[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6625701,"mediaKeyId","2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2","parentId",2756473,"title","Council approves amendment to Clean Energy Columbus agreement as developers cite cost, permitting hurdles","audioSeconds",800,"startMs",10890000,"endMs",11690000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2&start=10890&end=11690","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2/thumbnail_10890000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625701/Ohio/Council-approves-amendment-to-Clean-Energy-Columbus-agreement-as-developers-cite-cost-permitting-hurdles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625701-5de7a8e3e0afa46aa4b6fde7a4a4eeeb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879582&Signature=gQUz84VATnbRRDp-jJbED6R5aOH4O8KvIHsGd5rkN9r-TqcU7maKwAIqhDFSqixm69-ASItbT-gTiG5f5sGm0WPDoy81odurrDOZeqDvSNy0AKylfWqz1o1NDAQz6TS3e9IJ4Qng85wmZ58Cg9BVp1Lvn5jGMn9SZF2ZlHUQlEw7xTxDaE8e8rJLf0GWXcy6VOYgEJZDZvIXg953CbG2yjo6LsSnpUYloCIRJYj2GPcO1PKO4TsDXu7tD7S7Mnu4pBw24aLq1midxcZn4sh~bAS0Ptp8L2X7bOdu8x~rxywcZ6xhUGZeeXI5bhMq5W4d5vgtIBo43qcK6bncPsp9DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbus","date","2025-03-25T01:09:56.003Z","article","Columbus City Council on Tuesday approved an amendment to the city’s municipal electric aggregation agreement intended to advance the Clean Energy Columbus program while responding to new obstacles developers said have made previously planned in‑state generation more costly and slower to bring online.

Frank Wilson, vice president of mass markets at AEP Energy, told council that construction inflation, supply‑chain and labor challenges, pending federal guidance on tax incentives and permitting delays have significantly increased the cost of the Emerson Creek wind farm — a project previously expected to supply a substantial portion of the aggregation’s in‑state renewable electricity. He said the developer now seeks a higher contract price for that project and that under current market conditions the project cannot support the earlier price structure.

Wilson said the amendment approved Tuesday will secure about one‑third of Emerson Creek’s production for the program while combining it with other solar projects that have gone or will come online. He told council the revised structure aims to keep costs competitive for participating residents while still adding in‑state renewable generation to the portfolio.

Spencer Dierig of the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund urged the council to hold regular public hearings on aggregation progress, consider complementary investments to reduce demand (such as energy efficiency and community solar), and run transparent RFPs in future procurement cycles so the city can compare approaches from other aggregators.

Deputy and senior department staff told council the administration and AEP Energy are continuing to search daily for additional Ohio‑sited renewable assets and will pursue opportunities to layer in more small‑scale Ohio generation where feasible. Councilmember Weiss, who sponsored the ordinance, said the change was the result of “headwinds” in the renewable industry and that the city must be creative while safeguarding affordability for program participants.

The council vote came after several councilmembers and outside stakeholders spoke; the roll call recorded the measure as passed. Council and stakeholder speakers said they expect continued quarterly reporting to the council committee to monitor the program’s cost and in‑state generation share.

The amendment does not change the aggregation’s opt‑out structure — eligible residents are automatically included but may opt out — and preserves the program’s present consumer protections and enrollment terms. Council instructed the administration to return to the public utilities committee for future updates and to explore additional in‑state projects where possible.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbus City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Columbus City Council on Tuesday approved an amendment to the city’s municipal electric aggregation agreement intended to advance the Clean Energy Columbus program while responding to higher costs and permitting delays affecting in‑state renewable projects.","taxTitle","Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",75950,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625696,"Council approves rezoning and variances for 3451 Treview Road to allow 300‑unit apartment complex after neighborhood debate",678,5995000,6673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2&start=5995&end=6673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2/thumbnail_5995000.jpg","/articles/6625696/Ohio/Council-approves-rezoning-and-variances-for-3451-Treview-Road-to-allow-300unit-apartment-complex-after-neighborhood-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625696-827b6c6fb9ae00aafd4d0596b66070c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879582&Signature=RBZsZAuddTTb9nsiqQ4sBDQ0s1f1PoAXaAag0kZVKOI8GG-a6fFDF4R3SL9rtPb6~CjEHSm3lNDortWul7UhnO2Xr64bQm3oxzPUhVtfP7VEn2G-m5nXE7N4LW~HTyVWS0KKMxPlZHVgiPL6YfsG5QzfqFtib5IH~4mpsvRLD-wGW-EYe~glMh-BgC3ECvgh9id~7MTaf039UYmJZ-NUBZgRRBjM1Iw5KjZLMF69-9LxQWuoz9sPDiOHLtihH4N3LvibfksfPjlJ18ZLeW-GZZ5T~T5IV5Ur7tmSCC2-RsA2zZUZy~eWdP9ZZnH8WWdMhXAJpt3UHaFHIdleuOjO3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbus City Council voted to rezone approximately 11.2 acres at 3451 Treview Road and approved concurrent variances that allow a 300‑unit apartment complex under the AR‑1 apartment residential district.

