When large tracts of land are developed under a unified control, many of the regulations relating to the mixing of uses and proximity of buildings, which are otherwise necessary to protect individual landowners, become unnecessary, or may not apply. The environment of large unified developments can be made more pleasant for the residents, and the cost of providing municipal services can be substantially reduced, if these developments are regulated according to standards established specifically for such developments rather than according to standards created for buildings on individual lots. The Planned Community District establishes such standards; the standards are designed for development of 200 acres or more which will contain a mixture of land uses and which will be developed in stages normally over a period of time (or planning period) of six to 20 years. The application for a Planned Community District is, in effect, a comprehensive plan for a development of such size and scope to be considered a new town or neighborhood requiring a complete range of urban services; further development or implementation of this comprehensive plan is accommodated in successive stages of development over the planning period.

Within a planned community district, no building or premises shall be used and no building, shall be erected, constructed, altered, or enlarged, which is arranged, intended or designed to be used for any purpose except:

(A)

Dwelling unit or dwelling units, including any combination of any one of these relevant type uses: Single-family residence; apartment house; two-family dwelling; residence for not more than four families including doubles, duplexes, double-duplexes and four-family rows.

(B)

Accessory uses in residential and apartment residential districts as set forth in C.C. Chapters 3332 and 3333;

(C)

Religious activities and quarters;

(D)

Parks, playgrounds, athletic areas, play lots, tot lots, golf courses, swimming pools, lakes and undeveloped areas for passive recreation;

(E)

Recreational buildings, provided that such recreational buildings shall be not substantially larger than necessary to serve the residents who will live within the planned community district when it is fully developed;

(F)

Nursery, primary and secondary education;

(G)

Horticulture;

(H)

Government and public utility uses not industrial in character, including rights-of-way for utility services, electricity, gas or water regulating substations, water storage, fire stations, police stations, post offices, telephone subexchanges and transmission equipment buildings;

(I)

Commercial uses permitted in a C-4, commercial district under the terms of C.C. 3355.02, provided that such commercial use shall be no larger than necessary to serve the residents who will live within the planned community district when it is fully developed;

(J)

Industrial uses permitted in the M-1 manufacturing district and designated as less objectionable under the terms of C.C. Chapter 3365, provided that:

(1)

Such industrial uses, together with related parking, accessways, and accessory facilities, shall not occupy more than 20 percent of the area included within the planned community district; and

(2)

Such uses comply with the requirements of C.C. Sections 3311.29, 3347.08 through 3347.10 and 3365.16.

(Ord. 1301-87.)

Planned Community District Development Standards

An application or petition for a Zoning Map amendment to establish a planned community district at a particular location or to amend the regulations and comprehensive plan applicable to a previously established planned community district shall contain or be accompanied by a comprehensive plan consisting of:

(a)

A map showing the location of the property within the city;

(b)

A topographic survey of all land within the proposed district showing ten-foot contours or less as required by the director to delineate the character of land, in whole or part, within the proposed district;

(c)

A boundary survey or legal description;

(d)

A map showing the existing land use and approximate location of buildings on the property and all adjoining property, including property across streets or highways;

(e)

A development plan which may consist of various maps, signed by the applicant(s) showing:

(1)

The approximate proposed location of all streets, sewers, water mains and other utility transmission facilities. Such location may be shown in the form of corridors 500 feet or less in width,

(2)

The approximate location and size in acres of any land to be devoted to non-residential use, including land to be devoted to schools or active recreation, but not including land to be devoted to residential parking or other uses accessory to residential uses,

(3)

A statement of the maximum number of dwelling units to be contained in the proposed district;

(f)

If the proposed district is to be developed in stages, the development plan shall divide the proposed district into sections each constituting one proposed stage of development, and shall number such stages in order of the proposed development. If development is all to commence at once, the entire development shall be deemed a single stage for the purposes of this section. For each stage the application shall contain:

(1)

A statement of the maximum number of dwelling units to be contained in such stage,

(2)

A statement of the maximum number of dwelling units of each of the following classes of buildings to be constructed in such stage:

(A)

Single-family dwellings,

(B)

Other residences in buildings less than five stories in height,

(C)

Residences in buildings five or more stories in height,

(3)

The proposed date for commencement of development of the stage;

(g)

If requested by the director or by the city council, or if desired by the applicant, the application may contain more detailed representations regarding the location or use of streets and buildings. If the application does contain such representations they shall be binding on the applicant as provided in C.C. 3347.07(d);

(h)

The application must be accompanied by an affidavit of the petitioner listing the names and addresses of all persons to receive notice as required by C.C. 3310.05(a).

