Proposed Changes to the Columbus Zoning Code

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Department of Building and Zoning Services is reaching out to solicit public input on several proposed changes to the Columbus Zoning Code.

The first proposed code change will prohibit extended stay hotels on properties that are zoned in the M, Manufacturing District.

The second proposed code change comes at the request of the City Attorney’s office.  It will codify the Ohio Supreme Court’s prescribed legal standards to be employed by the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Graphics Commission in their consideration of variance requests.

Attached is the full draft of both proposed code changes for your review and comment. Please send all questions and comments to Paul Freedman directly at PMFreedman@columbus.gov or toZoningInfo@columbus.gov .  These proposed code changes will be scheduled for discussion and a recommendation by the Columbus Development Commission on October 13 and then they will be submitted to City Council.

We value your input on these proposed code changes and look forward to hearing from you.  Thank you very much.

Plastic Bag Recycling News

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You may remember that, about a year ago, CAC adopted a resolution encouraging the City of Columbus to limit the use of plastic bags.  The information below describes the program that has been developed in response to that resolution.

Project Background

Every year, Ohioans throw away millions of plastic bags which end up in landfills.

In 2015, SWACO,  the city of Columbus and various retailers began a community conversation to explore how best to address the improper disposal of plastics bags in Franklin County. As the result of more than twelve months of work, in 2016, the partners developed and launched ‘Bring Me Back’ – an educational program to encourage residents to return their plastic bags to collection bins at local retailers and use reusable shopping bags, when possible. The program also reminds residents not to curbside recycling their bags, as many recyclers don’t accept them and the bags can disrupt the recycling process.

Community event organizers and local retailers in Franklin County are encouraged to join the awareness campaign. Simply download the program materials available at:  http://www.swaco.org/bringmeback.aspx, add your logo and begin distributing the information at public events and meetings.

Additional West Nile Virus Spraying

Attached is information regarding spraying for West Nile Virus which will take place this week.

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Below is the text of an email that was also sent out.  It is a bit more helpful in regards to the location of the spraying.

There were two separate  positive mosquito pools for West Nile Virus collected from traps near West Como Avenue and Webster Park Avenue recently. The Como Avenue test was confirmed last Thursday by our staff and the Webster Park Avenue test was confirmed by the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory on September 20th.  Due to this discovery our Vector Control Program will be spraying in Clintonville on Tuesday, September 27th from 3:30 am-7:15 am. The boundaries for this spray are as follows:

 

Henderson Rd. and Cooke Rd. to the North

North Broadway to the South

Indianola Ave. to the East

SR 315 and the Olentangy River to the West

 

A second spraying will occur on Friday, September 30th from 3:30 am-7:15 am.

The boundaries for this second spraying are as follows:

 

North Broadway to the North

Olentangy St. to the South

Summit St. to the East

The Olentangy River to the West

 

A press release and spray map was issued Friday, September 23rd, it is attached here and the link to the on-line spray map is attached to that. At this moment all requests to opt out of mosquito spraying will be honored that have already been filed.

The positive West Nile Virus pools do serve as a reminder for us to continue protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and to eliminate stagnant water from our properties including places such as gutters, rain barrels, and bird baths. One can also protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellents and by minimizing their time spent outside during the late evening and early morning hours. Please let Kelli Dodd, RS, the Vector Control Program Manager, know if you would like to discuss in further detail our mosquito reduction activities planned in Clintonville this week. Her e-mail address is krdodd@columbus.gov and her phone number is 614.645.6153.

 

Body Camera Hearing

When:
Wednesday, September 21
5:30-7pm

 Where:
City Hall
90 W. Broad St.

Public Safety Committee Chair Mitchell J. Brown and Council President Zach Klein are conducting a Public Hearing to discuss the Columbus Division of Police’s Body Camera Policy and Implementation. 

“Body cameras are a common sense technology for the Columbus Division of Police to include as part of their community policing efforts, along with cruiser and neighborhood cameras,” said Councilmember Brown. “Cameras provide an opportunity for third-party review of behavior during an interaction between law enforcement and the community.”

Public testimony will be accepted. Comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. Individuals wishing to offer testimony must fill out a speaker slip, between the hours of8:00am and 5:00pm, at Columbus City Hall on the day of the hearing. 

“I have been and continue to be a proponent of body cameras. Body cameras have an important role to play in improving Police-Community relations, protecting our officers and keeping our citizens safe,” said Council President Zach Klein.

Clintonville Homes Tour

Don’t miss the 35th Annual Clintonville Homes Tour this Sunday from 1-5pm. There are eight homes and one church in the first block of E North Broadway on Tour. Purchase you tickets ahead of time at Weiland’s Market. Or, purchase day-of-tour on the north side of ENB. $15. All proceeds are reinvested in projects in the Clintonville Community. Most recently we’ve granted funds to NCIL, Dominion Middle School Baseball, Whetstone High School Music Room, Indian Springs Reading Room and more. Come Tour and give back.