Columbus planners conditionally back variances for West Broad affordable housing
City staff conditionally back requested variances for 189 apartments at Georgesville Road but mandate revised layouts, transit coordination and screening.
City application records show Staff Review Results were attached on Nov. 6 for 4051 Broad St. The proposal by LDG Development is to construct a multi-unit development located on the northeast corner of West Broad Street and Georgesville Road. Previously, Pique Media reported plans for the project on Oct. 21. Under the plans, LDG proposes to build 189 affordable apartment units on the vacant property in the Greater Hilltop area.
City planners stated they conditionally support the requested variances provided the site plan is revised for consistency with Columbus Growth Strategy design guidelines. Staff requested revisions to the proposed courtyard or the inclusion of a plaza to provide greater separation between the east and west side of Building 1. Staff also asked for varying building setbacks along Building 1, a more prominent north entrance, and moving the clubhouse amenity entrance to the West Broad Street frontage. In addition, planners encouraged additional landscaping such as bushes or shrubs to screen parking along the Georgesville Road frontage.
In a Nov. 4 zoning clearance review, city staff determined that West Broad Street is the site's primary street frontage because traffic officials designated it a principal street, requiring revised calculations depicting Broad Street as the front street and Georgesville Road as the side street. Based on 228 provided parking spaces, the review requires the project to provide 46 electric vehicle-capable spaces and five charging spaces. Zoning clearance also directed the applicant to show and label required headlight screening between parking areas and adjacent streets, consisting of landscape shrubs combined with a metal tube fence or masonry wall standing 36 to 48 inches tall with at least 75 percent opacity.
In the Traffic Management review comments, officials noted that right-of-way dedication of 80 feet from the centerline of Georgesville Road and 60 feet from the centerline of West Broad Street will be required. The review also stated there will need to be continued coordination with the West Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit corridor project, including responsibilities associated with the necessary shared-use path along Georgesville Road.
The Greater Hilltop Area Commission was scheduled to review the variance application on Nov. 5. Final materials must be submitted to staff by Friday, Nov. 27, to be placed on the Dec. 15 BZA meeting.
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BZA26-128 · BZA Variance — 4051 W BROAD ST COLUMBUS OH
Supporting evidence (2)
City application records show Staff Review Results were attached on Nov. 6 for 4051 Broad St.
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Document: Staff Review Results · BZA26-128, 4051 Broad St. (Greater Hilltop Area Commission) - Staff Review.pdf · attachment 5454686 · 2026-11-06T05:00:00Z · 245.70 KB
The Greater Hilltop Area Commission was scheduled to review the variance application on Nov. 5.
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Greater Hilltop Area Commission 11/05/2026
Supporting evidence (1)
The proposal by LDG Development is to construct a multi-unit development located on the northeast corner of West Broad Street and Georgesville Road.
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Location: 4051 W. BROAD ST. (43228), located on the north east corner of West Broad Street and Georgesville Road. (570-285103; Greater Hilltop Area Commission). Existing Zoning: RAC, Regional Activity Center District Request: Variance(s) to Section(s): 34.E.20.090.C, Regional Activity Center (RAC), Building Placement To increase the maximum front building setback along Georgesville Road from 30 feet to 56 feet and the maximum side street building setback along West Broad Street from 15 feet to 20 feet. 34.E.20.090.C, Regional Activity Center (RAC), Building Placement To reduce the minimum building facade required within or abutting the front street facade zone along Georgesville Road from 70 percent to zero percent and the side street facade zone along West Broad Street from 50 percent to 41 percent. 34.E.20.090.G, Regional Activity Center (RAC), On-Site Parking To permit parking spaces and circulation aisles between Building 2 and Georgesville Road. 34.F.40.030.A.1.a, Large Site Standards, Procedures for Large Sites To increase the maximum continuous street frontage along West Broad Street without a frontage break from 500 feet to 549 feet. 34.E.20.030.C.1.a, General Requirements, Ground Floor Design To eliminate the required building entry along Georgesville Road for Building 2. Proposal: To construct an multi-unit devolpment. Applicant(s): LDG Development, LLC c/o Elijah Lacey
LDG Development proposes 189 affordable apartments at West Broad Street and Georgesville Road
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported plans for the project on Oct. 21.
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LDG Development proposes 189 affordable apartments at West Broad Street and Georgesville Road
Supporting evidence (1)
Under the plans, LDG proposes to build 189 affordable apartment units on the vacant property in the Greater Hilltop area.
