ADU legislation

[Jeff Frontz]

Just in case folks haven't heard, city council is preparing legislation to allow ADUs on any residential lot (basically allowing a second house wherever there is enough space).

Here's some info that is being circulated:

Columbus Backyard Apartment (ADU) Proposal Ends Neighborhood Input

Columbus neighborhoods are currently part of a thoughtful case-by-case review process for building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – sometimes called in-law suites or granny flats. The system is slow and unclear, so it makes sense to streamline the process; but the solution shouldn’t be to silence residents.

A proposal from Councilmember Otto Beatty III would allow ADUs (essentially a second house) on all residential lots without any neighborhood review or input. Residents would lose the opportunity to weigh-in on whether an ADU is appropriate for their community.

While a simpler process may help homeowners with $110,000+ to build a unit, the main beneficiaries will be developers and investors (e.g., see https://www.leasethelawn.com/ ) Without community input, investor-driven ADU projects could irresponsibly harm neighboring property owners and erode neighborhood character.

Please review your neighbors’ thoughts in the document at https://bit.ly/smart-ADUs and consider speaking up:

📅 City Council Hearing
Wednesday, October 29 – 12:00 p.m (noon).
Council Chambers, 90 W. Broad St.

If you can’t attend, please email Councilmembers Otto Beatty III and your district’s council member to share your perspective.
Council directory: https://www.columbus.gov/Government/City-Council/Directory

An editable sample message can be found here: https://bit.ly/ADU-msg

Thank you for helping ensure a balanced approach — one that creates a clear path for ADUs without silencing neighborhood input.