Council hears update on Grove City 2050 plan; steering committee recruitment, public input planned

Planning consultants Planning Next and zoning consultant Compass Point Planning presented council with a progress update and public-engagement plan for an update to the Grove City 2050 community plan.

Kim Shills of city planning staff introduced the update, saying the plan, originally adopted in 2018, needs review because the community and region have changed. Jamie Green, principal at Planning Next, and Michael Curtis (Planning Next) outlined the consultants' goals: reaffirm the community vision, inventory progress on prior plan actions and integrate related work (town center, zoning rewrite, transportation), and provide an implementation framework that staff and elected officials can use when weighing development and capital decisions.

Michael Curtis described next steps and outreach: the project team has contacted prior steering-committee members and is running a new application process to add six to 10 additional members so the steering committee better reflects the community. The public-engagement program will include an online survey, pop-up outreach at community events and a "meeting-in-a-box" approach where committee members host small-group discussions with consistent questions. Consultants said they expect to bring a draft recommendations book to council before year-end.

Wendy Moller of Compass Point Planning said she is assisting staff to finalize a draft zoning code rewrite and coordinating that work with Planning Next so code changes align with plan goals.

Council members questioned schedule and scope. Jamie Green recommended annual monitoring of the plan and periodic updates every five years in growth contexts; Michael Curtis said the team would deliver a draft for council review before adoption. Council asked about topics to be included; consultants said housing (including affordability and multifamily), mobility and infrastructure would be covered. Staff noted the plan'making area will focus on the city's service area tied to water and sanitary sewer service agreements with Columbus and that the plan will address connectivity and town-center infrastructure concerns raised in prior planning efforts.

Council also discussed outreach strategy and participation barriers; consultants emphasized meeting people "where they are," using online tools and community events, and using steering-committee members for targeted outreach.

No formal action was taken; the presentation sets the public input schedule and staff will return with steering-committee appointments for council consideration.