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LDG Development ("LDG") proposes to build 189 affordable apartment units on a vacant site at the southeast corner of West Broad Street and Georgesville Road, 4051 West Broad Street, Franklin County Parcel No. 570-285103 (the "Property"), in the Greater Hilltop area.
Supporting evidence (3)
City planners stated they conditionally support the requested variances provided the site plan is revised for consistency with Columbus Growth Strategy design guidelines.
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Planning is supportive of the requested variances on the condition that the proposed site plan be revised for consistency with Columbus Growth Strategy (CGS) design guidelines.
In the Traffic Management review comments, officials noted that right-of-way dedication of 80 feet from the centerline of Georgesville Road and 60 feet from the centerline of West Broad Street will be required.
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Traffic Management: Danial Moorhead DEMoorhead@columbus.gov Right-of-way dedication of 80 feet from the centerline of Georgesville Road and 60 feet from the centerline of West Broad Street will be required per CCC 4309.17.
The review also stated there will need to be continued coordination with the West Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit corridor project, including responsibilities associated with the necessary shared-use path along Georgesville Road.
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There will need to be continued coordination between this proposed development and the West Broad Street Corridor High Capacity Bus Rapid Transit project including responsibilities associated with the necessary shared-use path along Georgesville Road in the vicinity of this site.
Supporting evidence (6)
Staff requested revisions to the proposed courtyard or the inclusion of a plaza to provide greater separation between the east and west side of Building 1.
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staff request revisions to the site plan include revisions to the proposed courtyard to provide a greater separation between the east and west side of Building 1. Staff would support the inclusion of a plaza in this space to further provide separation at Building 1.
Staff also asked for varying building setbacks along Building 1, a more prominent north entrance, and moving the clubhouse amenity entrance to the West Broad Street frontage.
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Staff also request variation of building setback lines at Building 1 and a more prominent building entrance along the north façade. Staff encourage the consideration of moving the proposed ‘engaged clubhouse amenity’ entrance to the W. Broad St. frontage.
In addition, planners encouraged additional landscaping such as bushes or shrubs to screen parking along the Georgesville Road frontage.
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Staff encourage additional landscaping (i.e. bushes or shrubs) is provided to screen the parking along the Georgesville Road frontage. Therefore, Planning is conditionally supportive of the requested variances.
In a Nov. 4 zoning clearance review, city staff determined that West Broad Street is the site's primary street frontage because traffic officials designated it a principal street, requiring revised calculations depicting Broad Street as the front street and Georgesville Road as the side street.
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It was determined on 11/4/2026 that Broad Street is the site's primary street frontage, due to its being designated by Traffic Management as a "principal street". Revise the calculations performed for facade zone coverage and any notational depictions (setbacks, etc.) to depict Broad Street as the project's designated Front Street, and Georgesville Road as the project's designated Side Street.
Based on 228 provided parking spaces, the review requires the project to provide 46 electric vehicle-capable spaces and five charging spaces.
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Based on the number of provided site parking spaces (228 spaces), this site is required to provide 46 EV capable spaces (20% of provided parking) and 5 EVSE spaces (2% of provided parking), per 3312.56.
Zoning clearance also directed the applicant to show and label required headlight screening between parking areas and adjacent streets, consisting of landscape shrubs combined with a metal tube fence or masonry wall standing 36 to 48 inches tall with at least 75 percent opacity.
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Show and label required headlight screening on the plans, pursuant to 34.G.20.040 A. Headlight screening must be provided between all parking areas (parking spaces, maneuvering areas, and drive aisles) and adjacent streets, open spaces, and Residential Zoning Districts within 80 feet. Along streets and open spaces, headlight screening must consist of a combination of landscape shrubs and a metal tube fence or masonry wall.
Supporting evidence (2)
Zoning clearance also directed the applicant to show and label required headlight screening between parking areas and adjacent streets, consisting of landscape shrubs combined with a metal tube fence or masonry wall standing 36 to 48 inches tall with at least 75 percent opacity.
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Headlight screening must be a minimum of 36 inches in height, have a minimum year-round opacity of 75 percent, and must be located within a landscaped area with a minimum width of four feet. Along streets and open spaces, headlight screening must not exceed a height of 48 inches.
Final materials must be submitted to staff by Friday, Nov. 27, to be placed on the Dec. 15 BZA meeting.
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Final materials must be submitted to Adam Trimmer by Friday November 27th, 2026 to be placed on the December 15th BZA meeting.