Seeking questions on City Annexation / Pay as We Grow « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Seeking questions on City Annexation / Pay as We Grow

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from Walker

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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As a sort of follow up to THIS STORY, I'm sitting down with Dan Williamson and Greg Davies at City Hall on Monday to discuss the city's development plans, annexation policies, and the other types of things they are working on to avoid some of the problems discussed in that Dispatch article. It sounds like they weren't completely happy with the way that article turned out and wanted to provide some additional information that they felt was overlooked or pushed aside.

I wanted to see if there were any additional questions for these guys that anyone might have for me to take along? What do you want to know?

Posted 2 years ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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Does the city consider tax-sharing agreements such as those described in the Dispatch article that the city has with Dublin and New Albany good substitutes for annexation?

How would the city respond to Gene Krebs of Greater Ohio? From the Dispatch article:

Gene Krebs, co-director of the anti-sprawl group Greater Ohio, said Columbus' growth has created an illusion that everything is fine when the city's core continues to hollow out with vacant and abandoned houses.

"They need to examine if their internal policies conflict with each other," Krebs said. "Are they encouraging expansion to Zanesville" while trying to revitalize the central city?

Will the city rethink its less aggressive annexation policy if it results in the specter of Columbus becoming landlocked by incorporated areas?

Posted 2 years ago #
jpizzow
580 N. Park St.
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Streetcars? Light rail?....we shouldn't even have to ask, because it shouldn't even be an issue....that's all.

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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1. When greenfield development does take place in Columbus, what is the city doing to encourage it to be mixed use and multi-modal?
2. Is the Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) zoning code optional? If so, why isn't it mandatory?
3. Does "pay as we grow" include costs of providing public transit to new areas?
4. What would happen if Columbus refused to extend water and sewer service to accommodate new greenfield development? Would other cities be able to do it on their own or would the land remain undeveloped?

Posted 2 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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I've always liked the idea of a green belt (not an urban growth boundary,) impact fees, linkage fees and mitigation fees for new builds and aggressive multi jurisdictional transfer of development rights programs.

Posted 2 years ago #
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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I'd like to see more about brownfields and infilling, and green design as a guiding principle when developing.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Thanks everyone! Keep em comin'! :D

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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1 - jpizzow's statment as a question: why is it that no one has to ask for sprawl, but we have to ask for multi-modal, mixed-use development? Why isn't it already provided so that people have a choice?

2 - In sprawling areas of the city why do city leaders think it's "bike-friendly" to have highway speed vehicles buzzing by cyclists in a tiny, debris-filled lane at a close distance?

3 - Why in residential areas is the city choosing to build lots of sprawl and traffic inducing cul-de-sac roads, which results in us spending tens of millions of dollars adding several lanes to arterial roads to accommodate more traffic and more sprawl?

4 - What zoning laws are impeding multi-modal, mixed-use development and why haven't they already been changed?

5 - Why does the city hinder COTA's performance by bussing to car-dependent areas of the city?

Posted 2 years ago #
CbusIslander
Cbus Islander
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jpizzow wrote >>
Streetcars? Light rail?....we shouldn't even have to ask, because it shouldn't even be an issue....that's all.

I second this.

Posted 2 years ago #
hb

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I like Mercurius' ideas of green belt impact fees. On the flipside, have they ever thought about incentives such as reduced permitting fees, quicker P&Z approval process, etc. for developers interested in brownfield and infill developments?

Posted 2 years ago #
Brant
Gahanna
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gramarye wrote >>
Will the city rethink its less aggressive annexation policy if it results in the specter of Columbus becoming landlocked by incorporated areas?

I think the city sees it as an either/or situation: Either we aggressively annex, or we get hemmed in by our suburbs and end up just like Cleveland and Cincinnati. This makes for a pretty antagonistic relationship between the city and its suburbs.

This prompts the question: Is there an alternative or compromise to "annexation v. stagnation"? What might that look like?

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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Brant Jones wrote >>

gramarye wrote >>
Will the city rethink its less aggressive annexation policy if it results in the specter of Columbus becoming landlocked by incorporated areas?

I think the city sees it as an either/or situation: Either we aggressively annex, or we get hemmed in by our suburbs and end up just like Cleveland and Cincinnati. This makes for a pretty antagonistic relationship between the city and its suburbs.
This prompts the question: Is there an alternative or compromise to "annexation v. stagnation"? What might that look like?

Continue to annex, but then build smart growth instead of auto-dependent, throw-away places that nobody cares about.

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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hb wrote >>
I like Mercurius' ideas of green belt impact fees. On the flipside, have they ever thought about incentives such as reduced permitting fees, quicker P&Z approval process, etc. for developers interested in brownfield and infill developments?

I like this idea. I would also like to ask if they've considered incentives for LEED-ND or cluster/conservation development.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Brant Jones wrote >>
Is there an alternative or compromise to "annexation v. stagnation"? What might that look like?

It would have looked like this:

The annexed land would have consisted of several middle-class, low-density, but multi-modal neighborhoods. If Columbus had pursued that path, think of where we would be on a national and even international scale and what it would have meant for streetcars and light rail in this city. We would most certainly have several "High Streets", not just one. Then taking what John said about disposable places that no one cares about, look at: Morse Rd, Hamilton Rd, Brice Rd, etc, etc, etc. Now ask yourself which is better.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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I also have to ask: where were/are OSU leaders using their influence to guide development in this city?

Posted 2 years ago #
adrock
Grandview Heights
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http://campuspartners.osu.edu/

that's where they are. unconstitutionally closing bars and kicking immigrant/mom & pop business owners out of their property for over a decade now.

i say the less they influence development the better.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Good point.

Another question regarding sprawl within the land the city has annexed: why is there "NO ADEQUATE AREA" for tiny bike racks at any of the establishments I requested when they certainly have more than adequate parking for dozens of cars, with said parking mandated by the city? How is it possible that at places like Wing's on E Main, any number of businesses on W 5th, and Paul's on E Broad (where a cyclist employee was killed in a hit and run) don't have "adequate" room for bike racks and what is the city doing to change that?

Posted 2 years ago #
El Stonio
Location Location
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I walk and drive around Columbus alot. We need to grow from the inside, strengthen what we have, make Columbus the attractive center/downtown of all that surrounds it. We don't even have sidewalks where heavy pedestrian traffic exists. (lane under 315, behind the convention center) As far as annexation goes, PLEASE don't forget functioning green pathways. Places that are natural, walkable/bikable and as unproduced as possible. Ever been to the bike and hike path that goes from Kent to Cleveland? Wonderful mixed use of a wide grass patch. Geographical breathing spaces are necessary.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Just in case anyone missed it, the interview is here:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-sprawl-slows-down-and-gets-smarter

Posted 2 years ago #