Council approves Kroger Marketplace final plan for Green Gate Plaza; signal required before store opens

Canal Winchester City Council voted to adopt the final development plan for a Kroger Marketplace at Green Gate Plaza on Monday, approving construction details and waiving the second and third readings so the company can proceed toward a September closing and fall start of work.

The plan covers a 14.2-acre parcel within the larger 17.9-acre Green Gate tract and shows a 122,910-square-foot Kroger Marketplace, a seven‑pump fuel center under canopy, four site access points, a regional retention pond and utility extensions to serve the entire site and adjoining outlots. Council conditioned approval on several items recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission, including an operational traffic signal at Diley Road and Greengate Boulevard before any building occupancy, and a required cross-access easement to allow outlot properties internal driveway access through the Kroger property.

Councilmember Kevin Moore, who presented the plan to council, said Kroger is purchasing a slightly larger parcel than shown in the preliminary plan and is absorbing the fuel center onto a single lot. "They would like to close on the property in September and then immediately start construction this fall," Moore said. The city and applicant also provided updated brick and lighting samples after the Planning and Zoning meeting; the applicant revised the fuel‑canopy photometrics to comply with code after a variance was denied.

Planning staff reported the project includes a regional stormwater pond at the southeast corner intended to serve the full 17.9‑acre development and sanitary sewer and water extensions sized to serve adjacent outlots. The applicant's landscape plan calls for at least 396 new trees across the site and an evergreen hedge intended to screen the Redwood Apartments at the east boundary. A tree survey identified 13 removals; the 2001 ordinance that governs the property requires a minimum 1-for-1 replacement at 3 inches DBH, which the plan meets.

Traffic and access were a key focus during questions. Council members asked whether the project would create a need for additional traffic signals; staff said traffic studies do not support an additional signal at the Greengate access and that existing and planned signals (including one at Dove Parkway and Diley) will distribute traffic. The plan was granted a Planning and Zoning variance to increase one internal access drive width from 25 to 30 feet after turning‑movement exhibits showed larger vehicles needed the extra width to avoid landscaping and curbs.

Signage and lighting also drew conditions. Planning and Zoning approved variances for additional building signage, and stipulated that monument and canopy signs facing adjacent residences be non‑illuminated. The commission required the applicant to remove a potential future signage arch at the cart corral; Kroger committed to comply.

Council adopted ordinance 25‑021 on first reading with the council's suspension of the usual second and third readings. The roll call recorded all members present voting in favor.

Kroger's plan will require cross‑access easements for the outlots, final civil plan review and building permits before construction begins. City staff said final civil review typically takes three to four weeks after council approval; expiration or other deadlines were not stated in the meeting remarks.

The council vote to adopt the ordinance was recorded by roll call and included: Miss Amos (yes), Mister Bennett (yes), Mister Buskirk (yes), Mister McLaughlin (yes), Mister Moore (yes), Mister Shea (yes) and Miss Samek (yes).

The project returns to staff-level review for civil approvals and permitting; the developer, city staff and Kroger representatives did not provide a construction completion date in the meeting.