Explanation
BACKGROUND: Two planning overlays, unique to Morse Road and a portion of North High Street, were developed and approved in 2002. Though named for specific geographies, the 'Morse Road Planning Overlay' and 'High Street North of Morse Road Planning Overlay' contain provisions that may be applicable to other roadways and corridors. To avoid the proliferation of unique, geography-specific names as additional overlay districts are created, the Planning Division is seeking to rename the overlays with generic titles: 'Regional Commercial Overlay' and 'Community Commercial Overlay'. In addition, the language within the text of each overlay will be made generic to simplify the application and enforcement of the overlay provisions, enable future overlay areas to be created and ensure consistency in the zoning code.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To modify Chapter 3372, "Planning Overlay", of the Columbus Zoning Code (Title 33) by renaming the 'Morse Road Planning Overlay' and 'High Street North of Morse Road Planning Overlay' with generic titles in order to facilitate their future application to additional corridors and/or areas, thereby creating a three-tiered structure of overlay districts.
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council adopted Urban Commercial Overlay legislation in 1999 to protect, re-establish and retain the unique aesthetic and architectural characteristics of urban commercial corridors; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council subsequently adopted the Morse Road Planning Overlay and High Street North of Morse Road Planning Overlay in 2002 to sustain and promote pedestrian-friendly, safe and aesthetically pleasing development along Morse Road and a portion of North High Street; and
WHEREAS, all three overlays contain provisions that are applicable to additional roadway corridors and/or intersections; and
WHEREAS, the Morse Road Planning Overlay and High Street North of Morse Road Planning Overlay, unlike the Urban Commercial Overlay, contain specific references to geographic areas in their titles and codified text; and
WHEREAS, removing the specific geographic references contained in the Morse Road Planning Overlay and High Street North of Morse Road Planning Overlay will enable the Planning Division to apply the overlays to additional districts, simplify the application and enforcement of the overlay provisions and ensure consistency in the zoning code; now, therefore,
ORDAINING LANGUAGE CONTAINED IN ATTACHMENT (ORD 2431-2003 OVERLAY VERBAGE.DOC)