Planning commission backs rezoning for 119‑acre Hilliard tech/employment park, adds buffer and landscaping conditions

The Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 9 forwarded a positive recommendation to City Council to rezone a 119‑acre parcel at Davidson Road and Hayden Run Road to a planned‑unit development to allow an employment‑based technology park, the commission agreed by recorded vote (yes: 6; abstain: 1). The recommendation included six staff conditions plus an additional seventh condition requiring the developer to install the landscape buffers before construction of facilities in the development zone.

Staff and the applicant said the proposal would create a campus-style, flex employment park intended for corporate offices, light advanced manufacturing, research and development, and incubator space for start‑ups. The development plan reserves roughly 48 acres as open space (subarea 1) to be dedicated to the city and shows pedestrian and regional trail connections through the site.

“Sub area 2 is where the development will be,” said Mr. Valentino, presenting the staff report. Valentino described the updated concept plan and text changes since the Nov. 14 hearing, including clearer pathways, a 150‑foot setback along Hayden Crest Street, and additional planting and architectural standards added to the PUD text.

Why it matters: the city’s community plan currently recommends suburban residential uses for the site (1–3 units per acre). City…