Council approves rezoning for Thornwood Drive; neighbors warn of traffic, noise and safety impacts

Newark City Council voted to rezone two parcels on Thornwood Drive to a higher-density multifamily classification, approving ordinances 25-09 and 25-10 after hours of public comment and debate.

The ordinances change the zoning for 330 and 360 Thornwood Drive from MFC (multifamily condo) to MFH (multifamily high-density) to allow the developer’s proposed expansion of the Trailhead/Trailhead Vista project. Planning staff and the city planning commission recommended the rezoning.

Supporters, including the project’s attorney and developer representatives, told council the rezoning will enable additional housing and infrastructure improvements. “This legislation opens the zoning map for the subject properties to further facilitate the creation of new housing in Newark and the improvement of area infrastructure,” said David Hodge, attorney for the applicant. Developer representatives said the phase‑2 plan is not a site‑plan approval but noted commitments tied to the project, including a $500,000 pledge for roadway infrastructure and about $350,000 in permanent fees paid to the city and county; the developer also said it has set aside $100,000 for the adjacent Reddington Village association.

Residents who live near the proposed site urged council to reject or slow the rezoning, citing traffic, noise and safety. “Traffic is a big problem for us,” said Bill Stewart, a Reddington Village resident. Multiple neighbors described high speeds at the roundabout at West Main Street and Thornwood Drive, engine‑braking noise from trucks, and concerns that additional housing will strain emergency response and local schools. “We are the ones that are gonna stay there and that will have to deal with this forever,” said Debbie DeBlazer, a nearby resident.

The developer presented traffic estimates prepared with city engineering input showing that under current zoning the site could yield about 222 units and that the proposed layout of about 254 units would increase traffic on the nearby northbound approaches by roughly 3.3% to 3.6% compared with current zoning. The developer and the city engineer stressed the traffic study was preliminary and not final.

Council discussion reflected the split in public comment. Supporters of the rezoning pointed to the planning commission recommendation, the developer’s infrastructure commitments and the city’s need for housing and tax base. Councilmember Raff said the change affects allowable density rather than the exact building design and that rejecting the rezoning would not prevent development but would limit unit counts. Opponents on the council cited density, traffic and public‑safety concerns; one councilmember said they could not support the measure because it should have less density.

Several speakers urged the city to act on specific infrastructure and safety measures connected to the project: reopen Cherry Valley Bridge, revisit roundabout design, enforce prohibitions on engine‑compression braking in the city limits, and expedite traffic studies that incorporate planned housing developments in nearby areas. The Reddington Village homeowners association withdrew a formal objection to the project, with Beth Barker, the association treasurer, saying the HOA is financially stable and that the board chose to work with the developer: “We are very flush, HOA. We are not accepting that money because we need that money… we decided it was better to be a good neighbor than a bad neighbor.”

Council held separate final votes on the two ordinances. Ordinance 25-09 (330 Thornwood Drive) passed with seven yes votes, one no and two abstentions. Ordinance 25-10 (360 Thornwood Drive) passed with seven yes votes, one no and two abstentions. (Roll call recorded under the council member surnames given in the meeting transcript.)

The rezoning approvals change the zoning classifications only; they do not constitute site‑plan approval or building permits. Council members, residents and the developer noted several implementation steps remain, including final traffic analyses, site plan review and any infrastructure work the city coordinates or accepts. The developer indicated phase 1 is already under construction and described expected start of certain roadway improvements “in the course of the next 2 to 3 weeks.”