North Linden Area Commission Meeting, January 17, 2019
- Linden community energy costs listening program
- Rec & Parks session on the Linden Park revisions
- Councilmember Brown's appearance
- Homeport Project at 2959 Cleveland Avenue
- Demo Permits
- Smart Columbus update
- Jennifer Adair resignation
- Sisters of Empowerment
The area commission has moved its meeting location to Point of Pride, at 1410 Cleveland Avenue.
Download the January 2019 agenda (770K)
Linden community energy costs listening program
A flier passed out at the meeting claims that Linden residents "spend 8% of their income, on average, on energy — that is almost 3x higher than in other neighborhoods in the city!"
This is not only because incomes in your neighborhood are lower overall, but also because you live and work in less energy efficient buildings.
Ready for 100 Columbus is a local campaign of the Sierra Club and we are working to bring clean, renewable, affordable energy to your neighborhood.
They're holding a "listening session" Monday, February 25, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Columbus Metro Library Northern Lights Branch at 4903 Cleveland Avenue. There's a registration link at http://bit.ly/lindensession.
Rec & Parks session on the Linden Park revisions
Columbus Metro Parks andnd MKSK came to the area commission meeting to explain their request for a zoning variance; the seating capacity of the new rec center's gym requires 369 parking spaces. They have a plan to include 154 spaces on the project site, plus 70 adjacent on-street spots on Hamilton Avenue and Briarwood Avenue, plus 35 spaces at the adjacent school. They're also looking at expanding parking on Briarwood Avenue to both sides of the street, and adding bidirectional traffic capacity there. City parks is working with the department of roads. This would likely come with changes to the road markings to more clearly mark no-parking zones.
The zoning variance is BZA18-168, and was moved in recommendation.
The construction schedule is:
- Early march: finish bid docs
- Bidding and permits: April through June
- Existing building closes in June; summer programs move offsite to leased or shared spaces such as local schools.
- Construction: June/July 2019 through mid-fall 2020.
They decided not to keep the existing rec center open during the construction of the new rec center because pedestrian traffic through the park and surrounding streets to the old rec center. They didn't think it safe.
Councilmember Brown's appearance
She asked the commission and residents to email recommendations for road and sidewalk improvements to ecbrown@columbus.gov, because they're trying to improve the walkability of the area. There were many suggestions for improvement, but she encouraged residents to email.
The request comes because it's time for the drafting of the Capital Budget, and the Council wants to make sure all infrastructure needs are addressed.
Homeport Project at 2959 Cleveland Avenue
There's a public meeting for residents' questions about the Homeport project on January 26. And there will be a City Council zoning meeting on January 28.
Attending city departments will include traffic, development, and planning.
The area commission's vote on the zoning variances has not changed; they did not vote to recommend approval of the variance.
Demo Permits
These demo permits were tabled last meeting.
1809373, 2651 Cleveland
This is a private residence, joining with 2657 Cleveland. 2651 is zoned institutional and 2657 is zoned commercial C4. Rayna Morgan says that the council needs to make sure that the lots do not turn into a car lot, which isn't a legal use of the institutionally zoned lot. The institutionally zoned building at 2657 was until recently a boys' home, and is more than five thousand square feet.
2651 is owned by someone with a primary residence in Massachusetts.
The building to the south of 2651, 2657, is already demolished; it was a Land Bank property. There's no current knowledge of the ownership of that vacant lot.
The motion to recomment the permit is contested; Valita Fields, Holly Borchese, Paula Burleson, and John Lathram vote no. The motion is not passed.
1809375, 2657 Cleveland
The motion to recommend the demo permit is made and contested; it fails.
Smart Columbus update
John Lathram says that the two major projects in North Linden are currently the prenatal trip assistance and related programs, and an autonomous shuttle. They're copying the model of the shuttle that goes between COSI, Bicentennial Park, Front Street and the Smart Columbus office. The trolley is staffed, but is self-driving. They'd like to expand the trial to Linden in 2020 between the Linden Transit Center, the Rosewind Resident Council, the Douglas Community Rec Center, and St. Stephen's. This would connect St. Stephen's to COTA. It's a first/last mile connection through the neighborhoods, not along Cleveland Avenue and 17th Avenue.
The next steps are to find a service provider for the shuttle; Smart Columbus has released an RFP today, and are looking for something with more capacity than the little autonomous vehicles used on the Scioto Mile; they're specifically requesting ADA compliance. The shuttles will be free.
Jennifer Adair resignation
Jennifer Adair, council chair, resigned at this meeting. She has been appointed to the Columbus City School Board, which requires her to leave the Area Commission. tktk Columbus Dispatch link.
Download the resignation letter (161K)
Her replacement as chair is John Lathram, the commission's vice chair. The commission can appoint her replacement member to the chair. The new vice chair could be Rayna Morgan, current secretary and treasurer, or the Commission could choose new officers.
There will be a planning meeting February 7 at 3500 North High, Rayna Morgan's office, where the commission will be accepting resumes for replacements.
The interim zoning chair, replacing Jennifer Adair, will be Holly Borghese.
Sisters of Empowerment
This group works for homeownership and fiscal responsibility; the'yre trying to secure the city-owned building at 2682 Cleveland Avenue, between the PNC bank and the gas station at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Westerville Road. There is a possibility that the City will donate the building to the Sisters, as a $1 sale.