[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6565383,"mediaKeyId","3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f","parentId",3220772,"title","Planning Commission approves Meridel arena, pavilion and final plat with conditions","audioSeconds",2097,"startMs",84000,"endMs",2181000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f&start=84&end=2181","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f/thumbnail_84000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565383/Ohio/Planning-Commission-approves-Meridel-arena-pavilion-and-final-plat-with-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565383-6403db8b1a39110c9b953ffb9d7a40d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776244750&Signature=ILxFhrM2bOaPee69nD-YWcDU7vsuQMWlVCF~s5qyLG9Wd-ufs4DIZVfZBJkl~m3ixTpe6zRbHV-Dm96el1oJ3I0H852QZLEArZ40tVb5hQ2v4oNhBLnUOqc2SFzJfltgMqfvizuZZRm3n0ymBKgRkaxutP7X5-SlZC9W8O47UX3R4gC~Bdys-Xjidqg1qmtoQ~jajpMXXiGGlHoqJiTgomscHAS9rrCbD8sgMw4WTGtk5HSJfcSjIPmQAz2AZIp17KTyAON6ZsP6LBPWb5MkkQp3V4iIm22KwIcYXnOrjNQYlRiOH4uXZk6VUrwRV9o4ZgrMhUxzjAy2J~BqZwa1mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware","date","2025-05-07T18:30:00Z","article","The City of Delaware Planning Commission on May 7 unanimously approved a development plan (PD25-1 DVP No. 1) and a conditional-use permit (PUD25-1 CU No. 1) for a proposed Performance Impact Arena and Pavilion in the Meridel subdivision and separately approved the Meridel final plat (S25-8) covering about 258 acres.

The approvals allow a roughly 27,000-square-foot facility proposed by Ohio AAA Blue Jackets that would include three indoor ice sheets and an outdoor amphitheater that the applicant says would be converted to an outdoor ice sheet in winter months. The commission’s action included multiple staff-recommended conditions covering parking, landscaping, tree placement, noise and lighting controls, and coordination with emergency services.

Staff and applicant summary

City planning staff, represented in the hearing by Anna (city planner), said the project site sits in Subarea A of the Meridel PUD on the northeast corner of the development and covers about 13.5 acres. The application included a development plan (site layout, elevations, landscaping, lighting and signage) and a conditional use (hours, sound and lighting limits, site restrictions and revocation provisions).

Anna told the commission the applicant proposes 263 on-site parking spaces but acknowledged that is “obviously not sufficient for this particular use.” Staff and the applicant agreed on a required shared- and cross-parking plan across the larger Meridel campus; a condition of approval will withhold final zoning inspections until the additional parking facilities described in the shared-parking plan are completed. Anna said developers will also work with the city forester and parks staff to shift proposed street trees “outside of the ditch” where practical and that a fee-in-lieu option (per chapter 11 68) could be used where planting space is inadequate.

Project design and operations

The proposed building materials are primarily metal with some limestone. Staff noted mechanical equipment must be screened. The pavilion would host concerts and events; staff’s recommended conditional-use provisions include adherence to the city’s sound ordinance, compliance with lighting regulations to avoid light spill beyond what city code allows, and an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the city police and fire divisions covering emergency service staffing and traffic direction for special events.

The conditional-use conditions also prohibit sales of merchandise or concessions outside fenced areas, require the site to be kept free of debris, and require that amphitheater events conclude by midnight. Staff warned that violation of conditions could result in revocation of the conditional-use approval.

Applicant remarks and capacity, parking and transit questions

Ed Ginger, who identified himself as the applicant and representing the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, said, “We're a 5 0 1 c 3 youth hockey organization. And with the forecasted ice shortage in Columbus, we started looking 4 years ago at what a game plan could look like.” He described the pavilion as intended for year-round programming and said the outdoor rink could draw larger tournaments and holiday events.

In response to commissioner questions, the applicant said the outdoor rink would hold about 4,000 people when configured for ice and that a concert configuration could reach about 6,000 people total, with roughly 2,000 floor seats. A concert-provider estimate cited during the hearing put parking demand for large events at roughly 1,100 spaces; staff and applicant said the campus parking plus planned lots and shuttle/transit coordination would be used rather than building a single enormous lot.

