Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance makes minor changes to the Columbus Zoning Code in an effort to streamline the application review process and to reduce problems and frequent questions that arise through the administration of the code. The changes include adding clarification that apartment complexes can contain two or more buildings as the current code defines that use as starting with three or more buildings, leaving a two-building apartment complex as undefined. Also being added are child day-care uses to the AR2 district. Child day-care was omitted due to an apparent oversight and is currently allowed in other, more intense, apartment-residential districts. This ordinance also removes antiquated terms and synonyms for institutional uses and facilities that are no longer used or may now be perceived as potentially offensive as well as expanding the lot-of-record exception in order to allow two-family dwellings on lots-of-records in the R-2F and R-4 districts in order to further assist with appropriate in-fill housing opportunities.
Changes also include clarification that medical offices are in-fact a permitted use in the AR-O district and repeal of outdated separation requirements for residential care facilities that have been preempted by case law arising from the federal Fair Housing Act and its amendments.
These code changes were reviewed by the Columbus Development Commission at their January 14, 2010, meeting and the Columbus Development Commission recommended the changes for approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To make minor changes in various sections of the Columbus Zoning Code, Title 33, in order to remove antiquated terms and synonyms for institutional facilities, to add two-unit dwellings to the existing lot of record exemption in order to assist with infill development, to add child day-care to the AR-2 apartment residential district as it does not already permit such use due to o...
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