A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held July 8, 2024 at the Old Worthington Library. Members present were Bryce Jacob (Planning Commissioner), Paul Collini, Rich Skowronski, and Jennifer Zipfel. Also present were Cory Shields, Kent Shimeall, and Brian and Christina Saull. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

  1. The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of June 10, 2024 were not read since each member had received a copy. Skowronski moved and Collini seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
  2. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Gina Traetow at 5826 Westchester Ct to add a wooden picket fence at the northeast corner of the rear yard. The applicant was not present to answer questions on the application. Collini moved to table the application until the applicant is present. Skowronski seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0. The motion carried 4-0.
  3. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Brian and Christina Saull at 5920 Olentangy Blvd to add one-story addition at the south side of the house. This addition will add 140 sq. ft. to the layout of the house. All colors and materials will match those of the existing house; the windows will be white Pella Impervia with fiberglass awnings. The door will be white fiberglass. Lot coverage is calculated at 25.7%. The current plans do not call for a walkway from the door into the yard.

Skowronski moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the addition as shown in the plans. Collini seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 3, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: 0; Abstain: 1, Zipfel. The motion carried 3-0-1. A STREET BOND IS REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT.

  1. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Variance by Kent Shimeall at 121 W Southington Ave to replace the existing chain-link fence along the west side of the rear yard with a six ft cedar fence. The fence would extend from the rear corner and contain a 6 ft section that attaches to the house and contains a gate The variance is being requested due to the Village’s restriction on fence height along the sides of properties to no more than four ft. The applicant explained that the six ft height is being requested for privacy and to match the height and materials of the fence on the west side of the residence at 131 W Southington Ave. There are no proposed changes to the fences along the rear or east sides of the property. Corey Sheilds, the homeowner at 131 W Southington was in attendance to speak in favor of the project.

The Planning Commissioner explained that the six ft fence on the west side of the property at 131 W Southington Ave was approved by the Commission to match the approved six ft height of the west and rear sides of the property at 141 W Southington Ave. This approval does not necessarily extend to properties to the east and west of the property. The Commission does not see a hardship that would take place if the variance is not approved in this case.

Collini inquired about having the fence start at six ft at the side along the rear fence and stepping down to four ft through the rest of the fence. Shields stated that this would not provide the desired privacy and the additional two ft would help with this. Zipfel explained that she had a similar situation in her yard and the solution was to start with a six ft section between the patios of the yards and to step this down to four ft along the rest of the fence. Collini asked Shimeall to consider this step down plan and to take pictures and present evidence of a potential hardship if the full six ft fence is desired.

Collini moved to table the application so that the applicant can consider alternatives and present evidence of hardship if applicable. Skowronski seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0. The motion carried 4-0.

  1. Cory Shields inquired whether the street bond that had been paid to the Village in his project at 131 W Southington had been repaid. The Clerk-Treasurer will investigate.

Skowronski moved and Zipfel seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

 

Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner

Josh Mehling, Clerk