Ask the CAC to protect Walhalla Ravine

[Jeff Frontz]

Hi neighbors,

The City is asking Area Commissions for feedback on Zone In Phase 2, which includes major rezoning across Clintonville. Before this moves forward, the City needs to adopt two basic protections that most peer cities already use:

   - A real, enforceable tree-preservation ordinance

   - Neighborhood Conservation Districts that protect block patterns, setbacks, tree lawns, and natural features

Without these protections, Clintonville — and especially Walhalla Ravine — faces serious risks, including:

    * loss of mature canopy
    * increased erosion on fragile slopes
    * destabilization of the ravine roadway
    * demolition of small homes replaced by much larger structures
    * loss of neighborhood character and block rhythm

Cities like Charlotte, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Nashville, Austin, and Portland do not proceed with zoning reform without strong tree rules and neighborhood conservation tools. Columbus should not be the exception.

What you can do (only takes a minute):

Email the Clintonville Area Commission at commis...@clintonvilleareacommission.org and ask them to recommend a pause on Phase 2 rezonings until Columbus adopts:
a) a modern tree-preservation ordinance, and
b) a Neighborhood Conservation District program.

You can keep the message simple. For example:
“I support pausing Zone In Phase 2 until Columbus adopts a strong tree ordinance and Neighborhood Conservation Districts. These tools are standard in other U.S. cities and are especially important for protecting Walhalla Ravine and Clintonville’s character.”

Commission email:
commis...@clintonvilleareacommission.org

Current District 3 commissioner: Donna...@me.com

Incoming District 3 commissioner: will.b...@gmail.com

The Commission will be preparing feedback soon, so now is the time to speak up.

Please consider sending a message and sharing this with your neighbors. The future of Clintonville’s canopy, character, and Walhalla Ravine depends on it.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Heather Gott]

Thanks Jeff!

Heather Gott

Realtor

The Columbus Team

Keller Williams Capital Partners

614-329-2651

hea...@thecolumbusteam.com

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[Mary Jo Kilroy]

Thanks Jeff. Will do.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 23, 2025, at 9:55 PM, Heather Gott <hgo...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAFGG1JFRXMFHM9DD7CVBf5KsigQUmT29mx35TKEz30VYqXH6%3Dg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Will Klatt]

Thanks Jeff. 

Very thoughtful outline on what needs to change. I fully support this position and will relay that at the next meeting. I will not be seated until January so will not be able to vote on the CAC resolution that had been drafted and presented at the last meeting. After a couple more neighbors spoke up at the meeting they tabled affirming the Zone In Phase 2 plan as the resolution was constructed. 

I will speak in support of making these changes prior to the CAC approval of the Zone In Phase 2 .

Best

Will Klatt
cell- 614-905-1109

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/2C836AFD-CA28-4481-9854-1F9A6C9DBA10%40gmail.com.

[Pari Sabety]

thanks Jeff.  Will do pronto

Email the Clintonville Area Commission at commissioners@clintonvilleareacommission.org and ask them to recommend a pause on Phase 2 rezonings until Columbus adopts:

a) a modern tree-preservation ordinance, and
b) a Neighborhood Conservation District program.

You can keep the message simple. For example:
“I support pausing Zone In Phase 2 until Columbus adopts a strong tree ordinance and Neighborhood Conservation Districts. These tools are standard in other U.S. cities and are especially important for protecting Walhalla Ravine and Clintonville’s character.”

Commission email:

commissioners@clintonvilleareacommission.org

Current District 3 commissioner: DonnaLeigh@me.com

Incoming District 3 commissioner: will.b.klatt@gmail.com

The Commission will be preparing feedback soon, so now is the time to speak up.

Please consider sending a message and sharing this with your neighbors. The future of Clintonville’s canopy, character, and Walhalla Ravine depends on it.

Thanks,

Jeff

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[Ryan, Patricia]

I like it. Thanks, Jeff

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From: walhall...@googlegroups.com <walhall...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Jeff Frontz <jeff....@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2025 9:51:34 PM
To: Walhalla Mailing List <walhall...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [External Email] [Walhalla] Ask the CAC to protect Walhalla Ravine

 

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[Calhoun, Kristin]

Thanks Jeff. I used your template in my email to the commissioners!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/DS7PR10MB7348201C61C019194D3DBF80ACD0A%40DS7PR10MB7348.namprd10.prod.outlook.com.

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Kristin Calhoun Art Teacher kristin...@tolcs.org   ·   614.263.2688 935 Northridge Road Columbus, Ohio 43224

[Mary Lynn Thalheimer]

Will — Thanks for conveying your intention to support this. Can you share why it was tabled last time?

