Columbus' proposed zoning code overhaul now includes some changes officials added after public meetings and feedback.
In a press conference downtown on Monday, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, City Council President Shannon Hardin, and City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans said they practiced "radical listening" when hearing the community's concerns.
Legislation creating the new zoning code will get a first reading at Monday's City Council meeting.
More than 1,600 Columbus residents submitted comments on the city's zoning website about what they wanted to see.
In response to the public, officials have made several amendments based on community feedback.
These include enhanced protections for historic districts, maintaining design review processes in key areas including East Franklinton and the University District, and implementing new fees and landscaping requirements to manage parking and improve neighborhood aesthetics.
"We owe our neighbors, all of our neighbors, so much more," Ginther said. "And that's why we launched this effort two years ago, to thoroughly assess our zoning code with a critical eye and to make changes."
The city has spent more than two years updating its zoning code, the first major overhaul in 70 years.
The proposal calls for taller buildings and denser housing along the city’s main thoroughfares, including Broad Street, High Street and Cleveland Avenue.
The new code would allow an additional 88,000 housing units to be built over time.
Developers want changes to streamline the development process. Going through rezoning or zoning variances for projects cost them time and money.
But some neighborhood leaders and residents have feared that they'll have less of a say as to what happens in their areas. They also worry what will happen to their neighborhood's character.
The legislation will get a final reading on July 29, the last meeting before City Council head into its summer recess.
A fourth public hearing on the legislation is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24th at 5:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall.
