May 12, 2011
Hidden Lakes Winery
Tent structure approved with conditions By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers Its members were not happy to do it, but the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission approved a threeyear variance May 9 for a tent to be installed during the summer months at Hidden Lakes Vineyard and Winery on Winchester Pike. Owner Damon Pfeifer said he had
been providing the tent primarily for wedding parties, and each event required an individual three-day permit, leading to significant installation costs. Pfeifer had appeared before the commission in April and had since made changes in parking plans and the location of the proposed tent, placing it on the neighboring property of the Mid Ohio Historical Museum, which displays dolls and toys. Pfeifer said the museum agreed
to the lease in exchange for being able to use the tent. “The gentlemen are always looking for a place to go,” Pfeifer said. “They can sit under the tent and relax for an hour or so while their wives are going through the doll museum.” Several commission members suggested that Pfeifer should construct a building instead of a tent. “My advice is just to put up a more
permanent structure,” said commission member Dan Konold. “My personal feeling is you better invest in a more permanent structure.” Pfeifer said tents were requested by about 80 percent of wedding parties. “Maybe in the near future we could possibly do something like that,” Pfeifer said. “Right now the funds are not there to build a permanent fixture. We’re just talking a few months out of the year, just
the summer months. People are always asking for tents.” Commission member Mike Vasko said it was unwise to call a temporary structure a permanent structure under the zoning code. “This comes down to money,” Vasko said. “Instead of having to put the tent up and take the tent down in between See TENT, page A2
Old Town committee addresses aging bridge
TIPTOE THROUGH THE PETUNIAS
By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
will be auctioned, as well as more than 800 plastic-back and wood chairs in all sizes, from high school to preschool. Among the electronic and miscellaneous items being sold by the school district are more than 30 19-
The Canal Winchester Old Town Historical Committee discussed May 9 whether anything could be done to paint the steel railroad trestle over West The problem is, Waterloo Street, it’s lead based paint and concluded that the answer on the overpass. That was probably creates one issue, so not much. they have to remove The bridge is the property of that in a special way the railroad, and because it is a railroads historhazardous ically are not subject to any substance. significant local control. CHRIS STRAYER “From what I — development director recall, it is a railroad-owned asset and they are nonresponsive to doing any cosmetic repairs to the structure, but at the same time they (will) allow third parties to do that,” said Bruce Jarvis, director of Main Street Canal Winchester. “The responsibility, in my mind, at least at a moral level, would be on the railroad to take care of that.” Development director Chris Strayer estimated the cost of painting the trestle at $15,000. “The problem is, it’s lead based paint on the overpass,” Strayer said. “That creates one issue, so they have to remove that in a special way because it is a hazardous substance. It’s peeling and it will always peel, so it has to be taken off before you put something else on or it will just peel off.” Mayor Mike Ebert said the paint is hazardous waste that must be captured. “A lot it depends on how many layers of lead paint are on there,” Ebert said. “That’s where a lot of the cost is. The rest of it is pretty cheap, but it’s
See AUCTION, page A2
See OLD TOWN, page A2
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By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Carol Siegley, a sales associate at Dills Greenhouse, waters the plants on May 9. Like most people in the area, Siegley is happy to see the sun out again, not only for the increase in business to the greenhouse, but also for working in her own garden.
School district, city to hold auction By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers Are you looking for a 10-burner gas range, plastic-back chairs or a used Chevrolet pickup? Those items and many others will be featured at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, when the Canal Winchester Local
School District and city of Canal Winchester will hold a public auction at the old Canal Winchester High School site, 100 Washington St. Bargain hunters will find a variety of items, including kitchen and classroom items being sold by the school district. Kitchen items include a Southbend
(400) 10-burner gas range; several electric deep-fryers; a Cornelius ice maker; an upright cooler; a Whirlpool 40-gallon gas water heater; and a Trane 100,000-BTU gas furnace. More than 50 elementary student desks (wood, plastic and steel tops), 200-plus high school desks and several teacher and student desks also
Committee members favor tennis courts over BMX park By JAYME DETWEILER ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Canal Winchester Safety Committee has decided that there is room in the budget this year for two new tennis courts but most likely not for a Bicycle Motocross (BMX) park. Vice chair Bobbie Mershon said dur-
ing the May 5 safety committee meeting that residents have waited for years for tennis courts and to jump ahead to a BMX park “is not right.” There is $80,000 in the city’s budget for the new courts, according to Matt Peoples, director of public works. He said the location for the tennis courts has not yet been determined.
DIRECTORY
Council member Leah Turner spoke with youngsters who want the BMX park and said she still hopes to see it constructed. “I always go to bat for the kids,” she said. “I remember, and I would hope all of the rest of you remember, what it was like growing up here. What did you have to do?”
Turner said it’s time for the city to look at the idea. Committee members will visit Westerville’s BMX park soon to get more information on what the cost, insurance, and construction of a park in Canal Winchester would entail. Different locations for the park were suggested. The most likely location
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would be next to the skate park. The village must put limitations on heights of the jumps in order to be insured, according to the safety committee. Turner offered to donate dirt for the project, and said it’s just a matter of getSee COMMITTEE, page A2
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