Anna said the city is conducting a regional traffic impact study and expects Meridel applicants to reimburse their share of that study; project access to Sawmill Parkway will be subject to approval by the city engineer after the traffic study. The city advised the commission that Delaware County Transit service (led by Andy Volnick, formerly a county commissioner) is primarily door-to-door at present and that staff has encouraged the applicant to coordinate directly with the transit agency on event shuttles or set routes.

Timeline, financial notes and infrastructure

The applicant gave a target opening of May 2027 for the pavilion, acknowledging the rink construction could extend later. Staff added the developers had submitted mass grading and preliminary engineering plans for the area, and that the internal backage road (to be privately owned and maintained by the master association) and phased parking lots are already in engineering review. Staff said the final plat (S25-8) divides the roughly 258-acre Meridel site into 10 lots and documents private ownership of the backage road and cross-parking agreements.

Commissioners and votes

Commissioners asked about non-hockey uses and seasonality; the applicant said the concrete pavilion slab would be flexible for concerts, roller hockey, volleyball or other event programming during non-ice periods. Staff recommended approval of both the development plan and the conditional-use permit, and the commission voted to approve both applications with staff conditions.

Actions

- Development plan: PD25-1 DVP No. 1 (Performance Impact Arena and Pavilion) — motion to approve by Vice Chair Hoffman (Councilman Hoffman), second by Commissioner Cross; roll-call vote: Commissioner Stelzer — yes; Commissioner Cross — yes; Commissioner Stroud — yes; Commissioner Nana — yes; Vice Chair Hoffman — yes; Chairman Simpson — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Conditional use: PUD25-1 CU No. 1 (Performance Impact Arena and Pavilion conditional use) — motion to approve by Vice Chair Hoffman (Councilman Hoffman), second by Commissioner Nana; roll-call vote: Commissioner Stelzer — yes; Commissioner Cross — yes; Commissioner Stroud — yes; Commissioner Nana — yes; Vice Chair Hoffman — yes; Chairman Simpson — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous). Note: staff recommended that the conditional use becomes effective only upon the effective date of the development plan; if the development plan is denied by City Council, the conditional use would be null and void.

- Final plat: S25-8 (Meridel final plat, ~258 acres) — motion to approve by Commissioner Nana, second by Commissioner Stelzer; roll-call vote: Commissioner Stelzer — yes; Commissioner Cross — yes; Commissioner Stroud — yes; Commissioner Nana — yes; Vice Chair Hoffman — yes; Chairman Simpson — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

Clarifying details

- Building area: ~27,000 square feet (three indoor ice sheets; one outdoor amphitheater convertible to ice).
- Initial on-site parking shown: 263 spaces; additional campus/shared parking required and a condition that zoning final inspections not be released until required parking facilities are finished.
- Event capacities cited: outdoor rink ~4,000; concert configuration ~6,000 with ~2,000 floor seats.
- Estimated city tax revenue cited in meeting materials: about $18,000,000 (payment streams noted as payroll and hotel taxes; no further breakdown specified in the hearing record).
- Timeline goal stated by applicant: pavilion open by May 2027 (subject to change).
- Lot ownership: internal backage road and open space privately owned and to be maintained by a master association (Lot 10 on plat).
- Relevant code references cited by staff: tree fee-in-lieu reference (chapter 11 68); subdivision chapter references (chapter 11 11); sound and lighting to comply with city ordinances.

