Columbus City Council adopts rezoning to allow storage units north of E. 19th Street

The Columbus City Council on April 21 adopted Ordinance No. 25-04 to rezone a parcel north of East 19th Street between East 11th and East 12th Avenues from B-2 General Commercial District to MLC-1 Light Industrial District, clearing the way for a proposed convenience-storage development.

The rezoning was the subject of a public hearing at the council meeting. Jason Meilock, attorney with Faringer and Meilock LLP, said the request would permit the developer to build convenience storage units and that the proposal had appeared before the Planning Commission, which recommended approval. Meilock also said Ethan Brueland of Charity Storage would be the developer for the project.

“The intended development [is] convenience storage units on that piece of property,” Meilock said during the hearing.

Council members closed the hearing, suspended the rules to read the ordinance by number only and then voted to adopt Ordinance No. 25-04. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing, and the meeting record shows the motion to adopt passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: Rezoning changes the list of permitted uses on the parcel and allows the developer to proceed toward design and permitting for storage units; the change also updates the comprehensive plan future land-use map as part of the ordinance.

Discussion vs. decision: Council discussion at the meeting was limited to the public hearing and procedural motions; the formal action was the adoption of Ordinance No. 25-04. No amendments or conditions were recorded in the council’s action.

Next steps: With adoption, the property owner and developer may move forward with site planning and building permits under the MLC-1 zoning standards, subject to city permitting processes.