December 12, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

Meeting Archive

Regular meeting: December 12, 2011

A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held December 12, 2011 at 5830 Falmouth Court. Members present were Michael Jones (Planning Commissioner), Jo Ann Bierman, Donald P. McCarthy and Lisa J. Morris. Bryce E. Jacob was absent. Also present were Dean Melchi, Kathryn Melchi, Steve Enz, Steve Brown and Sheila Bagley. Pamela M. Colwell served as Clerk. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

1. The minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of July 11, 2011 were not read since each member had received a copy. Morris moved and McCarthy seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 4, Bierman, McCarthy, Morris and Jones: Nay, None. The Motion carried 4-0.
2. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Variance by Dean and Kathryn Melchi for the property at 5809 Olentangy Boulevard to add a porch to the front of the house along with a new entry and an addition on the rear of the house. The Melchis have a contract to purchase the house contingent on getting approval for this application. Dean Melchi made the presentation. The submitted samples of paint, windows and shingles were acceptable. The existing recessed porch will be enclosed and a new covered front porch with columns will be added. Windows will be added on each side of the front door. Melchi produced the deed to the property which states under the Set Back Lines: Open porches and steps are excepted in all front set back distances herein specified. The deed exception is thought make a variance unnecessary. This document was not submitted with the application and this was the first time the Commission had knowledge of it. The Commission stated they would have liked to have had the Village’s Solicitor review this prior to making any decisions. Upon further discussion Jones, Bierman and McCarthy said they believed the deed would supersede the ordinances but Morris did not want to make that decision without consulting the Village’s Solicitor. The Commission said they take their job seriously to uphold the ordinances and this placed them in a very difficult position since delaying this hearing would be a hardship to all involved with this application. They expressed their frustration of not having the time and the Solicitor’s input prior to making a decision that could possibly have repercussions.The Commissioner continued with the rest of the application concerning the rear addition and landscaping. No landscaping plan was submitted and the Commission said they require one. The 30 ft. wall facing the south had no windows and the Commission said it would look better with one or two windows. Kathryn Melchi said the lack of windows was due to their neighbor’s preference. Morris said it was the Commission’s responsibility to make sure the addition was esthetically pleasing to all. Melchi agreed to add one or two windows.

   The Commissioner moved and Morris seconded the motion to table the application until the January meeting so that a landscape plan and revised plan with windows on the south side wall addition could be submitted and the Village’s Solicitor could review the deed. Brown said the back addition is not very visible from the street and he supports the plan as presented. Bagley also fully supports the plan. Enz said a delay would jeopardize this sale of his mother’s property. Kathryn Melchi said it would cause many difficulties to delay this including temporary housing, financing, construction and maybe not purchasing the house. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 2, Morris and Jones: Nay, 2, Bierman and McCarthy. The Motion failed 2-2.

   The Commissioner moved and McCarthy seconded the motion to approve the application as submitted, subject to additional submitted plans for landscaping and the addition of up to two windows in the master bedroom on the south elevation in the same style and color of the windows already indicated in the plans. Melchi agreed to this. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 3: Bierman, McCarthy and Jones: Nay, 1: Morris. The Motion carried 3-1.

   A street bond of $2,000 is required before a Certificate of Appropriateness will be issued.

The Commission took no additional action. Morris moved and Bierman seconded a motion to adjourn. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 4: Bierman, McCarthy, Morris and Jones: Nay, None. The Motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm.