Athens planning commission deadlocks on request for legal review of two outside‑city developments

The Athens City Planning Commission on Sept. 17 considered whether two proposed developments outside the city — described in meeting materials as the Lofts and the Cornerstone development — should be treated as subdivisions subject to the city’s review under Ohio law. The commission considered two letters from SoWash Law Office arguing the projects are subdivisions; planning staff and others said they do not view the projects that way.

Why it matters: If the projects qualify as subdivisions under the Ohio Revised Code and the city’s Title 21 subdivision rules, developers would face a longer review process including a planning commission public hearing and multiple city‑council readings. That could change timelines and require additional design and infrastructure conditions.

Planning staff member David Riggs told the commission that the city first reviewed the developments as notifications because staff did not see a “clear subdivision of land.” Riggs said, “For projects that are outside of the city, we could only look at subdivisions. We don't look at other types of commercial developments or residential developments that are not subdivisions.” He recommended the commission ask the city law director for a formal legal opinion…