Why it matters

The facility is presented as a regional youth- and adult-hockey hub intended to address a cited ice shortage in the Columbus area and to host events that could increase hotel nights, traffic and downtown visitation. The approvals tie future occupancy and event operations to infrastructure commitments (shared parking, traffic study approvals and agreements with police and fire), leaving key implementation steps tied to later engineering reviews and City Council action on the development plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Delaware - Planning Commission - May 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Delaware Planning Commission on May 7 unanimously approved a development plan (PD25-1 DVP No. 1) and a conditional-use permit (PUD25-1 CU No. 1) for a proposed Performance Impact Arena and Pavilion in the Meridel subdivision and separately approved the Meridel final plat (S25-8) covering about 258 acres.","taxTitle","Delaware City, Delaware County, Ohio","taxId",65933,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6565376,"Staff previews zoning-code rewrite, new zoning map and changes to development-plan procedures",87,3679000,3766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f&start=3679&end=3766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f/thumbnail_3679000.jpg","/articles/6565376/Ohio/Staff-previews-zoning-code-rewrite-new-zoning-map-and-changes-to-development-plan-procedures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565376-3aac140425d0f974912e7cdfce26c5f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776244750&Signature=JjFQ5-uH7COFFkSL~IzoB2wD2hKlC6SvkVYn9TYjjqZVAeHQYONCkdnvtRm8WiuVzAEI72~WtZ6m65VAFtNfnMJS6Ds62P5kF7hEQ9v5~iB06oBkAfi~YVz3dgJ8-z1WJwTC9OgT3ESyKax8t8ghg8eDJcW~bvqXbsXdcI7PIo5mj8msEUzY-XfWW2Vn9L7lGrloFQT6Rix-bGbPStotSgXCiF6FkYJqz42R-G3lmlnnF7uB7FHjm6EaV27KuhqDPuPep4Z6wb~TizucJonCtq3ehfDhcQL~NxAnHdys5pQyeyrsOL4E9jLZgKXItQ-tk-8BecEr~snZ6EhENcwkug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Delaware planning staff presented an overview on May 7 of an upcoming zoning-code update, a new zoning map and procedural changes intended to simplify reviews and reduce nonconformities across the city.

Staff said the re-write reduces the number of zoning districts (currently about 29) to roughly 15 more meaningful districts and adjusts minimum lot sizes to match existing neighborhood patterns. The aim is to make the code easier for residents and applicants to use and to reduce the number of nonconformities.

Key changes described

Staff said the new map consolidates many existing districts: for example, most single-family districts will be consolidated into a single “residential single-family” district, and multifamily will be grouped into a residential-multifamily district. Staff said they have also created new transition-type districts, including a residential-mixed and a commercial-mixed district designed to allow small neighborhood-serving commercial uses where appropriate. As staff put it during the meeting, “We’re cutting them in half. A lot of them were very, duplicative.”

Staff emphasized that the update is not intended to downzone properties. Most parcels, staff said, will transition to an equivalent district and the draft includes provisions to avoid creating new nonconformities. Overlays and existing zoning texts would remain in force unless changed via rezoning.

Procedural changes and other items

Planning staff proposed a change to how development plans are presented: rather than submitting and reviewing many small sections of a long-running development over multiple hearings, applicants would submit an overall development plan for a subarea so the commission can see the full design up front; plats and engineering would still come in sections during construction. Staff said this will reduce repetitive reports and save limited staff time.

Staff also said the draft zoning code includes a short-term rental (STR) chapter that would permit STRs with registration and limits on the number a single owner may operate; staff said they moved away from a system that caps STRs by geography and instead plan to manage numbers through registration requirements and operational rules.

Timing and next steps

Staff said legal review of the code is underway and they expect to bring the full draft zoning code to the commission next month (June). Staff also said they will provide the draft several weeks in advance of the meeting rather than the Friday-before practice used previously, and that they expect to update the online mapping tools so parcel-level users can click to find zoning texts or prior approvals.

