Southwest Area Plan City of Columbus - Franklin Township - Jackson Township :: Franklin County, Ohio City of Columbus Department of Development Planning Division Southwest Area Plan City of Columbus · Franklin Township · Jackson Township :: Franklin County, Ohio City of Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman Columbus City Council Commissioners Michael C. Mentel Paula Brooks Hearcel F. Craig Marilyn Brown Andrew J. Ginther John O’Grady A. Troy Miller Eileen Y. Paley Charleta B. Tavares Priscilla R. Tyson Franklin Township Board of Trustees Jackson Township Board of Trustees Timothy Guyton David Burris Don Cook Stephen Bowshier Paul Johnson William Lotz Sr. Bonnie Watkinson, Fiscal Officer William Forrester, Fiscal Officer iv Letter from the Directors In the spirit of regional cooperation and coordination, we respectively present the South- west Area Plan to both the Columbus City Council and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. The plan is a result of a collaborative process among the city of Colum- bus, Franklin County, Franklin Township, Jackson Township, the Southwest Area Com- mission and the many interested citizens and stakeholders in the Southwest Area. The plan outlines a common vision for the future development of the Southwest Area that is a result of extensive community input and outreach to all of the area’s jurisdictions. The plan contains key recommendations in the areas of land use, parks and open spaces, economic development, urban design, transportation and regional coordination. The plan will be implemented cooperatively by the area’s jurisdictions and the Southwest Area Commission through the review of rezoning applications and the planning of future public improvements and initiatives. We would like to thank the Southwest Area Commission and the many community mem- bers who dedicated their time and resources to this planning process. It is their insight and determination that is directly responsible for the development of the plan and their leadership will continue to implement the plan’s recommendations. Sincerely, Boyce Safford, III James Schimmer Director, Department of Development Director, Economic Development and Planning City of Columbus Franklin County Southwest Area Plan City of Columbus Franklin County Prepared by: Department of Development Economic Development and City of Columbus Boyce Safford III, Director Planning Department Adrienne Joly, AICP, Project Manager Mike Stevens, Deputy Director Jim Schimmer, Director Brent Warren, Long Range Planner Nichole Brandon, Deputy Director Lee Brown, Planning Administrator Devayani Puranik, Long Range Planner Daniel Thomas, Urban Design Manager Planning Division Franklin County Dan Ferdelman, Urban Designer Vince Papsidero, AICP, Administrator Planning Commission Corrin Wendell, Urban Designer Kevin Wheeler, Assistant Administrator Douglas Cochran, Chairman Elsie Stiger, Graphic Designer Benjamin Drake William Flaherty Franklin County Development Commission Ben Weiner, Project Manager Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Chair Vince Papsidero Steven Salay Matt Brown, Planner John A. Ingwersen, Vice Chair Scott Fulton, Planner Marty Anderson Wilbur Smith R.J. Sontag Anthony Hray, Assistant Planner Maria Manta Conroy Elise Yablonsky, Graduate Intern John A. Cooley Kevin Wheeler Nancy M. White Southwest Area Plan Working Committee Franklin County Ralph Horn, Chair, Southwest Area Commission Rural Zoning Commission Randy Banks, Southwest City Schools David Brobst, Chairman Linda Burkey, Green Lawn Cemetery Jim Daley Don Cook, Franklin Township Trustee Robert Garvin Tim Guyton, Franklin Township Trustee Joe Martin Everett Kirk, Southwest Area Commission Michael Lilly, Jackson Township Administrator Clyde Miller, Southwest Area Commission Jen Miller, Southwest Area Commission Reverend John Palmer Shawn Paynemiller, Columbus Housing Plan adoption Network Columbus City Council: March 2, 2009 Franklin County Board of Commissioners: April 14, 2009 Photo credits AGE Development Corporation Columbus Metropolitan Library Columbus Planning Division Franklin County Please direct inquires to: MSI Design City of Columbus Franklin County pedbikeimages.org Department of Development Economic Development and Planning State of Indiana Planning Division 150 South Front Street 109 North Front Street FSL Suite 10 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-645-8664 614-462-3094 development.columbus.gov www.franklincountyohio.gov/edp vi Contents Element 1 - Introduction What is a plan? 2 History 4 Key Recommendations 7 Planning Process Summary 8 Map index Element 2 - Existing Conditions Southwest Planning Area 3 Summary of Findings 11 Existing Land Use 16 Opportunities and Constraints 14 Existing Zoning 17 Land Use and Zoning 15 Urban