Council hears housing update as planning staff weigh middle-housing zoning changes

Columbus City Common Council on Feb. 17 received a detailed housing report from Jake Sipe, the city’s director of community development, and an update from Planning Director Jeff Bergman on potential zoning changes to allow more “middle housing.”

Sipe told the council that the city’s Providing Affordable Construction and Transportation (PACT) program approved eight homes for funding in 2025 and that two of those homes were completed. He said the Columbus Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), an owner-occupied rehabilitation program for lower- and moderate-income homeowners, improved 28 homes in 2025 by addressing HVAC, roofing, ADA accessibility, electrical and plumbing needs. A separate partnership with the Columbus Housing Authority rehabilitated 24 single-family rental homes in 2025.

Sipe said a homelessness-prevention initiative, run in partnership with the United Way of Bartholomew County, helped prevent homelessness for 192 individuals in 2025, most commonly by preventing eviction. According to Sipe, 62% of people assisted either increased their income or obtained employment and 72% obtained health care through the program.

Jeff Bergman, the city’s planning director, told the council that Planning Department staff are exploring updates to the city’s zoning regulations to provide more flexibility for middle housing projects—examples he cited include small apartment buildings and cottage clusters—because current rules are explicitly written for single-family homes, duplexes and large apartment complexes. Bergman said the department is investigating how regulations could be adjusted to accommodate those housing types.

Councilors did not take policy votes on the zoning review during the meeting. The council noted the work as an informational update; staff indicated any formal code amendments would return for future consideration and public review.

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2026.