Although an open house for a facility to house a day care, homeless shelter, after-school programs and church services, among other things, is scheduled for Thursday, the Columbus Planning Commission has yet to approve the project.
Genesis Church earlier bought the building formerly occupied by Hughes Elementary School, located at 1820 23rd St. N., to be used as the Genesis Dream Center.
Pastor Darren Leach of Genesis Church Monday explained to the Planning Commission the facility would be used for multiple purposes and requested a planned unit development be allowed.
But the commission, citing a lack of information, tabled the matter until its April 12 meeting.
According to information provided to the Columbus Zoning Office, the facility would house a technology center in four rooms of the building, a computer training center in one room, a General Educational Development preparatory course in another room, performing arts offerings in three rooms, a self-defense course, an adult daycare facility and a nursing station, each in separate rooms.
Additionally, the north wing of the building is planned to house a “transitional care center” in four rooms, a physical therapy center, a “youth leadership development center,” a children”s day care, a “clothing-distribution center” and “resident assistants” in three rooms.
The cafeteria area of the building would be used as a church sanctuary, a performing arts theater, an auditorium for “talent discovery events,” for youth social events and for meal preparation and serving.
And the building”s library would house a reading room and coffee lounge.
Church services would be held on Sunday mornings, and the building would be used for other purposes at other days and times, Leach told the commission, noting a nonprofit organization also will rent space to be used “during the daytime hours.”
Genesis already is holding church services at the building.
Commission member Philip Long explained Leach needed approval on a planned unit development, instead of a simple rezoning request, because the city”s zoning ordinances do not allow for the “multiple functions” Leach has planned for the facility. He also noted Leach needs, among other things, plans specifically detailing sizes and areas of the building and the function for each area.
Leach also will need to provide detailed parking plans, a storm drainage plan and other information before the commission can consider the request for a PUD.
An open house for the facility is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
In other matters, the commission, citing a need for more information, also tabled a request from River Dreams LLC to review a new subdivision plat for five acres of property along Island Road.
As planned, the subdivision would have nine lots and hold one existing apartment.
Despite tabling the review of the subdivision plat, the commission approved a request to rezone a portion of the property — located at 276 Island Road — from an A-1 general agricultural district to an R-1 single-family residential district to bring it in line with portions of the property already rezoned for the subdivision.
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