Planning and Zoning Commission to revisit North-Central overlay issue

COLUMBIA — Two months ago, the Planning and Zoning Commission tabled the North Central Columbia Neighborhood Association urban conservation overlay. At 7 p.m. Thursday at the Daniel Boone Building, 701 E. Broadway, the commission will revisit the issue. The overlay is the sixth item on the agenda.

In the works for 15 years, the North-Central overlay would create another layer of zoning regulations for businesses or residents in the area. Projects would have to go before a city-appointed design review panel that would review development requests to ensure they meet standards of the ordinance, which is intended to create an aesthetically pleasing and consistent appearance in the neighborhood.

Since the hearing was tabled Oct. 4, the commission has held two work sessions. At the last work session it decided to listen to the public at Thursday’s meeting and then try to create an alternative solution that will please the neighborhood association and those affected by the overlay.

Originally six subdivisions with their own regulations were to exist within the overlay, but after the issue was tabled the draft has been amended to include only five subdivisions, combining the West End subdivision into the Uptown subdivision. The North-Central neighborhood and the overlay were originally set to have the following boundaries: College Avenue on the east, Ash and Walnut streets on the south, Providence Road on the west and Business Loop 70 on the north. The area has recently been changed to exclude two properties on Orr Street and a property on Ash Street between North Providence Road and North Fifth Street.

To view a draft of the overlay click here.