Planning commission tables Heritage Town Center rezoning request after concerns about access, density and safety

The Pataskala City Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday voted to table a rezoning amendment for Subarea E of the Heritage Town Center planned development that would change the approved use from retail to residential and allow up to 40 attached single‑family townhomes (a density of 9.2 units per acre).

Staff said the 4.35‑acre parcel is undeveloped and had been included in the Heritage Town Center planned development with commercial uses. The applicant proposes a maximum of 40 dwellings with two‑car garages and two driveway spaces per unit, new internal private streets, extended multi‑use path connections and landscape buffers. The proposed plan text calls for building materials and architectural standards, including a 35‑foot maximum building height and vinyl siding with specified profiles.

Multiple commissioners and members of the public raised unresolved technical concerns: how lots would be owned and whether the proposal would require a major subdivision; whether some two‑unit buildings at the site would be subject to residential appearance standards; parking and driveway configurations; relocation of an existing storm sewer; and multiple fire‑district comments, including paving the emergency access drive and installing an approved barricade at the start of the private street. Staff said additional data was required to confirm impervious‑surface limits for the residential area and that the final layout must address the fire district’s and public service department’s comments.

Patty Klima, who spoke for the applicant team, said the applicant (identified in the record as Miranda) is prepared to address the issues and revise the plan. “We are prepared for the table tonight … we will be fixing it,” Klima said, and added the team intends to extend the multi‑use path and adjust the cul‑de‑sac and building layout.

Commissioners also voiced traffic and safety concerns for schoolchildren and buses at the proposed site access near Route 310; staff noted they had received a letter from the school district. The fire district and public‑service department submitted technical comments that staff attached to the report and recommended the commission defer to the department reviews as site engineering proceeds.

After discussion the commission voted to table the rezoning amendment; the roll call recorded affirmative votes for tabling. Staff and the applicant will return with revised plan text, engineering details, and responses to the fire district, public service and school district comments before the matter returns for consideration.