Tag Archives: Northland Community Council

FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING August Meeting

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NCC Picnic

Date: 11 Aug 2026

Location: Warner Woods Pavilion, 4747 Central College Road, Columbus, OH 43081

There was no meeting or NCC updates.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Quentin Monden – quentinmonden@fpcivic.org, Ashley Howard – ashleyhoward@fpcivic.org No Report

Guest Speaker: None

Vice President  Mark Bell – markbell@fpcivic.org ABSENT No Report

Secretary Lou Bernard – secretary@fpcivic.org

  1. Attendance:
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Present: AH, QM, LB, MSg, SL, LV, KG 
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: MB, CL, RW, DVM, KVM, EV, MSt, DP
  • Area Reps in Attendance: 3
  • Area Reps Absent: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
  • Total meeting attendance: 11 (from Forest Park)
  1. Reviewed minutes from July, no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
  2. Attendance Sheet thru August: Online

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cheryllutman@fpcivic.org ABSENT

  1. We received two business memberships — one from AquaPure and one from the YMCA — bringing total paid business memberships to 5.
  2. Expenses were noted as self-explanatory.

Community Concerns/Announcements/Ideas 

Paul Ball from Blue Ash Place came to the picnic to discuss the new Columbus City grant called “Our Voice, Our Choice”. He is interested in obtaining street lights for Blue Ash Place. L. Bernard agreed to help him write the online proposal at https://common.oneproject.org/en/decisions/columbus/

Public Relations Officer Mary Sguerra – marysguerra@fpcivic.org

Reminder that the Fall Community Garage Sale is Saturday, Sept.12th  Please turn in your entry form by Wednesday, Sept 9th. She is looking for 2 volunteers to help pass out the fliers at the Karl Rd. & Sandalwood entrance. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mary.

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester@fpcivic.org ABSENT

  1. All articles, photos, ads, and other submissions for the newsletter are due by Tuesday, August 18th. It was noted that this issue will have fewer minutes than usual, leaving additional space to fill.
  2. Regarding newsletter delivery bags, supplies are running low, with only a few hundred remaining. Rita  is still researching the best bag option and price, factoring in shipping costs, and plans to purchase only enough to cover the next three newsletters (September, October, and November/December), with the decision to be revisited in early 2027.
  3. Concerns were raised about using Canva for the print version of the Forester newsletter. When an issue was uploaded to Canva, it broke the content into numerous separate text boxes — for example, one ad alone was split into approximately 50 text boxes — making the process impractical. Rita is continuing to investigate whether this can be resolved and would welcome any tutorials or insight from members familiar with Canva, noting that any new tool used should not add extra time to producing the newsletter.
  4. Finally, thanks were extended to Ashley and everyone who helped count, bag, and deliver the August issue of the Forester, which allowed Rita to enjoy her vacation.

Supplemental Security Officer Daryl Van Mercetta – darylvanmercetta@fpcivic.org, Katie Van Mercetta – kvanmercetta@fpcivic.org  ABSENT

See report in the Forester.

Past President Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org  ABSENT  No Report 

Civic Action/311 Officer  Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org  ABSENT No Report

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – sheridanlandon@fpcivic.org   No Report

Welcome Committee Chair Latia VanDyke – latiavandyke@fpcivic.org  ABSENT No Report

Volunteer Coordinator VACANT

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – mikestone@fpcivic.org  ABSENT

An additional 82 household memberships processed in July, bringing total paid memberships through July 31st to 366, with 84 remaining. 11 more had been received so far in August, bringing the remaining total to 73.

Social Activities VACANT No Report

NCC Representatives Mark Bell – markbell@fpcivic.org  ABSENT,  Latia VanDyke – latiavandyke@fpcivic.org  ABSENT  Ken Gilbert – kengilbert@fpcivic.org  No Report

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org ABSENT

See report on our website.

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – quentinmonden@fpcivic.org  No Report

Outreach Committee Chair  Michael Cote – michaelcote@fpcivic.org ABSENT 

See report in the Forester

Website Administrators Dave Paul – dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website) ABSENT

Ashley Howard – ashleyhoward@fpcivic.org  (Instagram/Facebook)  

Our website/Facebook page is always – always being updated with new and upcoming info! Please check it out!! Please subscribe/follow us.

OLD BUSINESS

Open Positions:

  • Delivery Positions (multiple routes)
  • Area Reps: FPW: 5; FPE: 6, 8, 14
  • Committee Chairs: Volunteer Coordinator, Social Activities Chair, Social Media (Facebook, Website)

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS   NONE

  • Our next FPCA meeting will be
    • September 8, 2026
    • 7-8 pm
    • Epworth United Methodist Church, 5100 Karl Rd, Columbus, OH 43229
    • Eugene Rutigliano from the Columbus Metropolitan Library will be our guest speaker to explain and give us a walk through of the new Forest Park Civic Association digital collection on the library’s website.

