Board of Zoning Appeals approves porte‑cochere variances for Ohio Sinus Institute at 5378 Avery Road

The City of Dublin Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve two nonuse‑area variance requests for the Ohio Sinus Institute at 5378 Avery Road, allowing three attached porte‑cochères to encroach into the site's front and side yard setbacks.

Planning staff presented the application and recommended approval of the west (front) porte‑cochère — a 20‑foot‑6‑inch encroachment — while recommending denial of the two side‑yard encroachments of 25 feet 8 inches. Staff explained the site's history, including a 2011 lot split and rezoning to Suburban Office & Institutional in 2017, and noted how the front‑yard encroachment would not extend beyond an existing legal nonconforming building. As staff put it in the presentation: "This application is a request for a nonuse area variance to permit 3 porte cocheres to encroach the front and side yard setbacks." (Speaker 8)

Applicants and their architect told the board the porte‑cochères are essential for patient safety and Medicare compliance for the proposed ambulatory surgical center. The property owner said the center would be "a Medicare approved ambulatory surgical center" and that the covered drop‑off areas are "really key and critical to having a, Medicare compliance center." (Boris Karen Filof, Speaker 9)

Board members examined alternatives raised in the staff report, including a lot‑line adjustment and modest redesigns (for example, bifurcating the building to change the ratio that determines side‑yard setbacks). Staff explained that lot‑line adjustments and minor subdivisions are processed administratively and could alleviate side‑yard impacts but that existing engineering constraints — notably the site's detention pond and ongoing civil approvals — made such adjustments difficult before final building approvals.

After asking follow‑up questions of staff and the applicants, the board voted first to approve the west/front porte‑cochère variance and then to approve the two side‑yard porte‑cochère variances under code section 153.026(c)(3). The board announced both variances were approved by roll call vote; board members recorded affirmative votes during both motions.