Planning commission backs rezoning, prelim plan for 122‑unit Hill Road apartments despite resident pushback

The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission on March 10 voted to recommend that City Council adopt a zoning map amendment (ZM25-001) and a preliminary development plan (PDP25-001) that would rezone roughly 25–26.7 acres along Hill Road in the Green Gate area and allow construction of 122 apartment dwelling units.

Staff presented the revised application and told the commission the applicant had addressed prior staff and commission comments. Planning staff said the applicant had increased internal pedestrian connectivity, committed to private streets with no on‑street parking, provided five sidewalk connections to Hill Road and committed to a minimum 21‑foot driveway depth for each unit. Andrew Moore, planning staff, told the commission “staff is recommending that the preliminary development plan 25‑001 also be recommended to city council for adoption.”

The applicant’s attorney, Craig Moncrief of the Planck Law Firm, said the development text had been revised to add design detail referencing Chapter 11.98 of the city code (residential appearance standards). “What we’re committing to is a minimum of 5 enhancements for front walls, 4 for rear walls, 3 for side walls,” Moncrief said, adding the project will plant about 449 trees and limit parking‑lot lighting to 12 feet high.

Under the proposal the parcel would be…