Westside Messenger - March 6, 2022

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PAGE 4 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - March 6, 2022
By Katelyn Sattler
Staff Writer
The property at 2456 West Broad St. came before the
Greater Hilltop Area Commission again, after being tabled
in January.
According to commissioner Jennie Keplar, the building
was originally built by Eldon Smith in 1900. It was the
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Government Focus
Hilltop Historical Society office and at one point, it was an
antique store. It has also been a church.
Attorney Jeff Brown is seeking to add single family residential
to the property for his client, Degas Real Estate
Solutions. The area is currently zoned for commercial use,
with the house sitting between a used car dealership and a
collision repair shop. The commercial zoning prohibits first
floor residential housing.
“I can’t sell it as a single family house. I can’t
finance it as a single family house, unless I have a
piece of paper that says it can be used as a single
family house,” said Brown.
Commissioner Rachel Wenning questioned
whether the applicant’s request counts as a hardship,
since he knew when buying the property in
2017 that the building was zoned commercial.
Commissioner James White said, “We’re trying
to say that we want this building to be used as a
commercial building in a commercial corridor, but
you’re trying to rezone this building to allow for a
single family use surrounded by commercial buildings.”
“That house deserves to be preserved,” added
Keplar, who would like to see it turned into a permanent
home for the Hilltop Historical Society and
other Hilltop community groups.
Geoffrey Phillips, president of the Highland
West Civic Association and former Hilltop commissioner,
opposes the variance, saying the applicant
wanted approval to use the building as a residential
treatment facility in 2019, then in 2020 for use
as residential care.
“In both cases, the commission voted no for reasons
of safety, lack of adequate parking, and a lack
of clarity of what the applicant wants to do with it,”
he said. “Now, the applicant is before you again,
asking you to approve a single family dwelling in a
www.columbusmessenger.com
Commission against rezoning of West Broad Street property
Food pantry at Hoge Memorial
Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church’s food pantry
will be open the last two consecutive Tuesdays and
Wednesdays of the month from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at 2930
W. Broad St. in Columbus. The dates include March
22, 23, 29, and 30. Clients are welcome one time each
month. The food pantry serves residents in zip codes
43204, 43223, and 43228. For more information, call
the church office at 614-276-5433.
By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
The Prairie Township trustees have approved a new
dispatching agreement.
Fire Chief Allen Scott asked the board to approve a
five-year agreement with Grove City to continue the
township’s dispatching services.
Effective immediately and ending Dec. 31, 2026, the
township agreed to pay $224,905 in 2022, $231,652 in
2023, $238,602 in 2024, $245,769 in 2025, and
$253,142 in 2026.
“Our current agreement, which expired on Dec. 31,
was for $218,355,” Allen said. “At the end of this agreement,
we will remain far below the $310,000 we were
spending on dispatcher salaries in 2017.”
In other news, Scott asked the board to approve the
purchase of a medicine control cabinet at a cost of
$8,200.
commercial district.”
After the last meeting, Brown checked with city zoning
staff regarding concerns that the property may not be used
as intended in the application.
“City staff felt that there was no reason to put any additional
conditions on the application because the request is
very clear as to what we’re asking for. And the reason
we’re doing it is that we’re trying to sell this as a house,”
said Brown.
The applicant wasn’t in attendance to answer questions
about the intended use of the property, but Brown said,
“We would like to reestablish the historic use of the property.”
In an email communication with Columbus City
Council member and chair of the zoning committee Rob
Dorans, via his legislative aide, he explained, “City Council
has wide discretion when considering a rezoning and variance.
Every application is unique and we review each
application that comes before us closely. A key part of that
review process is the support from the local area commission
or other neighborhood groups. When we receive a disapproval
from the area commission, generally its council’s
expectation that the applicant work to address the issues
raised by residents. Often these efforts will help ensure
that when the legislation comes before council many issues
have been resolved. In the event that the applicant and the
area commissions have not been able to come to a resolution,
council must review the application holistically to
determine whether we believe granting the application is
appropriate.”
Dorans added, “city council votes with the area commissions’
recommendations more than nine out of ten times.
In those rare instances where council disagrees with the
area commission, it’s important that we are transparent
and can explain why.”
The area commission voted the variance down 11-3. It
will now be presented to city council.
around the westside
Wellness and foot care
for senior citizens
LifeCare Alliance provides a nurse at the Prairie
Township Community Center weekly to provide free
foot care and other wellness services. To schedule an
appointment or for more information, contact the wellness
office at 614-437-2878.
Trustees OK new agreement for dispatching
“This cabinet will assist us in inventory tracking of
our medications and other perishable supplies, as well
as increase security for our narcotic medications,”
Scott said. “We currently lose about $3,000 to $4,000
worth of expired medication and other supplies each
year. The up front cost of this device is $8,200 and the
annual software cost is $1,200. I expect to see a return
on our investment in less than five years.”
The main supply of medication will be located at
Station 241.
According to Scott, the fire department has a drug
license to purchase medications, which is signed off by
the medical director.
Residents also asked about drug drop-off at the fire
stations.
“Due to the DEA license, we are not permitted by
law to collect them,” Scott said. “There is a quarterly
drug take-back day held at the firehouse, but it does
not have to do with the fire department.”