Planning Department

The Cincinnati Planning Department is responsible for the regulation of land use changes in the City of Cincinnati. The regulatory duties are divided into two areas, Land Use Management and Historic Conservation. The Land Use Management Group and the Historic Conservation Office separately administer each area.

Beginning
In 1925, Cincinnati was recognized as being the first major American city to endorse a comprehensive plan.

Elimination in 2002
Cincinnati's Planning department ceased functioning as an independent unit in 2003 when it was folded into the Economic Development Department. Eliminating the department was a top recommendation of the mayor Charlie Luken's Economic Development Task Force, which was chaired by Rob Smyjunas, a major big box developer. This article written in 2002 claims the dismantling of the department was recommended by George A. Schaefer, Jr., the chief executive officer of Fifth Third Bank. In either case, all references indicate that City Manager Valerie Lemmie was also influential in the plan. Lemmie oversaw the merging of the planning and economic development departments when she was City Manager in Dayton before coming to Cincinnati.

Re-establishment in 2007
In 2007, Charles C. Graves III was hired to re-establish and direct the planning department.

Land Use Management Group
The Land Use Management group is responsible for the administration of the Zoning Code and other land use processes in the Community Development Department. This group's major work item for the year 2000 is the update of the Cincinnati Zoning Code. We are working to streamline the development process and ensure that the Zoning Code is supportive of the development and redevelopment activity in the city.

The group is often responsible for balancing the needs of the development community with the residents in neighborhoods to ensure appropriate development. The group is often the first contact people have with the City of Cincinnati.

The on-line version (Chapter 1400-1451) of the Cincinnati Zoning Code is not the official version. The officially published version is available through the office of the Clerk of Council, located in Room 308 of City Hall, phone 513-352-3246. This on-line version may, occasionally, differ from the official version and should be relied upon for general information purposes only.

Historic Conservation Office
The Urban Conservator, a position created by City Council in 1980, administers the Historic Conservation Office. The Urban Conservator serves as secretary to the Historic Conservation Board and is an assistant to the Director of City Planning. The Urban Conservator is required to have at least three years' experience in private development as an architect, planner, historic preservationist, builder or developer. The Urban Conservator, with the staff of the Historic Conservation Office, performs the following duties:
 * Provides professional guidance and recommendations to the Historic Conservation Board
 * Initiates, develops executes and administers policies and plans of action that establish historic preservation objectives
 * Prepares and supervises preparation of reports on historic designation, certificates of appropriateness, and other actions that affect Cincinnati's historic resources
 * Prepares conservation studies and develops conservation guidelines
 * Assures compliance of the City's programs with federal and state regulations mandating protection of historic resources
 * Reviews and approves minor alterations to historic buildings
 * Advises the City Planning Department and other City departments, such as Economic Development, Neighborhood Services, and Buildings and Inspections, on effects of projects on historic resources
 * Supervises staff of three city planners who are historic conservation specialists
 * Updates the Cincinnati Historic Inventory
 * Represents the City and Historic Conservation Board to federal, state and local agencies
 * Initiates and directs public education and information programs
 * Provides technical assistance to homeowners, developers and other interested parties