The Plain City Council approved a preliminary PUD (planned-unit development) plan for the Ballantine property, authorizing staff to proceed with final development text and future site plans tied to identified users and infrastructure agreements.

Developers told the council the project will be phased and include a 100-bed nursing home footprint, a 100-unit assisted-living building, phased apartments (reduced from earlier larger counts), a daycare/preschool site, and several small outlots for professional office or medical-related uses. Presenters said they have a purchase agreement in place for the nursing home parcel and are pursuing letters of intent on other outlots.

Why it matters: The rezoning changes the site’s potential uses from industrial to a mix of residential, medical and neighborhood commercial, and the project will affect traffic, utility capacity and green-space configuration along U.S. 42 and Darby Creek.

Key developer points and phasing: A representative for the developer said they are working on a draft development agreement with Mid-Ohio (utility coordination), and that water planning is further along than sewer. The team said apartments were downscaled to better match market demand and will phase in as absorption permits; they estimated earlier concepts of up to 480 units were reduced to roughly 300–330 units phased over time. The team also indicated interest from medical/professional users (including a "med spa" and office uses) and noted the daycare/preschool user is actively involved.

Design, screening and trails: Presenters emphasized substantial tree lines and grade changes along U.S. 42 that will limit visual impacts from nearby residences on Converse and that the project includes more green space than current zoning requires. The plan shows proposed internal streets, parking screened from the highway, and a potential bicycle/pedestrian corridor routed through the parkland and across Darby Bridge; developers said exact trail alignments will evolve with future discussions.

Infrastructure, funding and timing: Developers said some assisted-living and senior housing users often seek tax-credit rounds that open biannually; timing can push those components into later rounds (the presenter mentioned a February application window). The team projected initial infrastructure activity around 2027 with broader buildout phased into later years, acknowledging current construction costs and hotel-market dynamics make some commercial uses longer-term possibilities.

Council action and votes: During the public hearing the council accepted a motion to approve the preliminary development plan for the Ballantine property (PUD rezoning). The motion was seconded, and several councilmembers voted yes; the planning commission had recommended approval with staff conditions. The approval advances the project to the stage where final development plan text and development agreements will be negotiated and returned to council for final approvals.

Next steps: Staff and the developer will continue drafting the development agreement and final PUD text, coordinate on sewer and water details with Mid-Ohio and other utilities, and return to council with formal final development plans tied to specific users and any requested incentives or infrastructure commitments.