A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held September 9, 2024 at the Old Worthington Library. Members present were Bryce Jacob (Planning Commissioner), Chris Bedell, Paul Collini, Rich Skowronski, and Jennifer Zipfel. Also present were Patrick & Jenn Walsh, Cory Shields, Kent Shimeall, and Jay & Karyn Prater. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

  1. The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of August 12, 2024 were not read since each member had received a copy. Skowronski moved and Bedell seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bedell Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 5-0.
  2. 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 application was rejected by the Commission at the August meeting and the applicant informed the Village Council that he planned to appeal this decision. The Council reviewed the Ordinances and noted that section 151.044 (D) stated that a variance is not needed if all lot owners of property adjoining the property in question agree to the project in writing. Cory Shields, the owner of the adjoining property, had signed his agreement on the application in this case. Zipfel moved to reconsider the decision in light of this finding and approve the application based on the specifications in the final vote at the August meeting and Collini seconded the motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bedell, Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0. The motion carried 5-0.
  3. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Patrick & Jenn Walsh at 5846 Olentangy Blvd to replace the existing front porch structure with a new vaulted roof. All of the existing windows along the front of the house will remain in the new design. The siding will wrap around the house to the side. The sides of the structure will be mystic cedar and the trim will be aged ash. The existing roof will remain and any new shingles will be matched as closely as possible to the current shingles.

Zipfel moved to approve the application as submitted and Skowronski seconded the motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bedell, Collini, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: 1, Jacob. The motion carried 4-0-1.

  1. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Jan and Karyn Prater at 272 Melbourne Pl to remove the existing concrete stoop at the front of the house and replace it with a porch. The application was tabled at the August meeting. Skowronski moved to take the application off the table and Collini seconded the motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bedell, Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0. The motion carried 5-0.

Karyn Prater explained that the house is set further back than understood at the previous meeting, as those measurements had been from the dropped pin, not from the curb. The distance from the edge of the house is 45 ft and the plans for the new porch call for the measurements to be 8 ft by 20 ft. Prater showed the Committee several plans for different potential sizes for the porch that would encroach on the setback by various lengths and they feel that this 8 ft. depth would be best for ADA compliance. Lot coverage calculations show that this size would be total coverage of 35%.

Bedell inquired if the neighboring properties encroached on this 35 ft setback and Prater replied that this is not the case; the properties are further back from the street. Zipfel asked the Planning Commissioner if this house would be out of alignment with the houses along the rest of the street and he replied that this is not the case, as the curve of the street allowed other houses to be further forward. Zipfel asked if the porch could be shifted to the other side of the house in front of the living room, as this would move the porch out of the setback area entirely. Prater replied that they do not want to add the porch cover over this window and reduce the natural light that currently enters the room.

Collini inquired as to whether it was necessary to receive approval from the owners of the neighboring property before the Commission approves and the Planning Commissioner responded that this is not necessary, it is just required that they are notified. Collini asked if the orientation of Melbourne was adjusted at all during the reconstruction of the roads and the Praters stated that this not modified. Collini asked if the new measurements for the setback had been verified and the Planning Commissioner stated that he was in attendance to verify these.

The Planning Commissioner stated that he would prefer that one of the options that keeps at least one corner of the porch behind the setback be selected, which would require that the depth be no more than 7.5 ft.

The ceiling for the porch is to be open in order to maximize the porch area. The gable wrapping and cladding will be white Azek. The Planning Commissioner recommended that the color of the storm door be changed to the same Nightfall color as the entry door.

The plans call for the porch to have shingle roof, though the Planning Commissioner stated that he felt that the material should be metal to match the new porch addition. The Praters stated that they were open to the idea of changing this but did not want to change the plans until the plans were approved by the Planning Commission. Zipfel inquired as to how the ridge of the roof above the entrance was supported, as the plans do not indicate the presence of a roof beam. The Planning Commissioner stated that Franklin County would likely require a beam before approving the plans. Karyn Prater stated that she would ask the architect to revise the plans to include this beam.

Zipfel moved to approve the application with the following specifications: The depth of the porch is to be 7.5 ft, which will encroach a total of 21.49 sq ft on the setback, a support beam will be added across the gable, a metal roof will be used atop the gable, and the color of the storm door will be the same Nightfall color as the entry door. Bedell seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 5, Bedell, Collini, Jacob, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Skowronski moved and Jacob seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0). The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner

Josh Mehling, Clerk