Columbus Council unveils “Columbus Forward” package to guide growth, with housing, small-business and recycling measures

Columbus City Council on an announced day at the MLK Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library unveiled “Columbus Forward,” a multi-part policy platform intended to prepare the city for population and development growth by preserving neighborhoods, supporting small businesses, expanding recycling and reducing housing barriers.

Council President Harden said the package is intended to make sure growth “is when every worker, every small business, every child, and every family shares in the success of a city that is growing.” He described Columbus Forward as “a new policy platform dedicated to getting ahead of the growing pains and making growth work for all of us.”

The package bundles nine initial initiatives from multiple council members. President Pro Tem Rob Dorns framed the effort as building on prior council packages addressing public safety and housing, saying the city faces both opportunity and challenge as it expands. Dorns said the proposal will include “an assessment of our historical preservation policies” to identify ways to preserve neighborhood history while accommodating new development.

Council member Nick Bankston introduced a construction impact mitigation program aimed at protecting small businesses during public construction. “My initiative, the construction impact mitigation program, is about making sure progress doesn’t come at the expense of our small businesses,” Bankston said. The program would consider phasing work, improved signage and communication, corridor maintenance, and a contingency fund to support affected businesses if other interventions prove insufficient.

Council member Christopher Weitz discussed waste and recycling, citing a county landfill capacity estimate. He said Franklin County’s landfill has about 40 years of capacity, according to a recent Swayco estimate, and argued that expanded recycling and composting could extend landfill life and reduce disposal costs. Weitz described a proposed multiyear plan to phase in weekly recycling for single-family homes, new reuse drop-off centers and expanded food-waste collection to ensure “one day every Columbus resident will have access to recycling services regardless of where they live.”

Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla introduced pay-transparency legislation that would require reasonable salary ranges on job postings for positions based in the city. Barroso de Padilla said the measure builds on a 2023 salary-history ban and is designed to reduce wage gaps that disproportionately affect women and people of color.

Council member Otto Beatty proposed easing zoning barriers for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), saying the current code forces many homeowners to seek variances and “My initiative will cut through that red tape by making ADUs allowed by right,” which officials said would streamline approvals and make ADUs more accessible.

Council member Nancy Day Acker described a youth-programming initiative to inventory nonprofit and city-run youth programs across Columbus, identify gaps and duplicates, and convene providers to pursue a strategic plan aimed at “recreational equity” and better distribution of grant funding for summer programs.

Council member Emmanuel Ramey outlined proposals on nightlife, short-term oversight and event permitting intended to reduce nuisance properties and improve public safety and permitting consistency. Ramey said the initiatives would modernize registration and compliance for short-term operations, provide clearer event requirements, and upgrade online reporting so residents can report concerns and get feedback.

The announcement also included a proposal, labeled “Yes in God’s Backyard,” to encourage faith-based institutions to consider repurposing underused land (side yards, parking lots, vacant lots) for affordable housing through zoning and permitting assistance and technical support. Council members noted a recent meeting with more than 40 faith and housing leaders at Shiloh Baptist Church where congregational interest in the idea was expressed.

City staff director Jose Rodriguez closed the event with logistical comments and next steps, including hearings and community conversations; council members said materials on the package would be posted at columbusfort.us and that some items would appear on council agendas for formal consideration and public hearings.

The announcement did not include formal votes or emergency ordinances; council members characterized the package as a coordinated set of proposals that will proceed through the council’s legislative process, including public hearings and staff-led implementation steps. Several council members said portions of the package will require coordination with city departments and further administrative action before taking effect.