CITY OF WESTERVILLE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. BASSEM BITAR / (614) /

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1 Staff Report Meeting Date: September 21, 2016 Case #: PC WESTERVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION Request: Applicant: Staff Liaison: RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS FURTHER ACTION THE IMAGINE WESTERVILLE COMMUNITY/COMPREHENSIVE PLAN- CENTRAL COLLEGE STRATEGIC LOCATION CHAPTER (pages 91-98) TO THE EXTENT THE PORTIONS OF THE PLAN THAT ARE WITHIN THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF PLANNING COMMISSION. CITY OF WESTERVILLE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BASSEM BITAR / (614) / bassem.bitar@westerville.org KIMBERLY SHARP / (614) / kimberly.sharp@westerville.org City Council accepted the Imagine Westerville Community Plan at the July 5, 2016 meeting, minus the Central College Strategic Location (pp ) section, to allow for further public input. A community open house was advertised for and hosted at Central College Presbyterian Church on August 18, 2016, and attended by 78 members of the public. At the open house, attendants were informed that the next step was an updated Central College Strategic Location chapter presented to Planning Commission at the September 28, 2016 meeting. Public comments were requested in writing and gathered at the open house, and folks were invited to submit comments on-line at as well as s or letters to staff, until September 19, Based on these comments, the Planning staff is hereby submitting a revised copy of the Central College Strategic Location, pages 91-98, for Planning Commission review, discussion, public comment and recommendation to Council. Please find as part of the Central College Strategic Location PC packet: 1. Central College Strategic Location, pp (updated September 20, 2016) 2. Conceptual Site Plan [not to be included in updated chapter] updated September 19, TEXT EDITS in word track changes, September 19, Public Comments received spreadsheet, September 19, Letter from Central College Presbyterian Church, September 15, Site Study from Central College Presbyterian Church, December 17, Public sign-in sheet and comments, Central College Community Design Meeting, March 19, Conceptual site plan for Imagine Westerville for public review, March 19, Traffic Counts, Sunbury Road from Dempsey to Walnut

2 City of Westerville Planning Commission Staff Memo - Page 2 of 5 Historical Context The Central College area was originally settled in 1807 by Timothy Lee, who built a mill along Big Walnut Creek as well as an 1824 Greek revival style home, still standing today. The area developed as an effort to establish a school by the Presbyterian Church on land donated by Lee. The land, including the college and surrounding lots was officially platted in 1849 as the Village of Amalthea (although the area has always been known as "Central College.") The area attracted small businesses and a hotel. The college eventually closed around 1892 and the complex of college buildings was sold in 1895 and reopened as the Ohio Home for the Aged and Infirm Deaf. The Home added some buildings and operated a farm in the area. Central College School was constructed in 1921 and several houses were added in the early part of the 20th Century. The area remained as a rural village until commercial development along Sunbury Road occurred when Hoover Dam and Reservoir were constructed in The land east of Sunbury Road was annexed to the City of Westerville in 1988, and a Central College Special Overlay District was created in 1990 in order to manage access and protect the area's architectural character. A Central College Plan was also adopted at the same time envisioning a mixed-use village centered around the existing institutional structures. Sunbury Road was widened to five lanes with sidewalks and streetlights in That same year, a refinement to the 1990 plan was completed by Frank Elmer Associates. Both plans recommended a village community including uses, civic spaces and streets respectful of the 1849 plat. Public Input throughout Imagine Westerville Process specifically for Central College The Imagine Westerville development has engaged thousands of residents, businesses and employees since the process began in the summer of Central College was identified as a Strategic Location for special attention at the August 2014 Planning Workshops (See Community Plan, pages 12-15). Further public suggestions for all Strategic Locations, including that of Central College, were established: December 2014 Choices Workshop March 7, 2015 Council discussion on preferred scenarios o Council comments to staff specifically about Central College: 1. Sunbury Road clearly defined on how to keep thru traffic and create a village center. N-S-E-W streets create a loop. 2. Village amenities articulated-what makes it destination? 3. Increase area boundaries to include the CASTO/MI/Park portion and plan it as a whole. 4. Redevelopment potential is closely related to land ownership March 19, 2015 Neighborhood Design Meeting at Central College Presbyterian Church (sign in and comments attachment ) April 2015 Revealing the Future Open House confirming action items / recommendations August 2015 Public review draft available on-line, at public library, school district office, Chamber office, Otterbein Library editing comments received Eleven (11) Planning Commission reviews-regular meetings and work sessions fall 2015 to spring 2016 Sep. 8, 2015 Joint Council / Planning Commission work session: August 2015 public review draft, public engagement, land use change issues, implementation tools

