Zoning Public Hearings
Board of Zoning Adjustment
The Board of Zoning Adjustment is responsible for hearing and deciding appeals from individuals affected by any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the Director in the administration or enforcement of the Zoning Code, except in cases under the jurisdiction of the Graphics Commission or the Board of Commission Appeals. Additionally, the Board reviews and decides requests for special permits and variances, excluding those matters under the authority of City Council, the Graphics Commission, or the Board of Commission Appeals. The Board also addresses any other matters assigned to it under the Zoning Code.
Graphics Commission
The Graphics Commission is responsible for hearing and deciding all requests related to appeals, variances, and special permits under the Graphics Code, except where otherwise provided in Columbus City Codes (C.C.) 3359 or 3323. This includes reviewing and approving graphics plans and any other actions designated for commission review. The Commission also evaluates proposed design criteria and standards for special graphics control areas and makes recommendations to City Council. Additionally, it serves as an appellate body for rulings or procedures issued by the Board of General and Limited Sign Erectors. The Commission is tasked with reviewing the existing Graphics Code, proposing new legislation for preparation by the appropriate department, evaluating all pending graphics-related legislation, and recommending updates or changes to relevant City Codes.
Council Variance
City Council may grant the following zoning variances:
A. Permit a variation in the yard, height or parking requirements of any district only in conjunction with a change in zoning or a use variance and only where there are unusual and practical difficulties in the carrying out of the zoning district provisions due to an irregular shape of lot, topography, or other conditions, providing such variance will not seriously affect any adjoining property or the general welfare.
B. Permit a use of the property not permitted by the zoning district established on the property if such use will not adversely affect the surrounding property or surrounding neighborhood and if council is satisfied that the granting of such variance will alleviate some hardship or difficulty which warrants a variance from the comprehensive plan.
Before authorizing any variance from this Zoning Code or the 2024 Zoning Code, in a specific case, city council shall first determine that such variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to the adjacent property, unreasonably increase the congestion of public streets, increase the danger of fires, endanger the public safety, unreasonably diminish or impair established property values within the surrounding area, or in any other respect impair the public health, safety, comfort, morals or welfare of the inhabitants of the city.
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Rezoning
Zoning is the division of land into districts based on current or intended land uses. These districts have uniform zoning regulations including land uses, building height, setbacks, lot size, density, lot coverage, required parking, building design standards, and other specific zoning code requirements. Zoning regulations help ensure that the city grow and change in a managed, predictable way, while safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. The appropriate zoning district must be established before beginning any other development process.
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