Explanation
BACKGROUND:
During the past year, a city staff team reviewed the parking section of the city's zoning code (CC 3342). The majority of this chapter dates to the mid 1980s and has not benefited from a comprehensive review since that time. The code requires minimum levels of parking based on type and size of land uses. While these requirements may be appropriate for some uses, in many cases they exceed realistic demand. The current code does not consider such things as bicycle parking or limitations on excessive parking. An objective for Columbus is to "right size" its approach to parking. Excess parking provision is a particular issue of interest as it results in underutilization of land, higher development and maintenance costs, and an increase in impervious surface.
In order to develop proposed revisions, staff reviewed parking codes from many other communities, undertook in-field research of parking demand for key uses, and considered BZA case history. This work was critical in guiding the proposed revisions. This ordinance also includes substantive organizational changes including the creation of a general site development standards chapter, consolidating relevant elements such as vision clearance standards from throughout the zoning code. Additionally, the ordinance includes numerous substantive improvements to the parking chapter requested by city staff, and minor related edits to the C-5 and P-2 district chapters. The City's commercial overlay code requirements include a number of provisions that are made redundant by the parking code update. This ordinance eliminates or modifies these sections accordingly.
A public review draft of the proposal was released in May with an open comment period extending through July 1. Two public meetings were held and comments were received from a range of stakeholders. Staff also met with numerous stakeholders to discuss specific issues. This input led to a number of modifications to the public review d...
Click here for full text