(Ord. 1738-84; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 65, 4-5-2010)

(a)

Density. The overall residential density within any planned community district shall not exceed 14 units per gross acre of land in the district.

(b)

Height. In order to insure compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods, no building or structure in any planned community district shall exceed the heights specified as follows:

(1)

In any part of the planned community district located within 300 feet horizontally of one of the height districts set forth in C.C. 3309.14 or 3309.141, no building or structure shall exceed the height permitted in such district. For land located within 300 feet horizontally of two or more height districts, the lowest height restrictions shall apply;

(2)

In any part of the planned community district not subject to the previous paragraph, no building or structure shall exceed 200 feet in height.

(c)

Buffer Space.

(1)

No building, structure or use shall be permitted in the land along the perimeter of any planned community district allowing any use or activity significantly detrimental to or incompatible with the uses permitted by zoning of property adjacent to the planned community district. Land along the perimeter that complies with yard and setback standards applicable in other zoning districts in which comparable land uses are commonly found shall be presumed to be in compliance with the above standards. In addition, the director may approve lesser yards or setbacks containing appropriate physical or natural barriers such as, but not limited to, fences, screening or topography of steep gradient, if the director finds they are in substantial compliance with the above standards; and

(2)

All land within a planned community district is within ten feet of any land in a district in which residences are permitted shall be devoted to lawns, landscaping, screening, fencing, shrubbery or other similar uses.

(d)

Building Location. The location of buildings and structures in relation to each other and to streets shall provide:

(1)

Adequate light and ventilation to protect the health of the occupants and users thereof;

(2)

Necessary access for fire equipment and other emergency vehicles;

(3)

A reasonable degree of privacy for the residents and occupants of the development.

Site plans that comply with yard and setback standards applicable in other zoning districts in which comparable land uses are commonly found shall be presumed to be in compliance with the above standards. In addition, the director may approve other site plans containing deviations if it is found that they are in substantial compliance with the above standards.

(Ord. 2450-85; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 66, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

A planned community district shall consist of at least 200 acres of land. It shall be in common ownership or control at the time the district is established. Any transfer of land within the district resulting in ownership within the district by two or more parties shall not alter the applicability of the regulations contained herein.

Repealed by Ordinance 1852-84.

Within a planned community district no buildings shall be erected, constructed, altered or enlarged, except upon the issuance of a certificate of zoning clearance by the director for each particular stage in which the development is proposed. An application for a certificate of zoning clearance shall be submitted to the director for approval, containing, in addition to all the information required by C.C. Sections 3347.03, 3311.41, 3311.17, the exact location of all utility easements. No such application shall be approved unless:

(a)

It is filed within four years of the date of the Zoning Map amendment creating the planned community district, or within four years of the date which was indicated for development of the particular stage in the application filed prior to such amendment as required by C.C. Section 3347.03(f), whichever later occurs; failure to meet this qualification beyond the latest time allowed herein shall require the development commission to hold a hearing to ascertain the reasons for failure to meet this qualification and therewith the commission shall recommend an extension of time of stated duration or shall direct the director to file an application for rezoning the property;

(b)

The development conforms to the stage identified on development plans submitted pursuant to Section 3347.03(f) provided, however, that a different numbered stage may be substituted for the one required by the schedule contained on the development plan, if the substitution of the stage will not disrupt the development of the streets and utilities and will preserve development of the district in accord with the comprehensive plan filed by the applicant pursuant to C.C. Section 3347.03. Where a substitution is made the stage substituted shall assume the number and date of the commencement of the stage which has assumed its position on the schedule;

(c)

The development proposed in the application meets all the requirements of C.C. Sections 3347.02 and 3347.04;

(d)

The development proposed in the application is in full and substantial compliance with the representations made in the Zoning Map amendment creating the planned community district; provided, however, that if 75 percent of the separate linear lengths of streets, sewer mains, and water mains in the stage are located within the corridors shown in the Zoning Map amendment creating the planned community district, such sewer mains, water mains, and streets shall be deemed to be in compliance in regard to location;

(e)

At least five percent of the maximum number of dwelling units proposed for the entire district pursuant to C.C. Section 3347.03(f) have been initiated and completed in the first two stages; and

(f)

The development of the proposed stage shall not cause the residential density of the portion of the district which will have been developed upon completion of the proposed stage to exceed 17½ dwelling units per gross acre, and in no case shall the overall density of the planned community district exceed 14 units per gross acre upon completion of the project.

