A stretch of State Route 161 in Columbus’ Northland neighborhood exemplifies car-centric urban planning around the city.
There are no sidewalks along this part of S.R. 161, also known as East Dublin-Granville Road, and people stand at bus stops in the grass. Many businesses are set far back from the road with big parking lots.
A pedestrian, center, crosses the northside access road along State Route 161, just east of Karl Road, in Columbus’ Northland neighborhood on Monday. The city is considering rezoning the corridor to allow major redevelopment.
Northland community leaders want the area rezoned to enable walkable, mixed-use development and set design standards, said Pat Hammel, vice president of the Northland Community Council.
“Northland is the most populous area of the city with a large percentage of families without cars, and 161 is one of the least walkable areas of the city,” said Alice Foeller, president of the Northland Business Association in a prepared release.
Columbus could soon rezone this East Dublin-Granville corridor, continuing the city’s zoning overhaul, “Zone In,” that began last year. City Council passed an ordinance Monday declaring their intent to update the zoning for 165 parcels along Route 161, east of Worthington. If rezoned as proposed, requirements for setbacks and parking would be reduced. Also, mixed-use development and taller buildings would be allowed, up to seven stories on most of the parcels.
The ordinance opens a 60-day public comment period. Residents can visit columbus.gov/zoningupdate to review the proposed changes and submit feedback. There will also be opportunities to speak at public hearings on April 2 and May 28.
“Someday, there will be a wholesale reimagining of the corridor with trees, transit hubs, public art and twinkle lights beckoning visitors to our ethnic shops and restaurants,” Foeller said, but rezoning is the first step.
Multiple Northland area organizations have advocated for the zoning update, including the Northland Community Council, Elevate Northland, Northland Area Business Association and the association’s 161 Task Force.
“The Northland community has been consistent in their enthusiasm and support for this endeavor, and we are excited to include them as part of this historic effort,” Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said in a prepared release. “This application of the new zoning code along State Route 161 reflects our commitment to embrace new opportunities as they arise, ensuring that our new code is both flexible and inclusive, and addresses the diverse needs of residents and businesses.”
The first phase of Zone In passed the City Council last summer. Phase one rezoned more than 12,300 parcels along major urban corridors served by Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus lines. City leaders have said the intention is to address the city’s housing crisis by making it easier to build housing without having to apply for variances (exceptions to city rules).
This part of Northland did not initially meet the guidelines for phase one due to its lack of sidewalks.
This is not a phase two, but an update to phase one of Zone In, said City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans, chair of Council’s Zoning Committee.
“Columbus is facing a housing crisis, and this zoning update is another step forward in our commitment to bringing more homes that people can actually afford to Columbus,” Dorans said.
He said council intends to take “smaller bites of the apple” like this along the way, but phase two of Zone In could rezone another large batch of parcels in late 2025 or 2026.
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jlaird@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus’ Northland lobbies for zoning to allow mixed-use development
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