Explanation
BACKGROUND: This plan was prepared by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and covers the entire Downtown area (I-670 on the north, I-70/71 on the east and south, and the railroad tracks west of the Scioto Peninsula on the west). This plan is an update to the 2002 Downtown Business Plan. The planning process included data collection and analysis, consensus through community participation, and plan preparation. A series of three public workshops were held to gather comments and share the draft document. The plan was made available to city departments and divisions for review and comment. The CDDC Board endorsed the plan on April 20, 2010. The Downtown Commission reviewed the plan on June 10, 2010 and unanimously voted to endorse the plan and recommend its acceptance by City Council on June 22, 2010.
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
CITY DEPARTMENTS RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
Title
A Resolution to accept the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan as a guide for development, redevelopment, and the planning of future public improvements within the Central Business District.
Body
WHEREAS, the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan is intended to serve as a vision for future public and private investments in the Downtown; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation guided the development of the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan; and
WHEREAS, the CDDC and the City undertook a comprehensive public engagement process that included over 50 meetings with a variety of Downtown stakeholders; 300 personal invitations to community leaders to all public meetings; additional publicity for the public meetings were email distributed to area commissions and civics and posted on Facebook, Twitter, CDDC website, and Columbus Underground; with CDDC social media receiving more than 16,000 visits; and extensive media coverage (print and on line); and
WHEREAS, staff meetings, presentations, open houses, and public presentations were conducted as part of the public planning process (including web based surveys) that together generated over 1,000 public comments (600 comments after the March meeting and 500 comments after the April meeting); and
WHEREAS, the recommendations of the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan address zoning and land use issues, infrastructure needs, and other community priorities; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan is an update to the 2002 Downtown Business Plan; and
WHEREAS, the board of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation endorsed the plan on April 20, 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Commission held a public hearing on June 22, 2010 (with public notice) and endorsed the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan and recommended its acceptance by City Council; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan is hereby accepted to inform development, redevelopment, and the planning of future public improvements in the Central Business District.
Section 2. That all city of Columbus departments and divisions are hereby authorized and directed to consult the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan in initiating or reviewing projects within the planning area or adjacent areas and require that such projects generally conform to the plan.
Section 3. That the Department of Development is directed to monitor the use of the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan, and to present to City Council any amendments necessary to keep the plan up-to-date.
Section 4. That copies of the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan shall be kept on file in the Department of Development, Planning and Economic Development Divisions, and at the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation.
Section 5. That this resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.