3 City of Westerville Planning Commission Staff Memo - Page 3 of 5 Nov. 10, 2015 Joint Council / Planning Commission work session: character area descriptions and key focal areas July 5, 2016 City Council acceptance of Westerville Community Plan, minus the Central College Strategic Location section until further public input. August 18, Public comments received, as well as discussions at the August 18 open house, centered on: Support for - Preservation of historic character, preservation of historic buildings More preservation of existing open space, large trees, along with improved recreational access to open space, parks and trails Some Support for (upscale) small-scale retail, services, b&b Suggested land uses more outdoor recreational amenities; cemetery Concerns over - The general nature of conceptual plans and character types (lack of detail about mix of uses, height, etc.) Why mixed-use what this means Mixed-residential not consistent with what is there Building heights up to four stories (too tall) Existing approved development Traffic congestion and safety on Sunbury Road slower speeds and access in all directions Feasibility of boulevard concept Transition/compatibility between neighborhood center and existing residential Page 95 conceptual plan Central College Presbyterian Church intentions unknown to public; some intentions made know to planning staff for purposes of school expansion / sale of property to NCR. The Central College Presbyterian Church submitted a letter to City Council and planning staff, September 15, 2016 (attached). This letter outlines multiple concerns, and planning staff is supplying the following information for planning commission s consideration: The conceptual site plan developed to illustrate how a village center could evolve includes many properties and property owners, not one. This concept was shared with CCPC leaders on June 16, 2016 and further discussed during a meeting between CCPC and City staff on June 29, Visionary community planning is not zoning, and such planning efforts do not change zoning. All existing property rights and zoning entitlements remain intact. If and when existing property owners do choose to develop or sell their property or portions of their property, a long-term community vision gives potential development guidance.

4 City of Westerville Planning Commission Staff Memo - Page 4 of 5 Discussion Many of the suggestions and/or questions that have been received are already addressed in the Imagine Westerville Community Plan document, either in an earlier section, such as Historic Preservation (pages 50-55) or within the Central College Strategic Location chapter. The comments received were helpful in knowing that some items need to be communicated better; some planning recommendations may be unsuitable for this particular location, and some details in the Neighborhood Center Character Area type (page 75) need to be reviewed again. With this feedback, planning staff is recommending: Reiterate the purpose of the Community Plan to articulate a long-term vision for the community s future over a range of topics that include development, community services, utilities, economic stability, along with housing and transportation options. This is necessary to plan for adequate water, sewer, roadway capacities as well as sufficient land for important community resources such as job growth and environmental conservation areas. It is a tool for decision making (both public and private) giving recommendations for potential future growth. The Community Plan is NOT a mandate for development, a zoning ordinance or an unchangeable plan, and it does not change existing entitlements. Historic Preservation has been highlighted even more, and references the Historic Preservation section, pages Open Space, parks and trails are important to Westerville as a whole, as it is a mainstay of the quality of life enjoyed by all residents. The Parks and Recreation section, pages is referenced, but may need to be emphasized more. One suggestion was to overlay Neighborhood Center Character Area Type (page 75) PC may read over descriptions carefully; the current descriptions are respectful of character and scale, with the exception of Height Range may want to read 1-4 stories; 1-3 stories in Central College Strategic Location. The top right character image should be replaced with something more contextual with Westerville s historic architecture. Mixed Residential Character Area Type(s) N4 and N5 (page 77/78) PC may read over descriptions carefully. These are in line with what is currently being built. Westerville School District School has been consulted as to their plans for the public school site. As a property owner, they are also weighing their options with overall facilities master plan and future educational needs. Central College Presbyterian Church, is a major land owner in the Central College area, facilitates worship spaces, both indoor and outdoor, as well as the Central College Christian Academy, with grades K-8.The Church leaders have made known their intentions to planning staff over the last 2-4 years for school facility expansion, possible church facility expansion, both indoor and outdoor, as well as development potential on other areas of the property. Part of the property has been recently sold to National Church Residences (NCR) for assisted living facilities and independent senior residential units, currently under construction. Remove the illustrative concept plan on page 95, as other Strategic Locations do not include such built-form illustrations of how development could evolve to the Character Area Type designation.

5 City of Westerville Planning Commission Staff Memo - Page 5 of 5 TRAFFIC is one of the biggest concerns, as it was in the 1990 plan, prior to Sunbury Road being widened. Multiple traffic mitigation options have been discussed including: additional signalized intersections; multi-way boulevard; inter-neighborhood connections; and roundabout(s). The neighborhood concerns are valid, and the Planning Commission and Council will take recommendations into consideration, along with regional transportation planning partners, such as MORPC (Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission). It is staff s recommendation that Sunbury Road remain a roadway improvement priority in the upcoming Mobility Plan and near future CIP planning. One public comment suggested looking at downtown Granville s roadway, sidewalk, landscaping and building form as a village example. Current traffic counts along Sunbury Road, from Dempsey to Central College, are 24,326 Average Daily Trips (ADT); from Central College to Walnut Street 27,324 ADT. Recent turning counts at Sunbury Road and Central College show 3,136 cars going through the intersection in the AM peak hour, and 3,451 cars going through the intersection in the PM peak hour. Planning Commission Action Planning Commission may: Accept the edited Central College Strategic Location chapter, as addressing community s concerns; and recommend to Council to accept it as part of the Westerville Community Plan Recommend further edits to the Central College Strategic Location chapter Remove the Central College Strategic Location chapter from the Westerville Community Plan, reducing the number of Strategic Locations to seven. References For a better understanding of current zoning and what it allows, please see Part 11, Title 3: see ville?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:westerville_oh Zoning Map: Central College Special Overlay District Development Standards: