Columbus Zoning Decisions: March 2026

In March 2026, Columbus held 3 public meetings covering zoning matters. 25 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 22 approved (96% approval rate), 1 denied, 2 deferred. Activity was down 37% compared to February (523 activity items across 2 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Garage expansion at 4923 Sawmill Road

Denied.

Variance denied to increase maximum garage size from 450 to 970 square feet for existing single-unit dwelling. Applicants Rick Watts and Eric Haller proposed 600 square foot addition to existing detached garage. Board found variance substantial given 975 square foot house size and character of residential neighborhood.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

AR-1 Rezoning at 2345 Demarest Road (Kittle Property Group)

Deferred.

Tabled request to rezone 11.39 acres from R Rural to AR-1 Apartment Residential for 216-unit affordable workforce housing complex by Kittle Property Group. Westland Area Commission recommended disapproval. Concerns raised about infrastructure, traffic, privacy impacts on neighbors, and 7-foot perimeter setback variance. Applicant asked to reconsider site plan, particularly building orientation and tree preservation along south property line.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Oil and tire service center at 8000 East Broad Street

Approved.

Variances approved for Take 5 Oil Change to increase front setback from 25 to 43.5 feet due to sanitary easement, reduce parking from 9 to 6 spaces, reduce facade transparency from 60% to 25%, and reduce stacking spaces. Applicants Tyler Hendon and Evan Salyers. Located in Far East area commission, 25.61 acre commercial shopping center site.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Culver's restaurant at 2886 Stelzer Road

Approved.

Variances approved to reduce maneuvering from 20 to 0 feet and reduce parking from 14 to 13 spaces for new outlot and eating/drinking establishment at existing commercial center. Applicants Dave Perry, Steve Hermiller, and Matthew Goodlin of Banker Development. Fifth outlot being created from 18.2 acre site anchored by Giant Eagle.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

CPD Rezoning at 6600 Park Mill Run Drive (Lowe's)

Approved.

Approved new CPD Commercial Plan Development District for 15.56-acre Lowe's Home Improvement site to incorporate updated development text and site plan showing permanent outdoor storage. Includes modification to reduce required parking from 442 to 393 spaces. West Scioto Area Commission recommended approval.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Tabling of 267 Reinhardt Ave variance request

Deferred.

BZA 25-148 tabled because applicant had received certificate of appropriateness for project design but not for variances from German Village Commission.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Two three-unit dwellings at 2013-2019 East 5th Avenue

Approved.

Variances approved to reduce lot width on western parcel from 50 to 42 feet, reduce lot area from 7,500 to 5,040 square feet, and reduce parking from 12 to 8 spaces. Applicant Gary Done proposed two three-unit dwellings on separate parcels at southeast corner of East 5th Avenue and Brittanells Avenue in R4 residential zone.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Lot reconfiguration at 2482-2488 Deming Avenue

Approved.

Variances approved for lot split creating two parcels from existing configuration with two single-unit dwellings and proposed two-unit dwelling. Variances include lot width reduction to 32.6-36.5 feet, lot area reductions, parking reduction from 4 to 2 for new duplex parcel, side yard setbacks, and lot coverage increases. Applicants Brenda Parker and Sam Darling.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 25 recorded zoning decisions. See all Columbus meetings →

Zoning Changes

• ARLD (Apartment Residential District) → L1 (Limited Institutional District), 0.35+ acres at 5311-5313 Renter Road, South Side of Renter Road, 275+ feet west of Atlas Street (Not specified (natural gas regulation station operator))
• R4 residential → R4 residential (with variances), undeveloped site acres at 2013-2019 East 5th Avenue (Gary Done)
• R4 residential → R4 residential (with variances), 0.2 acres at 2482-2488 Deming Avenue (Sam Darling, Brenda Parker)
• Urban General District → Urban General District (with variances), 0.26 acres at 4255 N High Street (David Hodge)
• R4 residential → R4 residential (with variances), 0.22 acres at 1044-1052 Campbell Avenue (Abdallah El-Jaxi, Dan Merritt)
• Rural → Rural (variance denied), 0.46 acres at 4923 Sawmill Road (Rick Watts, Eric Haller)
• Community Activity Center → Community Activity Center (with variances), 25.61 acres at 8000 East Broad Street (Tyler Hendon, Evan Salyers)
• Regional Activity Center → Regional Activity Center (with variances), 1.7 acres at 1010 E Dublin Granville Road (Dave Perry, Meyers Food Management)

Top Keywords This Month

• variance: 127 instances
• zoning: 64 instances
• residential: 30 instances
• commercial: 26 instances
• setback: 19 instances

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