North Linden Area Commission Zoning Committee Report, October 2022

October 20, 2022

Zoning Committee Report

The Zoning Committee brought forward three items for the North Linden Area Commission to vote on in their October meeting:

CV22-080 at 1371 Aberdeen Ave — recommend approval
BZA22-119 at 2977 Cleveland Ave — recommend approval
DEMO2239408 at 3001 Grasmere Avenue — moot; recommend approval

Upcoming items:

Habitat projects
Zoning training, October 29

Download the October 2022 report (5.1MB PDF)

For more on how I create these reports, see the example in the September 2022 report blog post

Update on the Zoning Code Update

Kevin Wheeler, assistant director for growth policy in the Department of Development, presented an update on Columbus' project to rewrite its zoning code. Columbus has updated the Zoning Code Update webpage, with the following five goals:

Modernize our zoning code to reflect our community’s current and future needs, values and aspirations.

Support growth that prioritizes environmental and economic sustainability through improved transit, additional housing opportunities and the creation of job centers.

Encourage thoughtful investment in neighborhoods that have experienced racial and economic segregation to help undo the harm caused by past urban development policies.

Guide the design and development of main streets, neighborhoods and activity centers to support community goals while celebrating the unique character of our neighborhoods and creating a sense of place for residents.

Ensure the Columbus zoning code is fair, predictable and accessible.

Other new pieces of information:

This project will start with a focus on main roads with the possibility for mixed-use and transit-oriented development, such as West Broad Street, East Main Street, High Street, Morse Road, Sawmill & 161, and the mixed-use development called The Continent. Wheeler specifically mentioned Cleveland Avenue and Morse Road in North Linden as examples of those "main street" corridors.
The public outreach and involvement in the zoning code update process will begin in 2023. The public involvement plan is still being developed.
The zoning code update is led by Lisa Wise Consulting and the community engagement is led by RAMA. Lisa Wise has extensive work in California, but has also handled zoning code updates in Cincinnati and Westerville. The Westerville work was in conjunction with MKSK, who you may recall from their work on the Scioto Mile,on MORPC's Northwest Corridor development framework, on the Bike New Albany plan, and on the I-70/I-71 bridges reconnecting Downtown to neighborhoods.

For a background on Columbus' zoning code update, check out past news coverage:

Columbus plans to fast-track affordable housing, help cover permit fees for small and medium-size developers, 2022 - Columbus will expedite reviews for affordable housing, and assign project coordinators to shepherd project applications through the various departments' approvals process.
$200 Million Bond Package Part of City's New Housing Strategy, 2022 - "Many of the items outlined in the strategy have already been announced or are existing programs, like a plan to re-write the city’s zoning code, …"
Study Shows Need for Zoning Code Re-Write, City Says, 2021 - Summary of the City's conclusions, its five key findings, examples of dysfunction, "Columbus grew by 15% from 2010 to 2020 — that’s 32 people, every day, for a decade."
Zoning Code Update Could Lead to Big Changes in Development Process, 2020 - A thorough overview of how the City wants the zoning code to change.
New [MORPC] Report Lays Out Affordable Housing Strategy for Region, 2020 - summary of MORPC's Regional Housing Strategy report.

The following images are scans of a flyer that was handed out, to help explain the Zoning Code Update process, which is branded as "Zone In Columbus". I think the "Zone In" is supposed to be a parallel to the "Lean In" messaging campaign?

One side of a handout titled 'Zone In Columbus'. It reads: What is a zoning code? Zoning codes are a set of rules that regulate what can and can't be done on a particular piece of property - they influence where we live, where we work, and how we get around. Zoning can be used to help attract new businesses, encourage the construction of new housing and protect natural resources. We want to hear from you and your neighbors! Please encourage your friends and neighbors to 'zone in' on this effort and share their perspectives. Check the website for updates on how to shape this important community tool! Learning opportunities, community discussions, community events, online surveys. This project will start with a focus on Columbus' key corridors - areas like W. Broad St., E. Main St., High St., Morse Rd., Sawmill & 161 and The Continent. These places serve as the 'Main Streets' of their communities and are places where transit, housing options, employment centers, and connected amenities can be focused. By starting here, we can build more housing to help fight rising housing costs, and we can create jobs closer to where people live. Want to learn more? Visit columbus.gov/zoningcodeupdate — Key quote: "This project will start with a focus on Columbus' key corridors - areas like W. Broad St., E. Main St., High St., Morse Rd., Sawmill & 161 and The Continent." The link at the bottom is columbus.gov/zoningcodeupdate.

This handout is primarily the five bullet points in the blockquote above, with a note that updates will be available through the project webpage, linked above. Email your questions or comments to zoningupdate@columbus.gov — Submit your questions or comments on the Columbus Zoning Code Update program to zoningupdate@columbus.gov

Other items

I was appointed as the Chair of the NLAC Zoning Committee.

These reports will continue.