The Hilliard Planning & Zoning Commission on an evening meeting approved a rezoning of four parcels at the northeast corner of Roberts Road and Alton Darby Road to the Hilliard Conservation District and granted approvals for several development and site-plan applications while postponing two sign-variance requests.

Staff told the commission the Circle K site — four parcels totaling about 1.2 acres — did not meet the Hilliard Conservation District (HCD) minimum tract size of 20 acres and the HCD open-space ratios, but recommended the rezoning because the parcel lies adjacent to an existing HCD area in the Halton Place/Alton Place subarea. Planning staff said the proximity justified obviating the usual minimum-tract requirement. The commission voted 5-0 to approve PZ-2536 as presented.

Why it matters: rezoning to HCD changes the allowable development path for the parcels and is the first step before a separate development plan application. Staff and applicants said a subsequent application would roll the site into the adjacent Alton Place HCD subarea and include a Level B site plan that could specify uses, architecture and open-space commitments.

In other actions the commission approved, unanimously, the Twins Hookah Lounge Old Hilliard District plan (PZ-2540) with five staff conditions, granted two approvals for the Alton Place/Onyxet East project (PZ-2542) — a text modification to allow horizontal siding on side/rear elevations and a Level B site plan — and approved the Westwood Collective Old Hilliard District plan and associated sign variance (PZ-2543). The commission also approved a final-plat/lot-split modification for a White Street property (PZ-2544).

Several items raised substantive process or design concerns during public discussion. For the Twins Hookah application, the applicant proposed a front retractable awning and patio and a 1,600-square-foot paved area at the rear to add four parking spaces. Staff and the applicant noted the project would restore the site’s previously approved total of 11 parking spaces (seven at the front including one accessible space, plus the four in back). Engineering staff told the commission that adding pavement triggers stormwater requirements and that a sewer/storm connection review could be costly; the applicant said the stormwater/sewer requirement posed a budget challenge. Planning staff and the city’s attorney’s office clarified that expanding outdoor sales or service for tobacco-related products would be treated as an expansion of a conditional use and that hookah use must remain indoors under current licensing and Ohio Department of Health rules; other tobacco or cigar consumption in public areas raised separate code questions.

On signage, staff recommended denial for a revised Ohio AutoCare pylon/pole sign at 4399 Cemetery Road because the proposed design more closely resembled a pole sign prohibited by code. The applicant asked the commission to consider alternatives (a brick base to read as a monument sign or revising the structure) and ultimately asked to postpone the sign variance to work with staff on design drawings. The commission postponed PZ-2539 by voice vote, 5-0.

Commissioners and staff pressed applicants on access, stormwater and emergency access for the Alton Place/Onyxet East (PZ-2542) subdivision amendment. Staff described the Onyxet East application as a reconfiguration that would not change the overall unit count approved with Alton Place (the application covers about 123 dwellings in the affected area, with a mix of single-family lots and townhouses) and recommended approval with conditions addressing access and technical items. The commission approved both motions related to that project, 5-0.

Votes at a glance (formal roll-call outcomes reported at the meeting):
- PZ-2535: postponed one month (voice vote, motion carried)
- PZ-2541: postponed one month (voice vote, same motion)
- PZ-2536 (rezoning to Hilliard Conservation District; Circle K site, NE corner Roberts Rd & Alton Darby Rd): approved (roll call 5-0)
- PZ-2539 (Ohio AutoCare, sign variance at 4399 Cemetery Rd): postponed at applicant request (motion carried 5-0)
- PZ-2540 (Twins Hookah Lounge Old Hilliard District plan and Level B site plan, 3981 Main St): approved with five staff conditions (roll call 5-0)
- PZ-2542 (Onyxet East / Alton Place text modification and Level B site plan): both motions approved (HCD modification with two conditions; Level B site plan with four conditions) (roll calls 5-0)
- PZ-2543 (Westwood Collective, 4045 Main St — Old Hilliard District plan and sign variance): both approved (motion carries 5-0)
- PZ-2544 (White property final plat/lot split modification, 4140 Winterringer St): approved with staff recommendations (roll call 5-0)

Commissioners noted the substantive issues applicants must address in subsequent filings: meeting HCD open-space standards when parcels are consolidated into larger HCD tracts; showing detailed stormwater plans when pavement is added; providing engineered access or emergency-vehicle access where fire officials require it; and submitting sign drawings for city review if applicants are seeking alternatives to code-prohibited pole signs.

The meeting concluded with brief administrative items and no additional communications.