Comp Plan Survey Map on Housing: The Synopsis

The city released the comprehensive plan survey results this week. The consultant’s report was basic and leaning towards higher density in Worthington. I decided to comb through the comments on the interactive map – specifically on the housing map.

It’s no surprise that the quantity of survey participants’ dots were on the corridors of High Street, Wilson Bridge, Proprietors, and Boundless. Somewhat surprisingly there were some notable recommendations to add high density apartments to:

Bowerman

Tonbridge

Highland

Selby Park

W. Selby

school Flats

Plesenton entrance

My focus on reviewing comments is targeted on the most concentrated blob of dots: UMCH property.

Of the 3,098 dots placed, there are approximately 200 dots placed on the UMCH land. Most comments were generic around the idea of developing the area with commercial, housing, green space. This could mean anything from the mixed use plan the citizens groups (WARD and PCPW) have been proposing on the lower density proposal to the high-density proposals of LC and pro-apartment-density people.

Hopefully the city consultant and the comprehensive plan committee will get a little more qualitative with their outreach, because the current results and data can be manipulated to mean anything.

However, if we review the 20 specific comments posted on the UMCH land, notice the themes.

• Senior housing floor plans (patio homes) x 8

• Non-age small units (30-50) x 3

• 60% to 120% of AMI / low-income housing x 3

• Single family homes x 3

• No apartments/midrise/high rise x 3

No specific mentions of density greater than 50 units. No mentions for multi-story apartments. No mentions for allowing a developer like LC do whatever they want.

As the comprehensive plan pushes forward, I will be writing more about what is happening and try to provide accurate representations of the data.