City staff, the planning division and the Department of Development supported the rezoning, saying the proposed density (about 26 dwelling units per acre) aligns with the Trey‑Roberts area plan’s “neighborhood mixed use” guidance and with the citywide C2P2 design guidelines. The record shows a traffic impact study was completed and staff included developer commitments to intersection and access improvements near Treview Road and McKinley Avenue.

The applicant’s attorney, David Hodge, and developer Jared Smith said the proposal had been revised after earlier neighborhood comments: building heights on the Treview frontage were reduced from four to three stories, first‑floor mixed‑use retail was removed and the density was lowered from an earlier figure. Hodge said the developer will commit more than $1 million toward road improvements in the immediate area and that the variances were consistent with the commercial overlay standards recommended by the area plan.

West Scioto Area Commission zoning chair Rita Cabral testified to council that the commission had tied on its recommendation and expressed concern the developer removed the previously proposed 10,000 square feet of retail. Cabral cited a string of recent multi‑family projects nearby and told council the site and neighboring blocks will see large increases in residents without replacement retail space in walking distance.

A city resident also testified about access and safety concerns at the Treview and Hague intersections; traffic management staff said required improvements and developer commitments were included in the ordinance language and would be reviewed during permitting.

Councilmember Dorrance, chairing the zoning committee for the meeting, said he considered the planning guidance and design commitments and moved the measure for passage. The rezoning and the companion variance ordinance both passed by roll call. The variance approval incorporates a submitted site plan and building elevations as conditions, which councilmembers said gives the city leverage to hold the developer to the visual and site standards described during the hearing.

Council action allows the developer to proceed with the AR‑1 development under the limitation text and commits the site to the plan and architectural renderings filed with the council variance application.","Columbus City Council voted to rezone about 11.2 acres at 3451 Treview Road and to grant variances that allow a 300‑unit apartment development after the applicant reduced building heights and confirmed site and architectural commitments.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625691,"Council approves rezoning for 1470 North Hague Avenue amid neighborhood traffic safety concerns",1782,6501000,8283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2&start=6501&end=8283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2/thumbnail_6501000.jpg","/articles/6625691/Ohio/Council-approves-rezoning-for-1470-North-Hague-Avenue-amid-neighborhood-traffic-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625691-d2506a75cb5a7f62dee1c6bb4ba5ef4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879582&Signature=DK5Hq6Joo8a6hWlV1HJiYx2IXFEVW-9C4tNRa0vUr5pjilG~B2~YXFyAF7RfKaULKgrXTLmZpCn1jL7IVJA-CdQbxEJZ7tyi-AtAamn8MhyNxy4bU2UrmGd2VWmEQg-7WSkUQpM3b1l5jdG7vD9LKS-0~2wv6b5GX0WsiVCxasDBUY0PO1Fw4PRPAbxiZmjSS6XuXX4cN3YacMrTxEsFwK6fJbGmc7VBib19SE6NBDFYKkKmjkBy9FUy4fuCUNzS74VC4jr-bbKiNFJD~PBTVR8UjM3WR0kiJBlLcy9lXbQTsMYLRTU35e4-oqEcF9itDub~qEiBshAN4S72LjwsnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbus City Council approved a rezoning request that allows a multi‑family complex of up to 460 units at 1470 North Hague Avenue after a hearing that included area commission testimony and a public speaker who cited traffic and emergency access concerns on Hague Avenue.

City staff supported the rezoning. Planning staff said the proposal’s density (about 15.75 units per acre) exceeds the Trey‑Roberts area plan’s “very low” suggestion for the site but found the proposal consistent with citywide design guidance (C2P2) because of design and site commitments. The West Scioto Area Commission recommended approval.

Applicant representatives described multiple design concessions and mitigation measures: they added a playground at the commission’s request, preserved wooded areas and easements for future pathways, and agreed to extend a southbound left‑turn lane to tie into an existing turning lane near a nearby charter school. The applicants said they worked with the county engineer and public service staff to coordinate turn lanes and other frontage improvements.

A resident who spoke at the meeting said Hague Avenue lacks shoulders in places, that traffic can back up and obscure sight lines near a dip in the roadway, and that emergency vehicles sometimes face constrained mobility; she asked council to consider the safety risks with an additional estimated 800 vehicles. Traffic management staff and the applicant said the developer’s plans and the traffic impact study include specific turning lane and frontage improvements and that the county engineer will be the permitting authority for certain roadway work.

