Columbus ‘Zone In Gallery’ helps show city’s proposed changes
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus hasn’t made rules about where people can live or where they can build a business in 70 years, and city leaders say it’s time for that to change and they want the community to be involved.
The “Zone In Gallery” at 141 N. Front Street in Downtown Columbus is officially open. This is an interactive experience where residents can learn about the city’s proposed zoning changes and how it will impact them.
More towers, less parking: The zoning code changes that could reshape Columbus for ‘generations’
Mayor Andrew Ginther said the gallery tells a story of where the City of Columbus was 70 years ago when the zoning code was made, where the city could go, and where city leaders want it to go.
“If we want it to be dynamic and inclusive and to make sure that regardless of what you do for a living in our community, that you can afford to live here,” Ginther said. “So I think this crisis has really, I think, created the awareness in the community that we have to do something different and we have to change.”
People can talk directly with city planners to learn more about the plans. The gallery includes interactive maps to show you where changes could happen. It also details the proposal to bring up the housing supply – both market rate and affordable housing – as well as adding more density and height.
“Sprawl is not a strategy, and we’ve been sprawling for several decades. It’s now time for us to be really purposeful,” Ginther said.
He said if the city continued on its current path, only 6,000 homes would be built in the next 10 years. The new plans would project 88,000 homes being built in that same period.
Columbus leaders propose changes to city’s zoning code
This is around 44 percent of the needs to meet the growing demand. Ginther said they also hope to draw in the rest of the region to help tackle the housing supply crisis.
Members of the housing coalition, who work directly with those most impacted, had their first look at the gallery Wednesday.
“I love the presentation here,” said Bob Bitzenhofer, the board chair for the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio. “All of the graphics, the maps, everything, is has been fantastic. I think most of all that the commitment to date and the commitment going forward for public input and public engagement in really making this a code that the residents of the city of Columbus are, you know, shaping so that we’re getting, you know, the residents are getting the code that they want.”
Bitzenhofer said he believes people will find this gallery an interesting way to learn about the future of the city. Ginther said it is critical to hear from the public before making decisions.
“It is really important for people to offer feedback over the next 60 days. I like to say the time for study analysis research has come to an end. It’s time for us to act. This is a decade of action. We’re going to act, but we want the community to be engaged and be part of this process as well,” Ginther said.
The gallery will be open six days a week at least until the beginning of June. At least two people from the city planners office will be there at all times. The city said walk-ins are welcome but appointments are encouraged.
Columbus City Council is expected to vote on the zoning proposal in the summer.
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