(Ord. 577-84; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 67, 4-5-2010)

Repealed by Ord. No. 0791-2011, § 3, adopted July 18, 2011.

No dwelling, apartment house or other building shall be constructed contrary to the provisions of Chapter 3385, Flood Plain Development.

(Ord. 1300-87.)

For each dwelling, apartment house or other principal use provision shall be made for private access and off-street parking facilities as required by Chapter 3312, C.C.

(Ord. 1300-87; Ord. No. 1792-2011, § 1(Attach. 1), 12-12-2011)

Accessory Uses in a Planned Community District

An accessory use customarily incident to a residential or apartment-residential use permitted in a planned community development district shall be permitted subject to the limitations stated in this chapter or elsewhere in this Zoning Code, and shall not be such as to infringe upon the residential character of the district.

(Ord. 1300-87.)

A specifically permitted principal use may include such accessory buildings as are ordinarily appurtenant thereto.

(Ord. 1300-87.)

A child day care center may be an accessory use subject to the requirements of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5104 and the following additional conditions:

(a)

A center shall be associated with a school or church and be established in a building occupied by the principal use; or be constructed as an integral part of a new apartment complex during its construction; and

(b)

As part of the application for a certificate of zoning clearance, the center operator shall submit a transportation plan which describes in text and plan the manner of child loading and unloading, parking and traffic circulation. The director shall consult with the director of public service and/or their designee concerning the safety of such plan and may modify or deny the application for safety reasons.

(Ord. 1589-90; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. 1909-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0128-2009, § 1, 2-9-2009; Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 68, 4-5-2010)

The purpose of this section is to permit a home occupation as an accessory use if it is compatible with the residential character of the neighborhood in which it is located, and is conducted so as not to have an adverse effect upon the average neighbor under normal circumstances; to set standards by which to judge the operation of such use; and to prohibit uses which are incompatible with permissible uses in apartment districts. A home occupation may be an accessory use in any planned community district subject to the following conditions:

A.

Any home occupation use shall be confined to the principal residence of the individual so engaged, shall be excluded from any yard or accessory building, and shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the primary residential use.

B.

No alteration shall be made in either the internal or external structural form of the residential building or the external appearance for purposes of any home occupation. The removal of partitions or floors or parts thereof, shall be construed as an alteration of the external or internal structural form and is, therefore, prohibited.

C.

No evidence of any home occupation shall be visible from off the lot where it is conducted except for no more than one home occupation sign displayed in compliance with C.C. 3376.08(B).

D.

No more than 20 percent of the livable area of any residence shall be used for a home occupation.

E.

No person other than a permanent resident of the dwelling unit shall be engaged in or employed at any home occupation within such dwelling unit except that in connection with the practice of a profession which can be practiced only with the assistance of supportive personnel, one person not residing in such dwelling unit may be so employed. Profession is limited herein to architect, attorney, clergyman, dentist, engineer, physician or surgeon.

F.

No storage of equipment or materials used in a home occupation shall be outside the principal residence.

G.

No change shall be made in any utility line, meter or service to accommodate a home occupation and utility use shall not unreasonably exceed that normally or previously used at such residence.

H.

No equipment or process shall be used in any home occupation which emits radiation or creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot used for such home occupation. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference.

I.

No traffic shall be generated by any home occupation unreasonably greater in volume or different in nature than would otherwise normally occur in the residential neighborhood in which it is located.

J.

No wholesale or retail business, including the sale or transfer of any firearm, shall be conducted in a dwelling unit.

(Ord. 2836-96 § 5; Ord. No. 3006-2018, § 4, 12-3-2018; Ord. No. 1871-2023, § 1, 7-31-2023)

Most residential lots in the city are served by central sewer and water and tend to be between 33 and 60 feet wide and between 100 and 120 feet deep. Improper outside storage results in rat and rodent harborage, mosquito and other insect breeding, "attractive nuisances" of a hazardous nature, spillage of hazardous materials, environmental degradation, unsightliness, and a disincentive for neighboring property owners or occupants to maintain their properties.

