The Fifth by Northwest Neighborhood Plan was adopted by City Council on March 2, 2009. It applies to the area generally bounded by Third Avenue on the south, Glenn/Wyandotte/Northstar Roads on the west, Kinnear Road on the north, and Kenny/Olentangy River Road on the east. Key recommendations from the plan include:
Mixed use development, including higher density multifamily development on Fifth Avenue, Grandview Avenue (south of Fifth), King Avenue, and Third Avenue. These corridors are appropriate locations for a mix of multifamily residential development, offices uses, and in some areas, commercial retail. The development of multifamily projects will help to fill the gap for housing needs for young professionals and seniors, provide support for retail revitalization and make the area more walkable.
The land use plan supports business development by 1) recommending that retail be focused on Fifth Avenue and Grandview Avenue (south of Fifth) and 2) the continuation/expansion as employment centers of the area north of Chambers (“Tech District”) and the industrial area (“Industrial District”) in the eastern portion of the planning area.
Design guidelines are provided for new commercial and residential development.
Development concepts are provided for the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Northwest Boulevard and the Industrial District.
Bicycle and pedestrian related improvements are recommended, including the consideration of a Fifth Avenue road diet to improve safety and reduce traffic speeds, improvements for priority crosswalks, and other sidewalk improvements.
Plan implementation is recommended through the use of a development review checklist for the review of zoning and variance applications for consistency with the plan and a chart of action-oriented recommendations to assist with the prioritization of plan recommendations.
