Planning commission recommends Hill Farm 2 rezoning to Hilliard Conservation District over neighbors' objections

The Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 13 voted 5-1 to recommend City Council approve a rezoning and preliminary development plan for “Hill Farm 2,” a single‑family subdivision proposal that would place about 70% of the 265.8‑acre site into preserved open space and deliver roughly 300 lots. The commission’s recommendation included the staff analysis that sanitary‑sewer capacity (ERUs/taps) is expected to become available to support the proposal.

The proposal would create a Hilliard Conservation District (HCD) parcel with clustered lots, woodland and prairie restorations, multi‑use paths and a commitment to maintain forest restoration areas. Proponents said the plan extends contiguous protected land adjacent to Tarleton Meadows and Hill Farm 1 and includes reforestation and prairie plantings that, together, are intended to improve habitat and connect to other open space nearby.

Staff said the plan meets the city’s new HCD zoning standards, the Darby watershed guidance incorporated into local code, and added that recent conversations with Columbus indicate additional sewer capacity is likely to be available. Planning staff…