Although the Zoning Code provides for customary home occupations, residential garages, storage of boats and recreational vehicles, and parking, and facilitates proper storage by allowing utilization of a storage shed of less than 169 square feet without a building permit, the code must define and prohibit certain nuisance storage activities deleterious to residential districts. The purpose is not to prohibit uses in a yard area which are normally associated with residential use; but, instead, to increase the yard's use, enjoyment, and compatibility with its neighbors.

(Ord. 1482-95.)

A.

An agricultural use, farm, field crops, garden, greenhouse, or nursery may be conducted in any Planned Community district without restriction as to the operation of incidental vehicles and machinery or restriction as to the incidental sale and marketing, including produce stands, of products raised on the premises, provided that:

1.

The agricultural use is located on-premises and on a minimum lot area of one (1) acre; and

2.

A poultry and livestock building, structure and yard is located on-premises and is located a minimum distance of 100 feet from a lot or street line; and

3.

Poultry and livestock for sale are kept in approved enclosures.

4.

The agricultural standards comply with the appropriate regulations of the Columbus Health Department.

B.

A stable may be erected in any Planned Community district provided that:

1.

The stable is located on-premises and on a minimum lot area of five acres; and

2.

The stable complies with the appropriate regulations of the Columbus Health Department.

C.

On lot areas of less than one (1) acre, Produce Stands shall be allowed as an accessory use to the parcel's primary use or the on-site agricultural use as provided for in this chapter, subject to the following:

1.

The Produce Stand may be in operation during the growing season. The growing season is considered to be the months of April through December.

2.

Sales shall be limited to two (2) days per week.

3.

Sales shall be limited to between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

4.

Only one (1) Produce Stand is permitted per parcel.

5.

For parcels that contain a dwelling unit, Produce Stands must be removed from the premises or stored inside a structure at the end of each day.

6.

For parcels that contain a dwelling unit, one (1) sign that is non-illuminated and with a maximum area of four (4) square feet, may be displayed during the growing season but must be removed from the premises or stored inside a structure at other times of the year. All signs shall comply with zoning code standards of Chapter 3376 On Premises Signs in Residential Districts.

7.

For parcels that do not contain a dwelling unit, Produce Stands or Signs do not need to be stored or removed. Furthermore, two (2) signs that are non-illuminated and with a maximum area of four (4) square feet each, may be displayed.

8.

The area used for the Produce Stand shall comply with the vision clearance requirements of zoning code Chapter 3321.05 General Site Development Standards.

D.

Solar energy collection may be conducted in any Planned Community district, subject to the following:

1.

Equipment directly related to the gathering of solar energy shall be exempt from screening requirements.

2.

Electricity collected on-site may be distributed off-site for use or sale.

(Ord. No. 1029-2021, § 5, 5-24-2021; Ord. No. 1501-2022, § 22, 6-13-2022)

No person in any residentially zoned district as defined in Chapter 3303, C.C., shall store, collect, park, leave, deposit, maintain, reserve, put aside for future use, permit, allow, or suffer to remain on any porch, balcony, roof, or in a yard except in a completely enclosed building or structure, any:

(1)

Lumber or other building materials except those related to projects for which a valid building permit has been issued and except firewood for the personal use of the resident;

(2)

Motor vehicle as defined by Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.01, airplane, boat or trailer except as provided for by Chapter 3312, Off-Street Parking and Loading;

(3)

Parts of any item listed in (2) above including tires;

(4)

Equipment or materials used in the construction trade;

(5)

Machinery or household appliance;

(6)

Junk;

(7)

Salvage; or

(8)

Upholstered furniture, mattresses, materials and other similar products not designed, built and manufactured for outdoor use unless such is in an enclosed porch or balcony.

For purposes of this section an enclosed porch or balcony shall mean a platform located at and attached to or abutting against the entrance to a building, completely covered by a roof and completely enclosed by fully intact glass and/or fully intact screens. Screens are framed wire mesh or framed plastic mesh used to keep out insects and permit airflow.

(Ord. 1482-95; Ord. 960-04 § 5; Ord. No. 1792-2011, § 1(Attach. 1), 12-12-2011)

No person shall perform any motor vehicle service, work, trade, occupation, or business, including but not limited to the building, alteration, reconditioning or repair of a motor vehicle as defined by Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.01, or related thereto, on any residential lot or in any private garage. The performance of service to or maintenance of the motor vehicle registered to the resident of such lot thereon shall not constitute a violation of this section.

