Commission narrows priorities to ADUs, transit‑adjacent apartments and conversions; Westside Habitat project and rental‑inspection survey advance

Unidentified committee members reported results of a priorities survey developed from Pew‑sourced materials and discussed next steps. The top three priorities that emerged were allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), permitting apartments near transit, and encouraging conversion of commercial buildings to apartments.

Unidentified Speaker 5 summarized the survey approach and noted additional options that rose in priority, including preapproved plans and digital permitting. Commissioners asked that Megan Jennings or staff present a 15–20 minute briefing at the next meeting to show how those priorities align with the comprehensive plan and to identify which items are already underway.

On neighborhood revitalization, members described a Westside Community Association effort and a Habitat for Humanity Neighborhood Revitalization proposal for a five‑year project focused on community‑identified priorities, grants, and infrastructure improvements. Volunteers are being recruited to form a steering committee.

The rental‑inspection subcommittee finalized landlord and tenant surveys after vetting them with attorneys (including landlord counsel and Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio). The outreach plan calls for Qualtrics deployment, email distribution to hundreds of landlords (one speaker cited approximately 572), classroom outreach for tenants, flyers, press releases and collaboration with community groups including the Westside Community Association and local newspapers.

Next steps: commissioners requested that staff present alignment with the comprehensive plan; the subcommittee plans to launch the landlord survey by the end of the week and continue tenant outreach in classrooms and community channels.