Council approves Church of the Highlands special exception at River Road with extensive conditions

The Columbus City Council on Sept. 16 approved a special-exception permit allowing a Church of the Highlands facility at 7701 River Road, with 22 conditions attached to the approval.

Councilor Lehi Davis, who led the item, told council the church’s proposed addition would add roughly 750 seats and therefore required a special exception under city zoning rules. He said the church and adjacent property owners had worked through matters including landscaping and site design and that he supported the application because the applicant had committed to substantial mitigations.

Church representative Bruce Adams and developer Wright Wade attended the meeting and told council they had negotiated conditions with staff and nearby landowners; council members praised the parties for working together. Council members noted the site’s proximity to the city landfill and existing commercial uses, and Davis said the project resembled a planned development given the level of conditions the applicant agreed to.

Council voted to approve the special exception. The council did not read all 22 conditions into the public record during the meeting, but councilors described them as including upgraded landscaping, canopy tree plantings and other site-design commitments intended to reduce impacts on adjacent properties.

Councilor Davis said he had spoken with surrounding property owners who expressed concerns but had reached agreements with the church and developer. Pace Halter, chair of the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, was present later in the meeting and thanked council for their attention to several city contracts, but was not involved in this zoning matter.

The approval requires the applicant to comply with the 22 conditions as a part of the development approval; staff will monitor compliance through subsequent permitting.