Council amends prior ordinance to remove Jeffrey Lynn vehicular connection, keeps developer obligations intact

HILLIARD, Ohio — In a contentious exchange that spanned council rules and staff recommendations, the Hilliard City Council on April 14 voted 7-0 to amend previously adopted Ordinance 25-06 to remove the proposed vehicular connection of Jeffrey Lynn Drive to the Hill Farm 2 development.

The motion directed the developer to create a pedestrian connection between adjacent neighborhoods, require submission of a revised site plan for staff review consistent with the amendment, and reaffirmed that the developer’s payment obligations in the development agreement — specifically a $370,000 contribution to intersection improvements at Cosgray Road and Jeffrey Lynn Drive — remain in effect.

Council debated parliamentary procedure before the vote: one member asked whether the correct vehicle would have been a motion to reconsider; others explained the amendment procedure in Robert’s Rules and said the narrower amendment would leave the rest of the adopted ordinance in place. A director and other staff then presented recommendations about related transportation work.

Director Schamp recommended that work on the Cosgray/Jeffrey Lynn roundabout proceed into preliminary design regardless of the connection decision, and that the city advance a traffic‑calming pilot on a single street (Davidson Road) first rather than study four streets at once. Staff said advancing the roundabout into preliminary design would likely require a supplemental capital appropriation later in the year and follow the consultant selection process used on other projects.

On timing and scope, staff said right‑of‑way acquisition for large corridor projects often takes at least 18 months and that a pilot traffic‑calming engagement and concept stage could take roughly three to four months once a staff lead is in place. Council members raised questions about whether previously authorized studies and expenditures would continue; staff clarified some recommended design work should proceed and that cost and schedule details would be brought back to council for appropriation.

The clerk’s roll call recorded all seven council members voting yes: Cynthia Vermillion, Greg Betts, Vice President Teeter, Emily Cole, Frank Carrier, Peggy Hale and President Catone.

Why it matters: The amendment changes the physical connectivity between neighborhoods, shifts how traffic will be managed, preserves a developer contribution toward intersection improvements and directs staff to pursue a narrower neighborhood traffic‑calming process as a pilot before broader work.

Next steps: Staff said it will proceed with recommended next steps for the Cosgray/Jeffrey Lynn roundabout preliminary design and bring any necessary supplemental budget or consultant legislation to council; staff will also start the pilot traffic‑calming process if council supports resourcing it in future budgets.