Picnic adjourned around 7:30 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA

NCC March Meeting Update

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Submitted by Ken Gilbert

  1. We have a new Columbus Police liaison in the 18th Precinct. Officer Yandrich has moved to the mounted horse patrol. Our new liaison is Officer Duane Hicks. He has the same phone number (614)-645 1418 and his email is Dhicks@columbuspolice.org
  2. Armed robberies are up—often connected with Facebook Marketplace deals. Be careful! No Parking signs have been posted around the area to deal with the semi truck issue. City Attorney Klein will be holding a Block by Block community safety meeting March 11 at 6 pm at Northern Lights Library.
  3. We have a new Zone Attorney from the City Attorney’s office, Heidi Carr, who was a former Zone 5 attorney and also worked with the US Attorney’s Office. We’ve been asked to submit issues to 311 first and then contact the City Attorney’s Office with that info. A 311 report gives them a good place to start.
  4. NABA (Northland Area Business Association)
    • They reported that there would be no quarterly luncheon. 
    • NABA needs more volunteers for the 161 Clean Up days. 
    • Devin Deal, our city liaison reports on a number of items. 
    • Check the city website for summer internships for teens. 
    • A Town Hall took place on March 4 about a new mapping project. 
    • There were public workshops on March 19 at Bethel UMC. Rise Up Columbus will visit Northland on Jun 25 at Woodward Park Rec Center. This is a good way to meet city officials and fellow residents.
  5. Officers were re-elected by acclamation. 
  6. Hoover Farms was suspended due to missed meetings. 
  7. Banquet is April 7 at Villa Milano, replacing the normal NCC meeting. 
  8. Independence Day Parade meetings are the 3rd Wednesday at the Y on Karl from 7-8 pm. 
  9. Note that the next round of work on 161 will likely demolish and remove the garden boxes along 161. If you want to save any of that material, best do it after the bulbs bloom.

Join the FPCA at the Northland Community Council’s Annual Cookout on Aug. 8

Join the Forest Park Civic Association at the Dogwood Area of Blendon Woods Metro Park on August 8 for the Northland Community Council’s Annual Cookout. Enjoy a cookout, outdoor games and the park’s walking trails.

There will be no August monthly meeting of the Forest Park Civic Association to allow officers, volunteers and members to attend this NCC cookout. There will be no Block Watch nor Code Meetings, either.

Dinner is at 6:30pm – NCC will provide free burgers, brats, hot dogs, soda, and water. Please bring a side dish to share.

The family-friendly picnic is open to everyone in Northland, including everyone in Forest Park.

The FPCA is a member of the Northland Community Council and several FPCA officers serve as board members.

The Northland Community Council (NCC) is a coalition of civic associations, home-owners associations and other community groups in the Northland area of Columbus, Ohio.

The NCC represents over 130,000 area residents (25-square miles of the City of Columbus) and works with Columbus City Council, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and a wide array of other city, county, state and non-profit organizations to continuously enhance the prosperity and quality of life enjoyed throughout the Northland community.

NCC logo

January 2023 FPCA meeting

City of Columbus hearing on hotel rezoning set for Feb. 9, 2023

By Scott Biggs, FPCA Volunteer Coordinator

The future of the former hotel property at 1289 E. Dublin-Granville Rd. near Satinwood Dr. in Forest Park West will be on the agenda at a Feb. 9 public hearing by the City of Columbus’ Development Commission. The property is between Popeye’s Chicken and Satinwood Dr.

Adjacent property owners should have already been notified of this meeting directly by the city. All Forest Park residents can attend the 4:30 p.m. hearing, watch it online, and email statements for consideration. See below for more information.

HOW TO ATTEND OR WATCH THE HEARING

The Development Commission of the City of Columbus will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, to consider rezoning the hotel from commercial to residential.

The public hearing will be at the Michael B. Coleman Government Center, Second Floor Public Hearing Room, 111 North Front St., Columbus, OH 43215. The hearing begins at 4:30 p.m. and is expected to include eight applications including this rezoning application for the 1289 property. The agenda shows this issue listed as fifth of the eight applications at the hearing (this is subject to change).

Parking is available in the parking garage located north of the Michael B. Coleman Government Center and is accessed from Ludlow Alley north of West Long St.

SUBMIT TESTIMONY VIA EMAIL

The FPCA encourages residents to submit testimony via email before the deadline. Please reference Record Z22-083: 1289 E DUBLIN-GRANVILLE RD.

Anyone wishing to provide testimony in favor or in opposition to this rezoning can submit a statement in writing via email to Tim Dietrich at tedietrich@columbus.gov. Written testimony must be received at this email by noon on the day of the meeting.

WATCH THE MEETING ON YOUTUBE

You can attend the meeting in person and also watch the hearing online at the city’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/cityofcolumbus.

