Columbus officials tout 'Yes in God’s Backyard' to speed faith-led affordable housing

Columbus City Council President Harden convened a public hearing at Corbin Commons on a proposed “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) policy that would make it easier for religious institutions to develop affordable housing on their land by streamlining zoning, offering technical assistance and creating a dedicated city project manager for eligible parcels.

The measure, which is part of the council’s broader “Columbus Forward” package, would create an expedited zoning review track intended to process complete applications within 45 days, allow staff-approved projects to go directly to council, and apply to parcels containing a religious institution or contiguous parcels under the same ownership, according to Building & Zoning Services staff. Council President Harden said he intends to bring proposed zoning legislation before council for consideration by the end of the year.

Why it matters: Columbus faces faster population growth and rising housing costs, presenters said, and faith institutions collectively own large amounts of underused land that could add housing without large land acquisitions. Testimony focused on two recurring obstacles: limited access to predevelopment funding and state financing rules that favor larger or suburban projects, and the risk that aging affordable properties will be lost without preservation funding.

Advocates called for a package of changes beyond zoning. Sheldon Johnson, executive director of Partners Achieving Community Transformation, described a pilot that pairs four congregations with technical assistance and predevelopment grants, funded in part by Fifth Third Bank and Enterprise Community Partners. “We’re training four congregations on the development process and also giving them some dollars and technical assistance to be able to develop their underutilized land,” Johnson said.

Dayspring Christian Community Development Corporation, which helped develop Corbin Commons, urged the city to design preservation funding and eligibility so small, minority and faith‑based developers can access public programs. Pastor Johnny Pitts, who described Corbin Commons as a multi‑partner, faith‑based ownership model, said tying city programs strictly to state funding has “barriers for entry that prevents urban minority and new developers from accessing state tax credits.”

Developers and lenders at the hearing urged several practical changes. Joe Ritchie, CEO of Proxia Partners, urged standardizing documents and shared templates so small, scattered-site projects can be combined into viable financing packages. Alice Fuller, a local emerging developer, asked the city to consider time‑limited incentives (for example, reduced or waived permits/tap‑in fees if construction begins within a set window) and municipal investment in energy upgrades to lower operating costs for churches that remain involved in long‑term ownership.

Speakers also flagged site‑level logistical costs that slow projects: stormwater, tapping into underground utilities, and site-plan reviews. Shannon Pine, the city’s chief zoning official, and other Building & Zoning Services staff said the administration is pursuing a citywide rezoning project and internal timelines across 14 agencies to tighten review windows; they noted that building-permit reviews can be expedited in many cases and that nearly 85% of building applications are now electronic.

Several presenters stressed protections for tenants and property operations. Legal Aid and tenant advocates urged that any city‑supported developments commit to trained property management and tenant‑friendly leasing practices to reduce eviction filings and avoid per‑day late fees that often escalate into formal evictions. Reverend John Edgar, a long‑time faith‑based developer, urged predevelopment loans or grants that can convert to grants if projects do not move forward.

Additional context and potential funding: Council members referenced a proposed municipal bond package, which includes $500 million for affordable housing, and state legislation under discussion (referred to in testimony as the “Promised Land” initiative). Advocates requested that local zoning flexibility be designed to complement state funding streams such as low‑income housing tax credits and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency processes rather than duplicate them.

What happens next: Council President Harden and Building & Zoning Services staff said they will work together to draft the YIGBY zoning language and processes and publish proposed legislation for public review before submission to council. Staff described two concrete implementation measures under development for the near term: expedited zoning variance/permit tracking with a 45‑day target for complete applications and a dedicated project manager position to shepherd eligible faith‑land projects through reviews.

Speakers and community groups asked the city to pair any zoning changes with a broader support package of predevelopment funding, independent legal counsel options for congregations, and ongoing technical assistance so congregations can negotiate partnerships without losing control of site stewardship. Presenters repeatedly emphasized that while churches supply land, they often lack expertise in tax‑credit financing, architecture, and syndication — gaps a coordinated city program would need to fill.

Council President Harden closed the hearing by promising a draft ordinance and by posting materials and future drafts on the Columbus Forward website for public comment prior to formal introduction. No formal vote was taken at the hearing.