Do you find the city zoning process to be confusing? You’re probably not alone. Tonight, City Councilmember A. Troy Miller will be presenting a “Zoning 101” public meeting that will break down the 19-part zoning variance process and explain not only how things work for applicants, but also how the general public can have more direct input and involvement throughout the entire process.
“There are actually six different places for public input along the way,” explained Councilmember Miller.
“One things I’ve noticed in the past year since I’ve taken over the Zoning Chair is that individuals were providing their first public input on the process on the night that City Council is voting on it,” continued Miller. “We decided to backtrack and lay out how the whole zoning process and provide people with more information about when they can get involved in the process.”
A lack of public awareness about the process has been cited as the main reason that citizens don’t get more involved earlier on.
“A lot of this discussion can be done at the civic association or public commission level,” said Miller. “I think that’s really where the public can put in their two cents, and that’s much closer to the beginning of the process than the end. So what can happen earlier on in the process is that the public can come up with concessions for the rezoning instead of just coming down to a City Council Meeting and trying to cause a commotion at the end of the process. Many times the public has great ideas that just aren’t voiced appropriately during the process.”
Earlier this year, Columbus’ Building and Zoning Services was spun off into it’s own department, formerly housed under the Department of Development.
“The zoning process hasn’t changed at all,” explained Miller. “Actually, everything is more visible now that it’s been moved to a separate department.”
In many instances, citizens aren’t aware of construction or demolition efforts until the site is being prepared for work. Most recently, construction fencing was spotted near State Auto’s Downtown headquarters as they prepped a building for razing and the construction of a new employee parking lot.
“Sometimes razing a building has nothing to do with rezoning, so that’s could have gone through building services,” explained Miller. “Demolition prevention would be up to the area commissions and that’s where the various neighborhood plans would come in. Those applications are going to go through the civic or area commission first, then the city department and then the development commission. All of this happens before one shovel is on the property.”
Councilmember Miller will be introducing the event tonight and will have several additional individuals from city departments who will speak about each step of the process. The information will also be made available on the Building & Zoning Services website.
“This information tonight is really for the general public, because you never know when you’re going to be part of this process,” said Miller. “No matter what neighborhood you live in, you need to know that this process exists so that you’re not left out. A lot of times you have people who may not be activitists in their communities, but as soon as something shows up next door, they want to react, and I want everyone to be able to be right there from the beginning and have their voices heard.”
The Zoning Process Public Meeting takes place tonight a 5pm at City Council Chambers at 90 West Broad Street. The meeting will also be broadcast live online HERE.
More information about the zoning process can be found at bzs.columbus.gov.