City presents Zone in update; phase 2 to propose broader mixed‑use land‑use map and Columbus Growth Strategy

City planning staff provided an update on the Zone in project, the city’s multi‑year program to modernize zoning and land‑use policy. Staff said Phase 1 rezoned corridors in 2024 and Phase 2 — called Economic and Housing Opportunity — focuses on extending mixed‑use and housing opportunities more broadly across the city.

Planners described a public engagement effort that included four regional workshops, over 26 pop‑ups, two walking tours, about 3,100 survey responses and approximately 2,300 community interactions. Staff said general support for the refined land‑use map in this outreach ranged from roughly 65 to 75 percent, depending on the question.

Staff said the product of the current work is the Columbus Growth Strategy — an update and consolidation of earlier citywide planning policies — and a citywide land‑use map that will be more consistent than the existing patchwork of 40 area plans. The Growth Strategy and map will be presented for adoption later in the year and will then inform a 2026 program to create new, simplified zoning districts (mixed use 1–3, industrial/warehouse, business and institutional campus) and related code changes.

Board members asked about design guidance and whether neighborhood‑level plans and area commission inputs would continue to matter; staff said area plans and local guidance remain relevant and that the Growth Strategy is intended to create a consistent policy layer while area plans and design guidelines will still be used to refine local expectations and implementation.

Staff encouraged board members and the public to review the materials on the Zone in website, participate in the public comment period, and noted the city expects to transmit the Growth Strategy to City Council later this year to support subsequent rezoning work.