Council gives initial approval on rezoning

Columbus has given initial approval to rezone a riverfront property for possible future development.

Columbus City Council recently approved the first reading of an ordinance rezoning 3.52 acres of property from Public and Semi-Public Facilities to Commercial: Downtown.

The land is located at the intersection of Brown and Water streets, south of the Louisville &Indiana Railroad spur, and adjacent to the White River, according to a memo from City/County Planning Director Jeff Bergman. The property in question is owned by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, which seeks to rezone it for possible future development “consistent with its setting in downtown Columbus.”

Redevelopment Project Coordinator Mikala Brown said at a previous city meeting that while there are no concrete plans for development or redevelopment on the property, the department wants to ensure that the opportunity is available.

The ordinance rezoning the property contains commitments for any future projects, stating that “as part of, or prior to, the development of the property, and prior to any occupancy of that development,” the following actions must be completed: right-of-way dedication for Brown and Water Streets across the subject property; improvement of both streets, between the intersection with First Street and the southern/easternmost line of the property; and construction of a shared-use path connection between the Riverfront and 1821 Trails.

Previous requests to rezone the property were denied by the city council in 2003 and 2015. This time, however, the council approved the first reading 6-0 (Councilman Jerone Wood was absent). Ordinances must be passed on two readings to be fully approved.

Prior to the vote, Councilman Frank Miller — who was on the council during the 2015 request — said that while he would not be against potential development, he felt like nothing had changed regarding the property’s situation. He noted that “a good portion” of it is in the floodplain. That, combined with the trails potentially running through the land, would mean that the portion left for potential redevelopment is small, he said.

However, Councilman Tom Dell suggested that rezoning would help encourage future development on the parts that are developable, and Redevelopment Director Heather Pope agreed.

“The site hasn’t changed since 2015, but the interest in downtown real estate has changed,” said Mayor Jim Leinhoop. “We’re putting in the apartment complex and the urban grocer. We’re building the court services building, and it’s our hope that the desire to develop this ground would follow along.”

Lienhoop, who was on the council during the 2015 request, said at that time that there was value to keeping the area as a green space and having a place for floodwater to go.

Per the staff report, the property is almost entirely in the White River Floodway, 100 year floodplain, or 500 year floodplain. Bergman said that construction is not allowed in the floodway, with the exception of certain items such as an overlook or a “recreational amenity” related to the river. However, the floodplain areas are buildable, provided that the new development is “adequately protected from flooding.” This would likely entail elevation.

“I think the extent to which that property is developable is probably going to be a matter of cost,” said Bergman.