Council hears lengthy debate on 200,200 sq ft Velocity Hill Road industrial plan; moves item to full council

Canal Winchester City Council heard a detailed presentation Oct. 20 on a final development plan (FDP 25-0006) for a proposed 200,200-square-foot industrial building on Hill Road within the Green Gates planned industrial district and voted to move the ordinance to full council for a subsequent hearing.

Andrew Moore, filling in for the development director, described the site as roughly 29.6 acres that includes the parcel with the existing house at 7995 Hill Road plus an adjacent long, narrow woodland preservation strip to the north. The applicant proposes one large industrial building with 201 parking stalls, three wet basins for stormwater, and a force main that would be bored beneath a gas transmission line to connect to an existing sanitary manhole. The presentation noted water service extension from behind Meijer and that Violet Township Fire Department had no preliminary concerns with hydrant spacing and emergency access.

Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval with conditions: (1) construct all roadway improvements on Hill Road required by a traffic study approved by the Fairfield County engineer before building occupancy; (2) add an ADA-accessible walkway from the proposed 8-foot multi-use trail to the building's front office area; and (3) limit parking-lot light poles to a maximum height of 30 feet (the plan showed some poles near 31 feet). The applicant also agreed to retain a northern woodland area and to plant additional trees in the preserved strip.

Council members asked detailed questions. Concerns and clarifications included: - Parking and impervious surface: multiple councilmembers said 201 spaces for 200,200 square feet appeared high and discussed whether future zoning code updates might reduce the required minimum parking ratio. Staff said variance or code changes would be needed to reduce the count. - Stormwater basins inside the woodland preservation strip: councilmembers asked how locating a basin in the preservation area aligned with the area's intent. Staff said the applicant is purchasing the woodland strip as part of the parcel and the basin area already contained a barn and some cleared ground; the developer would be responsible for long-term maintenance. - Utilities and gas main crossing: staff explained the force main and other utilities would be directionally bored under the gas transmission line at 90-degree crossings and coordinated with the gas company to meet separation and depth requirements. - Roadway access and jurisdiction: Hill Road improvements fall under Fairfield County jurisdiction where the site frontage is in county right-of-way; the traffic study is under county review. The plan anticipates a secondary access aligned with a South Central Power parcel to the south to separate employee and truck traffic. - Screening for adjacent homes: councilmembers pressed for mounding, fencing, or additional screening between the northern truck/dock areas and nearby residences. Staff said no mounding was shown because the applicant planned phased subdivision and possible future development north of the gas line; any landscape requirements for that future parcel would reduce its usable area.

After discussion, council moved ordinance 25-026 (final development plan approval) to full council for a later vote. No final council approval of the FDP occurred Oct. 20; the Planning & Zoning conditions will be part of the record when council takes up the ordinance.

Council asked staff to continue coordinating with Fairfield County engineers, Violet Township Fire Department, South Central Power Company, and the applicant on access, traffic improvements, and utility crossings before final action.