Columbus Prepares for Final Zone In Phase Two Public Review to Support COTA LinkUS Transit Corridors

Columbus Approaches October 24 Public Comment Deadline for Historic Zoning Overhaul

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Entering the decisive final week of community review for the most extensive modernization of municipal land-use codes since the 1950s, the City of Columbus and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced that the 60-day public comment window for Zone In Phase II will conclude on October 24, 2026. Covering more than 70,000 parcels—representing roughly 41% of the entire municipal land area—the proposed zoning update modernizes commercial, light-industrial, warehouse, and mixed-use districts.

City planning directors stated that Phase II eliminates antiquated parking minimums and introduces flexible mixed-use designations, creating zoning capacity for up to 88,000 additional residential units over the next decade. The progressive regulations enable property owners to convert aging commercial strips and vacant parking lots into vibrant, multi-story apartment communities.

Zoning Overhaul Integrates Directly with COTA LinkUS Transit Corridors

The Zone In framework serves as the regulatory engine underpinning LinkUS—the comprehensive regional transportation initiative led jointly by the City of Columbus, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), MORPC, and Franklin County. LinkUS aligns high-density housing allowances directly alongside planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines, starting with the West Broad Street and Northwest transit corridors.

Design and engineering teams are concluding risk assessments under the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Capital Investment Grant program, keeping BRT corridors on track for dedicated center-running lanes, off-board fare collection stations, and rapid 10-minute headways.

City Council Slated for Fourth-Quarter Legislative Adoption

Following the aggregation of public survey feedback and neighborhood gallery workshops, the final Zone In Phase II draft will be submitted to the Columbus City Council for formal committee hearings and a final vote before year-end. Council leadership underscored that pairing modern zoning with rapid transit investment ensures Columbus absorbs anticipated population growth sustainably while expanding workforce housing options across central Ohio.