A local developer is planning to build a new duplex on Chestnut Street.
According to city/county planning director Jeff Bergman, the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals has approved HMG Real Estate’s request for conditional use approval to allow a two-family dwelling in an area zoned for Residential: Established.
“The applicant has indicated that the proposed conditional use will allow a duplex to be built on the new lot north of 1420 Chestnut St.,” planning officials stated in a staff report. The property in question is about 15,000 square feet. HMG is proposing two units that would be approximately 1,050 square feet each with both having three bedrooms.
HMG Real Estate LLC is a local domestic limited liability company located in Columbus. Its members are Clayton Miller, Michael Hooker and Derek Gross. The company was created in May of 2020.
The business wrote in its application that it has built duplexes in the neighborhood before and finds it to be “a great location for improvement of the city.”
“According to Envision Columbus, in-fill with new quality living space is exactly what Columbus needs,” said HMG.
Planning staff also noted that the Central Neighborhood Plan, which is an element of the city’s Comprehensive plan, indicates that there is a demand for more housing in the central neighborhood. The plan recommends incorporating “an appropriate mix of residential types including ‘missing middle housing’ which includes duplexes.”
According to Bergman, the request was approved with a commitment that the duplex’s exterior design will be consistent with the Neighborhood Guiding Principles provided by the Downtown Strategic Development Plan and include certain aesthetic features specified by the board.
Additionally, assistant planning director Melissa Begley said that the approval also includes a condition stating that either the revised site plan will include four total parking spaces, thereby meeting zoning ordinance requirements, or the applicant will obtain a variance.
