| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA ALERT For Immediate Release: February 28, 2011 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
Mayor Thanks Council for Considering West Broad Street Redevelopment Plans
Mayor Michael B. Coleman will forward legislation to City Council on Monday for the West Broad Street Overlays, which will expand an earlier overlay that was placed on West Broad in the Hilltop as a part of an economic initiative. The goal of this new overlay fulfills a major recommendation of the Greater Hilltop Area Plan, which was adopted by Council in late 2010. It also ensures that new development is consistent with a more walkable built environment with improved aesthetics consistent with community goals. The new overlays cover the city portions of W. Broad from Hague Avenue to I-270.
“I thank City Council for working with us to keep our promises to help create a revitalized West Broad Street Corridor,” Mayor Coleman said. “I also appreciate the valuable input we have received from West Side residents and businesses who are passionate about improving their neighborhood.”
The City of Columbus Planning Division worked with the Greater Hilltop community leadership, including the Hilltop Area Commission, Westgate Neighbors Association, Hilltop businesses and residents to update their 2001 plan for all of the Hilltop including the West Broad Street corridor. The principal focus was land use, urban design and development standards.
“The Broad Street Overlays will help drive economic development in a highly populated area of Columbus that has been identified as having the resources to sustain strong retail growth in the years to come,” said Councilmember Zachary M. Klein, chair of the Development Committee.
The plan amendment recommends commercial and mixed use development along the West Broad corridor consistent with the proposed casino development, as well as to encourage new investment between Wilson Road and Hague Avenue consistent with a walkable, urban environment. Franklin County recently adopted the Westland Area Interim Development Framework as their policy direction for managing development.
Concurrently, Franklin County has initiated a Smart Growth Overlay for Franklin Township parcels along Georgesville Road, Phillipi Road and West Broad Street, establishing similar standards and thereby ensuring seamless development as new investment occurs in the future. The county’s overlay should be adopted by the County Commissioners in March.
The Columbus Planning Division and the County’s Economic Development and Planning Department has worked jointly on the overlay effort. This effort was also one of the first Department projects in which Facebook was used to engage the community.
At the same time, the city is working with Franklin County and the Weston Partnership, representing a number of key stakeholders, to under a market study and economic development strategy for the area west of Wilson Road. The intent is to build upon the investment represented by the proposed Penn National casino and to facilitate reinvestment of nearby properties. The city and county are jointly funding the market study.
More information can be found on the Planning Division’s Hilltop Commercial Overlay project website at: http://development.columbus.gov/planning/content.aspx?id=32969.
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