Westside Messenger - March 20th, 2022

PAGE 6 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - March 20, 2022
www.columbusmessenger.com
Residents concerned about development in Prairie
By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
At a recent Prairie Township board
24th Annual
“Best Fish Dinner in Town!”
Baked Cod and Fried Perch
ST. MARGARET OF CORTONA CHURCH
Fridays in Lent: March 4th - April 8th, 4:30 - 7:30 PM
Fried Ocean Perch or Baked Cod with choice of two sides:
• Baked Potato • Sweet Potato • Macaroni & Cheese
• French Fries • Cole Slaw • Applesauce
Includes Roll & butter, Homemade Dessert & Free Coffee
ADULTS: $15.00 • SENIORS $14.50;
CHILDREN (10 & UNDER) $7.00 (Free under 3)
Special Family Pricing
1600 N. Hague Ave. INFO: 614-279-1690
WESTGATE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
61 S. Powell Ave., Columbus,OH 43204
614-274-4271
Come - Let’s Worship Together!
Worship Service 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
Visit Our Facebook Page for our
Livestream Worship
www.spreaker.com - Kevin Orr Show
or Kevinsreflections.blogspot.com
westgateumc@sbcglobal.net
meeting, residents expressed concern
about residential development, asking
leaders what they are going to do to protect
the environment.
“There are new houses being built on
small lots and trees are being cut down to
build these houses,” said Debra Kurtz,
township resident. “This is eliminating
green space. Why did the zoning commission
allow this?”
Kurtz also questioned if the trustees
had oversight of the zoning commission
and if there is a way to stop the board from
issuing variances.
According to Prairie Township
Administrator Dave McAninch, the board
appoints the members of the zoning commission
and board of zoning appeals. The
HOGE MEMORIAL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2930 W. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43204
Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
In Person Worship
Live Streaming Sunday Worship Service
at 10:30 a.m. on Hoge Facebook Page
Worship & Free Meal
Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.
www.hogemempresby.org
trustees do not usually attend those meetings.
“If a piece of land is considered residential,
then the owners have the right to
make changes to their property like cutting
down trees,” said Prairie Township trustee
Cathy Schmelzer.
Trustee Rod Pritchard added that it is
inevitable the township will have zoning
variances.
“We need to show up to make sure they
understand the problem behind clearing
the lot,” Pritchard said. “Green space is
often required in residential areas, but in
this instance, they can’t tell a property
owner to put in green space.”
Pritchard also said a lot of developers
are looking for properties to renovate to
resell.
Residents said they are concerned about
future growth and potential gentrification.
“I’m very familiar with gentrification
and have experience in working through
that,” Pritchard said.
Residents wanted assurances that the
township would not let local neighborhoods
become overrun with new development.
The trustees listened to the concerns but
did not take formal action.
McAninch however, did ask the board to
approve and sign a letter addressing the
proposed Darby Crossing Project at 6145
West Broad St. in Galloway.
“This proposed project presents several
potential issues for Prairie Township and
its residents,” McAninch said. “This
includes the already significant flooding
and storm water drainage issues on Alton
Road, Elnora Drive and Tamara Avenue. It
also presents issues for the fire department
and emergency responders who cannot
access homes properly due to the flooding
issues.”
In the letter, the township requested
that Darby Crossing GP, LLC be required
to implement and maintain proper storm
water drainage, as well as proper screening,
buffering and mitigation of lighting to
protect nearby residential properties.
GLENWOOD UM CHURCH
2833 Valleyview Dr.
(Corner of Valleyview & Hague Ave.)
(614) 274-8469
Pastor Leo A. Cunningham
Join us for In-Person
Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. or
Join us for Online Worship at
Glenwood UMC YouTube
http://tinyurl.com/GlenwoodUMC
Be a Part of Our Local Worship Guide
Our upcoming Worship Guide is geared toward celebrating faith and helping readers connect with
religious resources in our community. Make sure these readers know how you can help with a presence in
this very special section distributed to more than 25,000 households in the Westside area.
Contact us today to secure your spot in our Worship Guide.
614.272.5422 • kathy@columbusmessenger.com
Messenger
Westside
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN
CHURCH
55 Pasadena Ave, Columbus, OH
Welcomes our new pastor,
Sara Wunsch
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 9:00 am
Lenten Wed. Potlucks 6:00 pm
Lenten Wed. Services 7:00 pm
Office 614-878-4715
http://stpaulnewrome.com
Dunking on a donkey
Messenger photo by Pat Donahue
London High School hosted a staff-vs.-students donkey basketball game recently
to raise funds to help a local student in his battle with cancer. Players were allowed
to walk, ride, push, pull or beg their donkeys up court. All shooting and passing
had to be done from atop their rides. The competition got more competitive as the
riders became more acquainted with their rides. The game ended in a tie that had
to be settled at the foul line to claim a victory for the teachers. Here, Logan Golde,
5, of Galloway enjoys a ride during intermission with the help of his mom, London
High School science teacher Heather Golde, and London sophomore Alex Homan.