(Ord. 1482-95.)

A private garage in a residential district shall be so located and constructed as to conform to one or more of the following, as the case may require:

(A)

A private garage shall not be an accessory use to a lot in a residential district unless such lot is occupied by a residence or unless a building permit has been issued and construction started on a residence building on such lot;

(B)

A private garage provided as an accessory use in a planned community district shall not provide for more than two motor vehicles for each family for which such residence is arranged or designed;

(C)

No separate private garage building shall be erected in a terrace or retaining wall, closer than the required building line to the street line, or closer than the minimum side yard requirement or building line to an adjoining lot line. On a corner lot a separate private garage building shall not be closer than the building line of the side street to such side street;

(D)

An attached or semi-attached private garage shall have such separation from the residence or apartment residence as is specified in the Building Code;

(E)

A private detached garage may not occupy more than 45 percent of the total rear yard;

(F)

Subject to the limitation of subsection (E) above, no portion of the lot area devoted to a private garage or a carport shall exceed the greater of:

(1)

720 square feet; or

(2)

One-third of the minimum net floor area for living quarters of the principal residence; and

(G)

No carport or detached private garage shall exceed 15 feet in height, the perpendicular straight line measured from the curb level, or from the finished grade line of the lot where such grade is higher than the curb, to the highest point of such garage, except that in the university impact district, as defined in Chapter 3325, C.C., in those areas having an architectural review commission as set out in Title 31 C.C., or in a district or listed property, as defined in Chapter 3116, C.C., the 15-foot height limit may be exceeded in order to achieve a compatible roof pitch provided the university area review board, the appropriate architectural review commission, or the historic resources commission, as the case may be, finds the increased roof pitch is compatible with the established architectural character of the district and further provided the increased roof pitch does not result in habitable space.

(H)

A private garage shall be considered attached to the dwelling only when directly attached to habitable space. Any habitable space in an attached garage must connect directly with habitable space in the dwelling.

(I)

Nothing in subsection (H) above shall prevent a breezeway connection between a house and private garage. The area of the breezeway connection shall be utilized in calculating the percent of total rear yard which may be occupied by a private, detached garage as stipulated in subsection (E) above, but shall not be subject to the limitations of subsection (F) above.

(J)

No maintenance, alteration, repair, reconditioning or reconstruction of, or connected in any way with, a motor vehicle, as defined by Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.01, registered to anyone other than a resident of the subject premises shall be carried on or conducted in a private garage.

(Ord. 1482-95; Ord. No. 0357-2009, §§ 6, 12, 4-6-2009; Ord. No. 1871-2023, § 1, 7-31-2023)

No public garage, garage repair shop or filling station shall be erected or established which shall have any part of its proposed building structure located within 100 feet of the building structure of a public or parochial school, church, playground, public library, hospital, orphanage or children's home now existing or for which building permit has been issued or is in effect, except as follows:

(a)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any such institution now located in any district zoned for business, by acquiring premises therein or erecting additional buildings thereon to shorten the 100-foot limit between such institutional structure heretofore erected, and such proposed garage or filling station structure as defined by this Zoning Code.

(b)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the erection or maintenance of automobile sales or display rooms or buildings with automobile service stations connected thereto. Such automobile service stations connected to buildings, or automobile sales or display rooms, shall have no vehicle entrance located upon the same street with and within 150 feet of any part of the building structure of any public or parochial school, playground, public library, church, hospital, orphanage or children's home heretofore erected. Distance shall be measured along and parallel with street or alley lines, and when such lines extend across a street the same shall be considered as crossing the same at right angles.

(c)

Except for an industrial use, all entrances and exits of public garages shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 12 feet for a distance of not less than five feet from a street line.

(d)

A public garage or garage repair shop shall not have an opening in a wall or roof within 15 feet of adjacent property that is located adjacent to property used for residential purposes in a planned community district.

(e)

It is further provided, however, that in the event the governing body of such public or parochial school, church, playground, public library, hospital, orphanage or children's home, files its consent in writing with the director or an authorized representative, a major garage or garage repair shop, or filling station may be erected or established nearer than 100 feet, but not nearer than 50 feet from the building structure of any such institution.

(Ord. 377-95; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Section 3342.08.

Repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Section 3342.18.

Article VII. Institutional Use District