Central Ohio Housing and Development Advocacy in Action
Kelly Harrop Shares the BIA’s 2024 Wins & 2025 Vision
We recently sat down with Kelly Harrop, Government Affairs Manager at the BIA of Central Ohio, to discuss the organization’s advocacy achievements in 2024 and our ambitious goals for 2025. Kelly shared insights into the BIA’s efforts to address housing challenges and support the building industry.
Big Advocacy Wins of 2024
Q: What were some of the BIA’s biggest advocacy wins last year?
Kelly: One of our major successes was the City of Columbus Zoning Update. The city’s zoning regulations were outdated and challenging to navigate. With the launch of Zone In Columbus, we’ve made significant progress in streamlining these processes, and we’re looking forward to helping see it through to completion.
Through our participation in the Building Services Review Council (BSRC), we’ve been able to streamline approval timelines and cut unnecessary red tape, making it easier to get houses built in Columbus. With the help of the BIA’s Process Improvement Working Group, this committee has already reduced plan review times by half for builders, which is a major step forward in addressing Ohio’s housing crisis and ensuring more affordable solutions. It’s a big win for both builders and residents.
On a statewide level, we also played a key role in publishing the Ohio State Housing Policy White Paper. This was critical in making sure the housing and development industry had a seat at the table and its priorities integrated into the 2025 state budget discussions.
Focus Areas for 2025
Q: What are the BIA’s key priorities for the coming year?
Kelly: One of our main focuses is addressing pushback from schools and school boards regarding new housing developments. There’s a perception that multifamily housing leads to an influx of students without additional funding, but that’s often not the case. In fact, these developments can improve outcomes for schools. We’re working to educate stakeholders and find common ground.
We’re also seeing a shift in housing preferences. Younger generations want smaller, more affordable homes, such as townhomes, that fit their lifestyles. Our goal is to act as an intermediary between builders and communities to meet these changing needs while keeping costs down. This includes advocating for fewer regulations and promoting incentive-based solutions rather than mandates.
We also published the Ohio State Housing Policy White Paper with The Montrose Group, LLC. The publication incorporates our issues and interests into the overall mix for the 2025 state budget cycle, and would not have been possible without our involvement.
The Bigger Picture
Q: How does the BIA plan to bring about these housing and development changes?
Kelly: Collaboration is key. We’re bringing together builders, community groups, and nonprofits to foster a holistic view of housing challenges and solutions. For example, we’re working on a research paper for the Ohio legislature to educate them on issues like the costs of infrastructure that developers shoulder and the benefits housing brings to communities. We’re also meeting with legislators regularly to ensure they understand the real-world implications of their decisions.
Member Contributions
Q: How can BIA members support these efforts?
Kelly: The best way members can help is by providing real-world examples of the challenges they face. These stories are incredibly powerful when we’re advocating for change.
A Personal Note
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?
Kelly: I love that I’m creating tangible results that will impact my generation and future ones. I grew up here, but I can’t afford to buy a home here, and I want to change that. It’s rewarding to know that our education efforts are making a difference.