Why it matters

The rewrite simplifies district categories, aligns lot-size rules to existing neighborhoods, creates tools for neighborhood-serving commercial uses, clarifies overlay interactions, and adds a short-term rental framework. Staff framed the changes as intended to make the code easier to use for both residents and developers while reducing ad-hoc variances and inconsistent interpretations.","City planning staff previewed a major zoning-code rewrite and a new zoning map that reduces district types and aligns rules with current development patterns; staff also described procedural changes to show whole-subarea development plans and a short-term-rental chapter in the draft code.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6565381,"Commission approves changes to Southwest Focus Area Plan to clarify map and streamline zoning process",819,2218000,3037000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f&start=2218&end=3037","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220772-e861c93f6fad0df0f16c051325b4737f/thumbnail_2218000.jpg","/articles/6565381/Ohio/Commission-approves-changes-to-Southwest-Focus-Area-Plan-to-clarify-map-and-streamline-zoning-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565381-d43deb5ef450ea97e9ecf02a6aec1665/orig.mp4?Expires=1776244750&Signature=ectLXhJpqa172ybp5MFh3EsRfyxBiUBrKZyCZVargC98PGR0bPZRWdDHQFbVvEuUxTPoFOC~bkyUhf6t31hAyZ9zzWt0iPLFw2J1aWT4wD-Y86NFvVQCfdJzmpzddw7J1jMxZ6YxK1Xg8JBTlB2-8vOfUkn8dAS3iBm-Guqe7SpO8Pp1yMU6tDLlfmolqVaOOcuaQpc8OSXppVWKTezTUSFMb~k585PJgp3Q2PXjE8uGUd6KXVAZbOD46sFPEsLOP5ko952YsWWbALZupNRWDs4OtSjtk8uJAFih9jYUdJ8zrGHvdC0s-INpwRKOM2WeqH4EeUcsXO-7vxjkKIBkiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Delaware Planning Commission on May 7 approved an amendment to the Southwest Focus Area Plan (Case 25-4) that modifies the land-use map and updates plan text so it aligns with recent changes to the city’s zoning code and procedural rules.

The amendment replaces a map that followed parcel lines with a “land-use” map that uses generalized, cross-boundary designations (staff described it as the squiggly map) to reduce confusion about what uses were expected in the area. The change also removes or supersedes an overlay chapter (chapter 11 17) and clarifies that the map is to be used primarily for rezoning cases rather than to extinguish existing, lawfully zoned uses.

Staff presentation and public comment

City planners said the original Southwest plan created unintended conflict between the overlay and existing zoning, which caused uncertainty when property owners asked whether uses shown in zoning aligned with the overlay. The proposed amendment revises map graphics and updates text to reflect procedures already adopted by the city in 2024 and to eliminate duplication with the zoning code.

Michael Shade, an attorney who said he represents multiple property owners in the area, spoke during public comment to raise concerns about annexation and connectivity in nearby areas; staff and commissioners clarified the amendment under consideration is specific to the Southwest focus plan. The commission closed the public hearing after that comment and proceeded to a motion.

Commission discussion and vote

Commissioners generally supported the amendment, noting the revised map is intentionally nonparcelized so it conveys generalized land-use guidance rather than hard parcel boundaries. Anna (city planner) and other staff told the commission the change will reduce unintended constraints on industrially zoned properties and remove duplicated processes.

Actions

- Amendment: Case 25-4 (Southwest Focus Area amendment) — motion to approve by Commissioner Nana, second by Commissioner Stelzer; roll-call vote: Commissioner Stelzer — yes; Commissioner Cross — yes; Commissioner Stroud — yes; Commissioner Nana — yes; Vice Chair Hoffman — yes; Chairman Simpson — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

Clarifying details

- Case number: 25-4 (Southwest focus area amendment).
- Staff said the amended map will be used for rezonings; existing industrial zoning remains in effect unless changed through rezoning.
- The amendment updates two text sections: one to reflect procedures the city will change in a forthcoming zoning update and the other to reflect code updates already made in 2024.

Why it matters

The amendment aims to reduce property-owner confusion and to avoid inadvertently prohibiting uses already allowed by zoning. Staff said the change should make future review and rezoning requests clearer and allow industrial and commercial uses already permitted by zoning to continue where intended.","The Planning Commission voted unanimously to amend the Southwest Focus Area Plan (Case 25-4) to fix the land-use map and align its procedures with recent citywide zoning-code updates, removing an overlay chapter that produced unintended limits on existing industrial parcels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Commission approves Meridel arena, pavilion and final plat with conditions

Staff previews zoning-code rewrite, new zoning map and changes to development-plan procedures

Commission approves changes to Southwest Focus Area Plan to clarify map and streamline zoning process