Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The City of Columbus has more than forty adopted neighborhood and area plans, ranging widely in age and content, and covering more than ninety percent of the corporate boundary. Areas covered by older plans, and areas without a plan, do not have the benefit of current land use policies and design guidelines. The absence of citywide planning policies also makes it difficult to address broader issues related to the growth of the region. In response to these challenges, the Department of Development’s Planning Division established a new planning framework, Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2), to guide the next generation of growth and development in Columbus.
The Columbus Citywide Planning Policies are designed to guide and focus growth in a way that will support economic competitiveness, improve resident’s quality of life and provide environmental benefits throughout the city of Columbus. C2P2 includes four primary elements: 1) Guiding Principles: “Big picture” ideas that express how the city should develop; 2) Design Guidelines: recommendations on the placement and design of development; 3) Land Use Policies: policy text designed to be used with the map in an area’s Land Use Plan and provide guidance on key land use issues and scenarios; 4) Land Use Plans: developed for individual areas, they include a Recommended Land Use Map and Area Specific Policies to address circumstances unique to each area.
C2P2 provides the benefits of consistent, predictable, up-to-date policies citywide and a process to ensure that communities across the city have equal consideration for planning and design policy. City staff will work with civic leaders and community stakeholders to implement C2P2, including continued regular updates with public engagement to build consensus and maintain current policies citywide. The City will work with each community to develop area specific Land Use Plans that may be adopted and used with the Guiding Principles, Design Guidelines and Land Use Policies. C2P2 is not intended to replace Council-adopted plans and design guidelines for areas with architectural and historic design review. Application of C2P2 to specific areas will be reflected in subsequent legislation.
City staff met with representatives from numerous area commissions and civic associations to discuss C2P2 and meetings were held with community and private sector stakeholders regarding the initiative in cooperation with CM Jaiza Page. The Columbus Development Commission voted at the their June 14, 2018 meeting to recommend that City Council approve the use the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies as a framework to guide the next generation of growth and development in Columbus.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
Title
To adopt the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies as a framework to guide the next generation of growth and development in Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has over 40 neighborhood and area plans varying widely in age and content; and
WHEREAS, areas covered by older plans and areas without a plan do not have the benefit of current land use policies and design guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the absence of citywide planning policies has made it difficult to address broader issues related to the growth of the region; and
WHEREAS, in response to these challenges, the Department of Development’s Planning Division established a new planning framework, Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2), to guide the next generation of growth and development in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, community engagement is a key component of C2P2, and input will be sought at both a citywide and neighborhood level based on the need and type of update proposed; and
WHEREAS, staff has met with leadership of numerous area commission and civic associations to discuss C2P2, held meetings for civic leaders and private sector stakeholders in cooperation with City Council Member Jaiza Page, and provided informational resources to the community; and
WHEREAS; after public notice, a public hearing was held on June 14, 2018 at which the Development Commission approved the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies and recommended its adoption to City Council; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies are hereby adopted to establish a framework to guide the next generation of growth and development in Columbus, serving as a basis for engaging civic leaders and community stakeholders in developing planning policies, including area specific land use plans.
SECTION 2. That the Department of Development is directed to monitor the use of the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies, and to present to City Council any amendments necessary to keep policies updated and current.
SECTION 3. That the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies replace and supersede the 1993 Columbus Comprehensive Plan.
SECTION 4. That the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies shall be kept on file in the Department of Development, Planning Division.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.