Plan Commission approves housing survey for comprehensive plan, removes 'missing' from 'missing middle'

The Columbus Plan Commission approved a housing-survey draft intended to inform updates to the city's comprehensive plan and housing chapter. Staff said the survey would be distributed online and in hard copy, analyzed through a SurveyMonkey subscription, and that results would be available for the September planning commission meeting.

Commissioners debated survey wording. One commissioner suggested including property taxes in the question about what percentage of monthly household income is spent on housing costs; another commissioner proposed removing the adjective "missing" from the phrase "missing middle housing" to avoid confusing respondents. Commissioner (S3) amended the motion to approve the survey with both changes; the commission approved the amended survey by voice vote.

Representative exchanges in the record include the housing-cost phrasing: "approximately what percentage of your gross monthly household income is spent on housing costs and rent or mortgage plus utilities" and a commissioner suggesting that property taxes be added to that parenthetical. A commissioner offered the amendment: "I can amend my motion to approve the housing survey with removing the word missing from missing middle housing." The chair confirmed the amended motion passed.

Next steps: staff will collect responses, present survey results and a draft housing chapter at the September meeting, and pursue a public hearing on Oct. 8 followed by council consideration on Oct. 20, with an aim toward adoption in December.