A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held December 13, 2021 at Thomas Worthington High School. Members present were Bryce Jacob (Planning Commissioner), Sheila Bagley, Paul Collini, and Rich Skowronski. Also present were Tara Carillo, Emily Andrews, Robert Mintz, Jennifer Zipfel, Rebecca Krutko, Doug Ross, Susie Nybell, and Susan Mancini. Joshua C. Mehling served as Clerk. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

  1. The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of November 8, 2021 were not read since each member had received a copy. Bagley requested that her comment about inquiring whether the Village has a demolition ordinance be added to the minutes. Skowronski moved and Collini seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk with the above addition. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bagley, Collini, Jacob and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.

 

  1. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Tara & Cam Carillo at 288 Frontenac Pl to add fencing to enclose the rear yard. The fence would be treated wood with stain and would be 6 ft tall at the rear and 4 ft tall on the west side. The fence would be located along the property lines and will tie in with an existing fence along the west side. The fence along the west side would include a gate facing the front of the house. The Planning Commissioner reminded Carillo that the fence railings should be along the inside of the fence.

Rebecca Krutko, who owns the property on the other side of the proposed fence, commented that she had yet to see the details of the proposed fence and that she felt that the location of the fence along the property line and adjoining her driveway presented a hardship, as it would prevent her from being able to fully maneuver through her driveway and access her garage. She also inquired as to the direction the gate would open. Carillo replied that the gate would open into her yard. The Planning Commissioner stated that Village ordinances state that residents have the right to put fences up to and along the property lines of their residence. He also suggested that both residents have surveys performed to determine the exact location of this property line.

Resident Doug Ross inquired as to whether the Village has a requirement for footings for fences and the Planning Commissioner replied that there is no such requirement.

Resident Susie Nybell noted that when they had a fence installed on their property, they came in several feet to avoid placing it along their neighbor’s driveway.

Collini moved to table the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans for 30 days to get more detail on the fence and Bagley seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bagley, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.

 

  1. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Susan Mancini at 5835 Olentangy Blvd to install fencing around the rear yard. The fence would replace an existing fence that is rusted. The fence would be 4 ft black aluminum along the sides and 4 ft chain link at the rear. Mancini noted that it would cost an additional $2,800 to substitute the same aluminum fencing for the chain link at the rear. Because there is existing chain link there, replacing this with chain link would be considered maintenance

Skowronski moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans and Bagley seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bagley, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.

 

  1. A modification to the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Emily Andrews to demolish the current house at 5707 Olentangy Blvd and rebuild a house in a similar style. The original application had been approved to begin work pending some additional review work in the future. The proposed changes are as follows:

a. Expand the width of the house by 2.5 ft on each side

b. Add 2 ft to the north wall of the owner bedroom

c. Adjust the angle of the house on the lot to align with the angle of the lot lines.

Bagley noted that she had no issues with the proposals to expand the house, but felt that adjusting the angle on the lot would make the house out of place with the other houses along the street. She felt that this could affect the precedence for future new builds along the street and in the Village. Collini noted that due to the curve of the street, not all houses along it were square to the street and though shifting the orientation of the house would bring it out of alignment with the house to the south, it would bring it into alignment with the house to the north. Resident Jennifer Zipfel inquired as to whether the plans had been signed off based on either orientation yet and Andrews responded that they have not.

Skowronski moved to approve the modifications to the Certificate of Appropriateness for the structure of the house as shown in the plans with the stipulations that the changes to expand the sides of the house by 2.5 ft and the bedroom wall by 2 ft were approved and the setback from the road on the southeast side would be between 75 & 76 ft and the house orientation would be somewhere between the original approved orientation and the proposed modification to follow the lot lines. Collini seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bagley, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.

 

  1. The Planning Commissioner noted that Sheila Bagley would be stepping down from the Commission with the expiration of her term on 12/31/21. He thanked Bagley for her work on behalf of the Commission and Village through the years. He stated that Jennifer Zipfel would be appointed to fill this spot beginning in January and welcomed her to the Commission.

 

Collini moved and Skowronski seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

 

 

Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner

Josh Mehling, Clerk