, but yeah,

24:24that's what we're go. That's the whole

24:25the crazy part about phase two. That

24:28>> Are we done recording?

24:30Um,