Councilmembers emphasized that required roadway and access improvements will be built as part of development and that permitting and engineering review must be complete before construction. Councilmember Dorrance moved the rezoning for passage; the council recorded a roll‑call vote approving the measure. Councilmembers and city staff said they will continue to monitor coordination with the county engineer’s office and neighborhood concerns as the project proceeds to permitting.","Council approved a rezoning for 1470 North Hague Avenue that will allow up to 460 apartments; neighbors and the area commission raised traffic‑safety and emergency‑access concerns. The developer committed to turn‑lane and frontage improvements and to provide pathway easements and a playground as part of the project.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625706,"Columbus Council approves three measures directing millions to arts grants, venue support and artist programs",697,1831000,2528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2&start=1831&end=2528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756473-ff5dcbbc8673eda951b75667222f54a2/thumbnail_1831000.jpg","/articles/6625706/Ohio/Columbus-Council-approves-three-measures-directing-millions-to-arts-grants-venue-support-and-artist-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625706-ccc7c082e62cf02056ab5bb8ea4bb3f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879582&Signature=KcJrncKYZP3GvCMC3TCMAgxD8awIPtIbHduxZz~WyIFmJsHVVVKvT224GsvE291lpcS8zFNQRekX39P7Y4D06WSkjlDxnWG43o~zqnbf-dZsJ9YeglRvyWNfiCov1Clob13OPhce~CVP7o-4yq~cCHqE-5DPFmlxXxElPoQod73R-s2V5OzyC8pO7OgbKvPqOALCkcC86hWeJ5BFkCYNgICxhKQDvizqZwl~Se5ml3q4PHggASwgbJUucs6wKd0-Bm1LodjWkooAj6YSWadpVr0RbI1oRGIhEd0tV5wZxImpniyYgM8yrR6Db8RBd2sTqGbtRgalFZ3-IO0RgOvBIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbus City Council on Tuesday approved three ordinances that direct portions of hotel‑motel and admission taxes and a share of arena admission proceeds to the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), a nonprofit that distributes grants and runs community arts programs.

Councilmember Bankston introduced the measures and brought GCAC Executive Director Tom Katzenmeyer to the podium to describe how the funds are being used. Katzenmeyer said the recent injections of city funding have allowed GCAC to expand artist grants, launch a new artist projects grant, expand education programming and pay multilingual navigators to reach communities that historically had less access to grants.

The package included: an allocation from hotel‑motel excise tax for arts programming; use of proceeds from the city’s creation, innovation and inclusion fund to support grants to artists and arts organizations; and 20% of arena admission proceeds to support cultural and performance venues while the remaining 80% supports the Franklin County facilities authority. Katzenmeyer told council GCAC returned around 90% of its revenue to community programs in 2024 and cited investments in murals, film incentives and awards to individual artists.

Councilmembers who serve on or have supported GCAC praised the agency’s outreach and its role in economic development. “When you go to a show or a concert … that fee is going directly back into our community,” Councilmember Bankston said. Councilmember Barossa de Padilla and others highlighted GCAC efforts to expand accessibility programs and investments in neighborhood outreach.

Councilmember Beatty recorded abstentions on the votes for at least one of the ordinances; other councilmembers voted in favor. The ordinances passed on voice and roll calls and were recorded by the clerk. Proponents said the funding supports jobs, expands free or reduced‑cost admission and helps artists sustain careers; no speakers opposed the measures during the council discussion.

Council President Harden and others said the funding package will be a focus of future oversight and public conversation as the city evaluates cultural investments alongside other budget priorities. The council did not set additional conditions in the text beyond the appropriation and contracting authorities stated in the ordinances.

Katzenmeyer thanked council for what he called a long‑term partnership and invited council to upcoming public events where GCAC will engage residents and artists.

The ordinances take effect immediately as adopted by council and enable the director of Finance and Management to execute the stated contracts and appropriations.","Council voted to approve three ordinances directing hotel‑motel and admission tax proceeds and facility stabilization funds to the Greater Columbus Arts Council for grants, artist programs and venue stabilization. Supporters said the funding expands outreach, jobs and access to arts across neighborhoods.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves amendment to Clean Energy Columbus agreement as developers cite cost, permitting hurdles

Council approves rezoning and variances for 3451 Treview Road to allow 300‑unit apartment complex after neighborhood debate

Council approves rezoning for 1470 North Hague Avenue amid neighborhood traffic safety concerns

Columbus Council approves three measures directing millions to arts grants, venue support and artist programs