Form 19 Urban Form 18 Traffic Counts and COTA Routes 22 Transportation 20 Sidewalks and Trails 23 Community Facilities 27 Community Facilities 25 Natural Resources 29 Natural Environment 28 Public Workshop Results 32 Public Input 30 Future Land Use 41 Transportation Plan 54 Element 3 - Recommendations Parks and Open Space 34 Land Use 38 Table index Cooper Stadium 47 Population and Housing Trends 12 Urban Design Standards 50 Demographics 12 Business Sectors 13 Transportation 53 City of Columbus Zoning 15 Industrial Uses 58 Jackson Township Zoning 15 Regionalism 60 Franklin County Zoning 15 Major Roadways 20 Element 4 - Implementation Corresponding Zoning Districts 39 Education and Outreach 62 General Guidelines 64 Plan Amendment and Revision 63 Site-Specific Guidelines 64 Commercial Development 65 Development Review Checklist 63 Industrial Development 66 Action-Oriented Recommendations 68 Residential Development 67 Transportation 67 Plan Summary 71 Recommendations Chart 68 viii Element 1 Introduction Element Highlights: This plan consist of four elements: Introduction, Existing Conditions, Plan Recommendations and Implementation The Southwest Area has a rich history, with several historic sites Recommendations concern parks, land use, urban design, transportation, economic development and regional coordination The plan’s recommendations result directly from public input 2 Element 1 Introduction What is a plan? A neighborhood plan does not address the following: The Southwest Area Plan provides an opportu- nity for the community to help shape and direct A plan does not resolve disputes between the pattern of growth and development within property owners. their neighborhoods. The area planning process A plan does not solve issues unrelated to addresses urban design, land use, transportation, the built and natural environment, such as economic development, and natural resources health care, code enforcement and public and open space. The goal of the plan is to safety. develop a shared vision unique to the planning area by bringing together a range of community A plan does not “force” public and private stakeholders. The Southwest Area Plan: entities to do something that they would not otherwise do. Identifies strengths and assets A plan is not zoning, though it provides the Identifies area needs and concerns policy basis for zoning and related develop- Represents a vision defined by the ment decisions. community Sets goals for improving the area Plan Format Recommends specific actions and strategies The plan consists of four elements: Introduc- to accomplish goals tion, Existing Conditions, Plan Recommenda- Identifies the resources and respon- tions and Implementation Strategy. The bulk of sible parties that can help implement the the plan consists of the Plan Recommendations recommendations element, which includes text, maps, charts, photos and other illustrations. The recommenda- Adoption of the plan will help the Southwest tions are organized by Development Principles Area in a number of ways. The adopted plan that apply to the Southwest Area. Policies are will: developed for each Development Principle to Clearly reflect the neighborhood’s desires help guide its implementation. Guidelines and for the future strategies are then formulated to implement the policies. Provide a framework for zoning and other land use decisions Inform appropriate capital improvement priorities for the neighborhood Provide design guidelines for the design of new development Introduction 3 Planning Area The planning area is located a short distance to border the area to the west and north. Grove the southwest of downtown Columbus covering City lies to the south. The area’s boundaries are approximately 6,500 acres or 10 square miles. Mound Street to the north, the Scioto River to The Hilltop and Franklinton areas of Columbus the east, I-270 to the south and the CSX railroad WAYNE SULLIVANT HARMON EUREKA WHITTIER MOUND GREENLAWN EAKIN BROWN STIMMEL HAGUE EMIG BRIGGS HART CLIME FRANK LONGWOOD ALKIRE BIG RUN HARDY GANTZ ¨¦§71 BROWN BROWN HOME DYER MC COMB MARLANE Planning Area Columbus Grove City GANTZ HOOVER §270 Urbancrest ¨¦ FranklinSONORA Township Miles Jackson TownshipEDWARDS STRINGTOWN 0 0.25 0.5 1 Figure 1: Planning Area and Jurisdictional Boundaries 4 Southwest Area Plan tracks to the west. There are five jurisdictions within the planning area boundary – Columbus, Franklin County, Franklin Township, Jackson Township and the village of Urbancrest. History In 1803 when Franklin County was formed, the Southwest Planning Area was part of Franklin Green Lawn Cemetery, 1889 Township. The area is just south of the pioneer village of the county, Franklinton, which was settled in August 1797. There is discussion of two ancient circular mounds (perhaps from the Adena