Columbus zoning overhaul raises troubling questions
I have yet to hear any reasonable person state that our zoning code isn’t in need of being reformed and that more density is required. But the process of how this vital part of how our city’s growth, economic development and the unforeseen impact on our neighborhoods must be scrutinized.
More than $3 million of Columbus taxpayer funds have been spent thus far on consultants for a zoning assessment study, communications and engagements and a marketing firm to sway public opinion to fully support the city’s “Zone In” policy reforms.
Throughout the last two years, I have attended public meetings across the city and viewed Youtube presentations while listening to city officials, elected or otherwise, explain their coordinated arguments for the new zoning proposal. Panicky words such as a “tsunami” of new residents pouring into our city are being repeated by city officials to help push their agenda. At a neighborhood public meeting, an official of the city’s Housing Strategies Office stated in so many words that in order to make sure we have a diverse set of housing, seniors whose homes have outgrown their needs should move out so a family can now live there. So, seniors like myself should not have the right to live out our days in our home? City officials are now directing senior homeowners to sell?
During an area commission meeting on the city’s far south side, residents were told that 80% of the people who answered the survey were under the
age of 40. Therefore, the intentionality of the “Zone In” process is about the people’s response to the survey. He continued by stating that “Zone In” is about your grandchildren and not about you. The city official’s response was met with outrage and people countered that, “so anyone over 40 doesn’t count?”
A member of Columbus City Council publicly scolded an area commissioner during a City Council meeting for not getting on board and talking about made up conspiracy theories regarding “Zone In” and the public process. Mayor Ginther has even lowered himself to referring to Columbus citizens as “NIMBY’S” for having contrary opinions.
A Department of Development official stated, “Like restrictive covenants, like redlining, zoning has been used as a tool as exclusion. It’s been used to discriminate.”
The city’s attempt to define the current zoning code as “redlining” is a buzzword and cheap trick to encourage support of “Zone In” from our Africanamerican citizens. Yes, there was redlining by lending and insurance institutions in numerous neighborhoods. But if our current zoning code discriminates to the degree of redlining, then why haven’t those codes been repealed by our elected officials?
At a recent University Area Commission meeting that I attended, a former
UAC commissioner, high-density at all cost fanatic, and member of the group Neighbors for More Neighbors, got out of his seat and approached a commissioner immediately after he had deliberated against the 13-story Bier Stube zoning application. The fanatic had provided him with information to read during the course of the meeting in an attempt to sway his vote.
The 15-member “Zone In” Advisory Committee is heavily stacked with trusted city hall devotees. Their mission was to “help shape a comprehensive, community-responsive update fostering equitable opportunities for all Columbus residents.” The inclusion of BIA lobbyist and Executive Director Jon Melchi and Casto Communities President Brent Sobczak to this committee was like putting the fox in the hen house.
They undoubtedly paved the way for developers to get exactly what they wanted. Strip democracy from the process, city wide tax abatements for new development, zero parking, minimized restrictions on setbacks and more favorable height limits. Some want to eliminate referendums on zoning decisions and create a tax abatement program that doesn’t require school board approval.
How this process has played out thus far, comments made by city officials, and the actions of others has been disgraceful to say the least. Will we see any notable deviation from the current proposal after the 60-day comment period?
Joe Motil is a 68-year lifelong Columbus resident who has dedicated 40 years advocating for social and economic justice and neighborhood equality. He recently ran for Mayor of Columbus in 2023.