Neighborhood Compatibility

The beauty and quality of UA’s homes and neighborhoods are a source of pride for residents. As the homes have aged and Upper Arlington’s desirability as a premier residential community remains strong, some property owners choose to invest in major home additions or to raze the old and invest in a new-build home that better meets their needs.

In recent years, the Community Development Department has experienced an uptick in permit submittals for substantial additions and replacement homes. In response, the City has already taken steps to strengthen its regulations so that these projects better fit the character of existing neighborhoods. However, some residents feeling the impacts of the changes taking place around them believed that more could be done and asked the City to revisit the issue as part of a broader community discussion.

In the Spring of 2021, the City secured the assistance of local research firm, Illuminology, to facilitate a series of discussion group meetings with community members to better understand what issues and questions exist and the level of intensity surrounding these concerns. Invitees included residents who are feeling the impacts of change in their neighborhoods; homeowners that have recently built a new home or expanded their existing home; members of the Board of Zoning and Planning, Board of Building Standards and the Senior Advisory Council; members of the Upper Arlington Historical Society; local builders; and residents who work in related professions, such as planning, engineering, architecture/design and zoning law. Approximately 65 community members participated in seven discussion sessions. A series of key findings emerged – with both positive and negative perceptions of the City’s neighborhood compatibility ordinance and how it is applied emerging.

From this feedback Staff developed a proposed City Manager Policy on Neighborhood Compatibility. The policy aims to provide a clearer understanding of the many standards and regulations already in the City’s zoning code and provides additional clarity on how neighborhood compatibility will be assessed when substantial additions or replacement homes are proposed.

The proposed policy was shared with the Board of Zoning and Planning at the end of April and was available for the community to review and provide feedback in May through early June. An updated version of the proposed policy was presented to City Council for its consideration at its June 27 meeting. It is anticipated that City Council will revisit the policy following summer recess.