Columbus Zoning Reform Proposal Garners Varied Responses

A public hearing on a “massive zoning overhaul affecting 4% of the city's parcels” in Columbus, Ohio garnered a wide range of responses from dozens of community members, reports Bill Bush in the Columbus Dispatch.

While city officials tout the proposed “Commercial Activity Center” zoning designation, which would permit building up to seven stories with no parking requirements, as a step toward producing more affordable housing in the city, “Others voiced fears that encouraging new development in their neighborhood would be akin to raising prices − and property taxes for any existing structures that aren't tax-abated like many major new Columbus developments.” Meeting attendees asked about the protection of historic buildings, which are protected in Columbus’s historic districts.

Residents also expressed concern about density, while some property owners also questioned the city’s process for selecting which sites are included in the new designation. City officials say they will consider a process for adding new parcels to the zone.