Draft plan stresses improving city's existing neighborhoods
Columbus' coming boost in population means growth must be managed
Reject sprawl. Redevelop and revitalize instead.
Those are the aims of Columbus' draft comprehensive plan, which after a review of the city's projected growth and its residents' recommendations, proposes this: Do more to improve existing neighborhoods and less to drive growth to the city's edge.
Estimates show Columbus could gain from 30,000 to 37,000 new residents in the next few years, boosting the city's population to about 220,000, Gary Cornell told 53 people gathered Tuesday at the Columbus Public Library for an update on the plan that guides city land-use decisions. Cornell is the project manager for Jordan, Jones & Goulding, the consulting firm helping develop the plan.
Resist sprawl
In a series of community meetings held earlier this year, residents told planners they want more redevelopment in existing neighborhoods, and not so much sprawl to the north and east. Cornell said that if the city continues with current patterns, 70 percent of its projected population and housing growth will spread to suburbs in the northwest part of the county and the eastern panhandle, and some to the southeast. With programs and policies to direct that growth to existing neighborhoods, 70 percent could go to southeast and south Columbus, and to downtown, Bibb City and Midtown. That could save about 3,000 acres of trees, Cornell said.
Factors other than rapid population growth could add impetus to neighborhood revitalization, he said: Columbus is the job center for this region, and high gas prices are driving workers to move closer to where they work. They're looking for affordable in-town housing near parks, bike paths and cultural centers like downtown.
Fight youth flight
Younger workers in particular are not in the market for ranch-style homes on the north side of town, Cornell said, but the same goes for elderly residents and for some "empty-nesters," couples ready to unload the old family home after their children move out. They want the convenience of pedestrian-friendly communities where they can walk to the grocery or drug store, stroll around a park, or go out to eat without a long drive.
At the same time, Columbus has a relatively high percentage of vacant properties that could be renovated or adapted to a more compatible use. Cornell said 10 percent of Columbus' housing is vacant, and the average generally is 5-7 percent.
So, with growth coming, in-town living becoming more desirable and a lot of property lying unused, Columbus needs a plan for putting people where the homes already are, and making those neighborhoods places people want to move to.
Steps to take
Among the recommendations in the draft comprehensive plan:
• Designate "Targeted Redevelopment Areas" on which to focus revitalization efforts. Among those now identified are the Beallwood area, the Liberty District and the neighborhoods along Lawyer's Lane.
• Inventory and monitor property in redevelopment areas. Use public and tax-foreclosed property to generate affordable housing.
• Get neighborhood groups involved in preservation and revitalization.
• Establish loan programs to help residents improve their homes.
• Streamline regulations and procedures to facilitate mixed-use redevelopment that puts homes, shops, offices and schools close together.
• Create tax incentives for owners to convert parking lots to pocket parks.
• Adopt an ordinance that restricts dead-end streets so motorists have more optional routes.
• Create a master plan to connect existing trails across neighborhoods, add more bike lanes to roads and expand the Riverwalk into a citywide trail system.
• Acquire land for conservation and recreation, particularly easements around Fort Benning.
• Strengthen the existing tree ordinance.
• Improve monitoring and enforcement of stream buffers to protect tributaries of the Chattahoochee River.
• Work with the school district to build schools closer to existing neighborhoods. "The pattern of placing schools beyond the suburban fringe promotes sprawl development and should be avoided," the draft states.
• Keep Columbus' best and brightest from moving away by offering the qualities young professionals seek in a city. "These qualities include vibrant mixed-use downtowns, a diversity of in-town housing options, numerous cultural events and festivals, as well as many places to socialize," says the draft plan.