A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held October 11, 2021 at Thomas Worthington High School. Members present were Bryce Jacob (Planning Commissioner), Janet Brown, Paul Collini, and Rich Skowronski. Also present were Sue & Gregg Bachmann, Joshua Watts, Susan Nybell, John Mackenzie, Casey Newsom, Steven Schmidt, and John Sturgis of Nicholson Builders. Joshua C. Mehling served as Clerk. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
- The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of September 13, 2021 were not read since each member had received a copy. Collini moved and Skowronski seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Brown, Collini, Jacob and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Susan Nybell at 5801 Falmouth Ct to replace a deteriorating section of the existing fence. The replacement fence will be white vinyl pickets to match the remainder of the fence in the yard.
Skowronski moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans and Brown seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Casey Newsom at 71 Riverglen Dr to install fencing around the back yard of the residence. The fencing will be constructed of ft tall scalloped cedar boards, with a clear stain. The fencing will be between the house and the garage, with a gate on either side, and will be about 5 ft off the lot line. The gates will swing into the yard and not out.
Brown moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans and Skowronski seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Steven & Jami Schmidt at 316 Frontenac Pl to replace the existing driveway. The replacement driveway will consist of asphalt and will be expanded between 1 & 3 ft on the left to fill in a curve that exists currently and will add about 350 sq ft towards the fence. There are no issues with lot coverage as a result of this expansion. The driveway work will not affect the existing apron in any way.
Collini moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans and Skowronski seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Joshua & Tamara Watts at 315 Melbourne Pl to add an addition at the rear of the house. The purpose of the addition is to expand the kitchen. The project will reuse the existing door for the addition and replace the existing windows with new casement windows. The materials used for this addition will match those used on the existing screened in porch and the color will be dark brown to match as well. The addition will have a flat rubber roof. Because the footprint of an existing deck will be used for this addition, there is no change in the lot coverage due to this project.
Skowronski moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans and Brown seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Sue & Gregg Bachmann at 212 Riverglen Dr to build a screened in porch to replace a deteriorating deck over the garage. A staircase to reach this deck will come off the back of the house. The colors of the deck will match those currently existing on the house, with gray decking and white posts and a flat seam metal roof.
Gregg Bachman stated that they are still determining what the screen material will be, whether to use the screen shown in the plans or a vinyl EZE-Breeze material, which would allow the windows to be covered. If the EZE Breeze material is used, the gables would have vinyl instead of screening that the “X”s shown along the railing would not be used. The Planning Commissioner stated that he would like more clarification on the materials, given that the look of the project would be affected based on this choice.
After some discussion, Skowronski moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as shown in the plans with the stipulation that if the EZE Breeze panels are used, the trim can use spindles to match those shown along the stairs in the plans. Any other changes would need further approval from the Commission. Brown seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Brown, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
- The Planning Commissioner mentioned that he had filed a letter of violation with the new owners at 5809 Olentangy, given that there has been vehicle activity on the walkway. The Planning Commissioner spoke with the owners, who were surprised to learn about the restrictions on the walkway and stated that they had not been notified of this. They seemed to be cooperative and are working with the Planning Commissioner.
- Collini reiterated that the Village needs to ensure that issues with premature tree removal do not occur with the upcoming build on the lot at the end of Olentangy as they did with the lot on Southington.
Skowronski moved and Brown seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner
Josh Mehling, Clerk