Mary Lynn Thalheimer 

On Nov 24, 2025, at 7:58 PM, Calhoun, Kristin <kristin...@tolcs.org> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAPzg4%2Bqjn8QLh%2BFTSfmfZUFBtn5zL3whFuibgPVjttzH1_6YzA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Will Klatt]

I can’t speak to the intentions of the seated members, but during the question period I raised my hand and pointed out that several members had stated they had not read the Phase Two report. I encouraged them to review the report before voting on it. One member then shouted at me. My hope is that, moving forward, there will be more decorum in the meetings—particularly when neighbors are simply asking questions or raising concerns. 

A couple of other neighbors also raised their hands with objections. As I recall, their concerns were that the report did not include enough guardrails around zoning and could alter the character of the neighborhood. Their objections weren’t specific to the impact on Walhalla Ravine, but my hope is that more community members will raise this important issue at the next meeting.

I do believe we need to update some of our zoning laws, and suggestions like the ones raised on this page could help protect community and natural spaces such as the Walhalla Ravine.

Totally off topic, but has anyone seen any foxes down there? Pre-COVID there were a couple of families in the ravine, and they were really cool to watch, but I haven’t seen one in about three years. I’m not sure if coyotes out-competed them or if they simply moved territories.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! 

Best,

Will 

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/64B3053E-E691-4F83-8A80-9D8CACB65BC1%40gmail.com.

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Will Klatt
cell- 614-905-1109

[Mary Jo Kilroy]

Will, I also used to see foxes in the ravine, but haven't in years. There was a big one that we would sometimes see in the evenings, in the middle of Midgard Road and Brynhild. There was a  young one, that was on Brynhild, and when I would walk a dog early in the morning, the young fox would follow along, always staying up on the slope. 

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAKgwjH11%3DSXUk5qYXiO5FJ9FTT9Ob5VQ0_fRZOWa_d47SDt4gA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mary Jo Kilroy]

Also crayfish (crawfish?) in the creek .

[Cindy Decker]

I haven't seen foxes for a few years, either.   We saw them for a few years in a row when they were denning, but I think their denning locations became less hospitable. I loved watching them, especially when they would play in the snow. 

On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 12:14 PM Mary Jo Kilroy <mjki...@gmail.com> wrote:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAHHgPEY%3DMDDpNt2orgjAufEyJJ6xo8g22K5j%3DexRkeaYFw1GKQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mary Lynn Thalheimer]

Mary Jo —

I love hearing how the Fox would follow along as you walked your dog! Wonder what the two were communicating to each other. 😊
Mary Lynn

On Nov 25, 2025, at 12:21 PM, Cindy Decker <cindy....@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAKkB%3DZVMuj5y%3Dg3S-O-YMydBAMgMjLqeBytVgVdKdTKQ4s5UNg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Will Klatt]

I used to catch crayfish and minnows as a kid and keep them in a fish tank. The minnows are gone. I asked some kids who were playing in the creek at the beginning of the summer if they had seen any crayfish, and they said they're still in there. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAHHgPEa9EahfAwfCpGMwXSG%2BaHxNAo2gAYi5F7rGgW1eR%2Bj1mw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Will Klatt]

I'll let Jeff or Jim share the details of the good news, but it looks like neighbours' advocacy on this issue made a real impact on the CAC decision. 

Nice work everyone! 

Best, 

Will  

[Cindy Decker]

You can still see minnows sometimes in some of the deeper pools.  The trouble is, I think, when we get huge rains, they get washed from their little safe places.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAKgwjH1x3OQrRLA3i0ZKfy09%3DBkqWScX0gu9A4POAAihqKQUjQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Rebecca Dragin]

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the foxes. I miss them. I recall their den was near the Calumet bridge. This video was from Nov 2014- first snow that year

Rebecca Dragin 

On Nov 25, 2025, at 12:21 PM, Cindy Decker <cindy....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Mary Jo Kilroy]

I think the fox was playing with the dog. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/69788595-E591-4FC3-81DD-D2CC06512A44%40gmail.com.

[Mary Jo Kilroy]

Rebecca, thanks for the wonderful video. 

[Sherrill Massey]

Were there any photos of the fox or a video?

Sherrill Massey

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/walhalla-ravine/CAHHgPEb%2BWH%3DgMMcey6x%3DMh8i1zvs2qV1Y-yyGJ5Ou7T6wFeixw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Scott Austin]

At 289 Walhalla, Jan 17, 2015

Scott

>>>> Kristin Calhoun
>>>> Art Teacher
>>>> kristin...@tolcs.org · 614.263.2688
>>>> 935 Northridge Road Columbus, Ohio 43224
>>>>

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[Sherrill Massey]

Beautiful!

Thank you!


> On Nov 26, 2025, at 11:23 AM, Scott Austin <sc...@thundermix.com> wrote:
>
> <IMG_3459.jpeg>

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