Columbus City Council members are considering a request to rezone about two acres at the west end of 26th Street near the Hawcreek People Trail for a potential new trailhead.
The land is currently part of a larger property facing 25th Street that was recently approved as a new Discount Tire location. Discount Tire intends to donate the northern portion of the land — 1.59 acres — to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.
The northern portion that Discount Tire is donating to the city is in a 100-year flood plain that was severely impacted by the 2008 flood. The tire store deemed the portion of property unusable for its purposes.
If the rezoning request is approved on final reading by the council, the parks department said its goal is to create a new trailhead on the property to connect the nearby neighborhood to the People Trail.
The land would be combined with adjacent city-owned property. The rezoning request changes the land from a commercial community center zone to a residential single family 2 zone — the necessary zoning to establish the trailhead location.
Councilman David Bush said when he and his family access the People Trail for biking, they pedal through the current gravel lot.
“We’ve done it dozens and dozens of times, and I know we’re not the only ones who do that,” Bush said. “I applaud the effort of the parks department for getting this process started. I can’t wait to have a trailhead there.”
The council approved the request on first reading Tuesday. It will be considered on final reading at 6 p.m. March 19 at Columbus City Hall council chambers.
