Belkis Schoenhals, AICP brings over a decade of community development and city planning experience to create communities that are equitable, sustainable, and beautiful. Coming from a multicultural background, she has always been curious about disparities in housing, transit, and the built environment. She views city planning as an avenue to bridge gaps in need and create spaces that benefit everyone.

She currently serves as a Principal City Planner with the City of Columbus Planning Division. She specializes in development review, policy development, and zoning code analysis. Her work has had an impact on housing policy; zoning code updates related to food access; and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

She is fluent in Spanish and served as a member on the City’s Development Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is an advocate for the blind and visually impaired community and volunteers with Be My Eyes and The Ohio State University’s Low Vision Clinic. Belkis holds a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Denison University and a M.A. in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University.