Zoning adjustments one step nearer in South Fairmount

SOUTH FAIRMOUNT — Modifications could possibly be coming to South Fairmount with the purpose of revitalization.

Metropolis officers stated the completion of the Lick Run Greenway sparked calls from the South Fairmount Group Council for a zoning examine.

“Their feeling is that the park could entice future growth and so they wished to ensure that it was the type of growth that they wished as a neighborhood,” stated Katherine Keough-Jurs, director of Cincinnati Planning and Engagement.

South Fairmount resident Janine Niyibigira agrees that the park has made a optimistic affect on the neighborhood.

“This park truly makes me wish to come out of the home,” she stated.

Now, she’s hoping different adjustments will observe and issues look like shifting in the suitable route.

A senior metropolis planner on Tuesday shared proposed zoning adjustments with a council committee. These are adjustments he stated the South Fairmount Group Council has already voted for.

“They wished to carry folks again to their neighborhood, so that is the entire reasoning behind that,” metropolis planner Jesse Urbancsik.

One zoning change town is contemplating includes an space presently zoned for manufacturing-focused buildings and companies. If accepted, issues like day cares, eating places, lodges and retail companies can be allowed to open up there.

Different proposed zoning adjustments are extra pedestrian-focused, permitting for companies constructed nearer to the sidewalk, and not using a car parking zone in entrance.

Whereas council members on the Equitable Development and Housing committee agreed the adjustments could possibly be optimistic for South Fairmount, the concept comes with considerations too.

“What I nonetheless assume we have to resolve for, not in your division, is the site visitors, particularly coming off the Western Hills Viaduct and particularly the brand new Western Hills Viaduct with extra lanes,” council member Mark Jeffreys informed Urbancsik in the course of the assembly.

Jeffreys stated he desires to verify this, mixed with pedestrian-friendly zoning, does not create extra challenges.

One other concern that was introduced up was folks being displaced due to new growth.

“I hope that there is no plan of displacing residents which have been there, or the displacement of any residents by this growth,” council member Scotty Johnson stated.

The Metropolis Planning and Engagement division stated there is not presently any growth deliberate.

Nayibigira stated she hopes the adjustments are handed and that new companies do begin to pop up.

“I really feel like with that coming, different stuff would simply begin to develop round it and it might simply be such a model new neighborhood,” she stated.

The proposed adjustments now go to the total council for a last vote.