Columbus, Indiana - Planning Department

Planning Department
123 Washington Street, Suite 8 • Columbus, IN 47201 • (812) 376-2550 Phone • (812) 376-2643 Fax
Office Open 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Monday thru Friday

Overview

The Columbus-Bartholomew Planning Department provides both long-range community planning and current development review services for the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County. The Planning Department also provides zoning and subdivision control ordinance administration services for the Town of Hartsville and the Edinburgh / Bartholomew / Columbus Joint District Plan Commission. The mission of the Planning Department is (1) to facilitate discussion of community planning issues, (2) to provide land use and development information to local elected and appointed officials, and (3) to provide opportunities for public input on development, land use, and other community issues.

Flood Hazard Area Maps

These FEMA Flood Hazard Area Maps for the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County are provided for reference purposes. Please contact the Planning Department at 812.376.2550 for specific flood hazard determinations.

City of Columbus Flood Maps:

Bartholomew County Flood Maps:

New! Columbus and Bartholomew County Zoning Ordinance

A new zoning ordinance has been adopted for the jurisdictions of the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County Plan Commissions. This ordinance was effective for Bartholomew County on April 1, 2008 and for Columbus on April 3, 2008. The new ordinance is provided below as a series of Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files.

New! Columbus and Bartholomew County Zoning Maps

The Official Zoning Maps for the jurisdictions of the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County Plan Commissions are provided below as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files. These maps are provided for the convenience of development professionals, Realtors, appraisers, and the general public. The Planning Department discourages the downloading and printing of these files for long-term use due to the likelihood that the information may become out of date as rezonings occur. Any questions regarding the zoning of a particular property should be directed to the Columbus - Bartholomew Planning Department at 812.376.2550.

Community Planning Month

October 2007 was the second annual National Community Planning Month, sponsored by the American Planning Association and its members, to raise the visibility of planning in communities across the United States. In recognizing the contribution to our community made by the citizens and professional planners of Columbus and Bartholomew County, Mayor Fred Armstrong declared the month of October 2007 as Community Planning Month in the City of Columbus.

One of the themes of National Community Planning Month was “Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods.” Columbus is a community of countless great streets and great neighborhoods. Three streets were selected for special recognition because of their history and unique role in the community: Fifth Street, Lafayette Avenue, and Grove Parkway.

Foundry Study

Download the Foundry Study in Acrobat (pdf) format. (approx. 12.9MB)

Downtown Columbus Strategic Development Plan

The Downtown Columbus Strategic Development Plan is available for download in its entirety or split into four sections for your convenience.

Download the entire plan (approx. 77.3mb)

Introduction (approx. 5.7mb)
1. Planning Context
2. Project Purpose
3. Planning Process
Taking Stock of the Community (approx. 24.6mb)
1. Existing Conditions
2. Market Findings
3. Public Process
Development Strategy (approx. 23.9mb)
1. Downtown Development Strategy
2. Downtown Goals
3. Downtown Districts
Next Steps (approx. 17.9mb)
1. Implementation Strategy
2. Development Program
3. Project Phasing