ABOUT THE REQUEST

The Community Shelter Board is requesting a rezoning that would permit the use of the former Red Carpet Inn property containing 82 units for long-term, permanent supportive housing under lease to Homefull.

This request was the subject of a well-attended monthly meeting of the Forest Park Civic Association on Jan. 10 at Epworth United Methodist Church.

More than 60 Forest Park residents listened as the Community Shelter Board and its partners described their plans for the property. Homefull, which provides property management and case management for a property at 1111 Mediterranean Ave. (located in a former hotel behind The Waffle House near I-71) would lease the hotel property and provide the same services at the 1289 site. The Community Shelter Board explained that the property would serve as permanent supportive housing for disabled homeless people.

Red Carpet Motel Property

NCC VOTES TO RECOMMEND AGAINST REZONING

The Northland Community Council’s Development Committee considered this application at its Jan. 26 meeting and voted 15-0 to recommend that the City of Columbus DISAPPROVE (reject) the rezoning. The City is not required to abide by the NCC’s recommendation, but the unanimous consensus is expected to carry some influence in the City’s decision.

The Northland Community Council (NCC) represents 26 area civic associations and organizations in the Northland area. The NCC represents more than 100,000 households and ensures that the City of Columbus recognizes Northland as an important political voice. Two FPCA volunteers currently serve on the commission and provide detailed reports at every FPCA meeting. Ed Vanasdale, the current president of the FPCA, and Dave Paul both serve on the NCC Development Committee.

Dave Paul, a co-chair of the NCC Development Committee, a representative of the Northland Community Alliance, and an active member of the Forest Park Civic Association, explained his concerns at the January FPCA meeting. While acknowledging that there is a need for affordable housing for disabled residents in the city, Paul noted that the rezoning would permanently allow residential use for the hotel property. This would mean that if the Community Shelter Board abandoned its plans at any time, the hotel could be used by another group for a variety of residential uses that could negatively affect the neighborhood.

Residents at the FPCA meeting raised concerns that the proposed plans would attract increased crime, vagrancy, alcohol abuse, drug activity and other issues in its vicinity. They asked how residents would be monitored, how they qualify to participate in the housing, and what security services would be in place. Several mentioned current issues with panhandlers in the I-71 and Dublin-Granville Rd. area and concerns that the situation could worsen.

THANK YOU TO OUR NCC REPRESENTATIVES

Many thanks to Ed Vanasdale and Dave Paul for their continued VOLUNTEER work to represent all residents of Forest Park on this issue and many more that protect our interests. They spend a lot of time in service to their community.

Part of your $25 annual FPCA membership helps fund the NCC and its important work to represent Northland in decisions made by the City of Columbus. If you have not joined the FPCA this year, please consider membership.

NCC Picnic

NCC hosts Northland Annual Picnic on Aug. 9

The Northland Community Council will host its Annual Picnic on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Blendon Woods Metro Park, 4265 E Dublin Granville Rd., from 6 to 8 pm.

Everyone in Forest Park and the Northland area is invited.

NCC will provide burgers, brats, hot dogs, soda and water.  Join us for the trails, outdoor games, and community as we celebrate Northland together. Bring a covered dish to share.

The Forest Park Civic Association’s monthly meeting will not occur in August so members can attend this picnic.

Forest Park Civic Association July 4 Parade

Northland Community Fourth of July Parade

 

Monday, July 4 – Karl Rd. from Morse Rd. to Dublin-Granville Rd.
Starts at 11 a.m.

The 59th Annual Community Independence Day Parade will take place on Monday, July 4, 2022. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at Morse Rd. and proceeds north on Karl Rd. to Dublin-Granville Rd. (1.7 miles).

The parade is sponsored by the Northland Community Council, a coalition of civic associations, home-owners associations and other community groups in the Northland area of Columbus.

FPCA BIKES AND TRIKES
The Forest Park Civic Association is seeking volunteers to assist with our annual Bikes and Trikes entry. Kids ages 12 and under are invited to bring their decorated bikes and trikes to the parking area in front of Woodward Park Middle School by 10:30 a.m. to participate.

Prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated bikes in two categories: Originality and Patriotism. We are seeking volunteers to help with the judging. Contact volunteerFPCA@gmail.com to volunteer).

The kids join the parade with the FPCA group and ride  to the YMCA (for little legs) or to Dublin-Granville Rd. (for stronger legs).

Parents or guardians must register participants and sign a waiver on site. Kids 5 and under must be accompanied by a parent or older child during the parade. All children must wear helmets.

The 2022 Theme is Elevate Northland – Celebrate the 4th!

The 2022 Northland Independence Day Parade Grand Marshall will be ELEVATE NORTHLAND. Elevate Northland‘s mission is to lift up the people of Northland and create opportunities.

Sign-In for participants begins at 9:30 am in the Home Buys west parking lot, 1630 Morse Road.

To learn more and register your business or group to participate, visit the official web site at https://northlandparade.org.