Hilliard council interviews candidates for zoning boards, then recesses to executive session

The Hilliard City Council interviewed several applicants on Nov. 10, 2025, for openings on the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and the Planning and Zoning Commission (PNZ) and then recessed to an executive session to consider appointments.

The first candidate, Samuel “Sam” Blythe, introduced himself as a Hilliard resident of 15 years and described a background in real estate photography and marketing, including 15 years with CoStar and a recent position at Industrial Realty Group. "I live in Heritage Lakes... I've lived in Hilliard for 15 years," Blythe said, adding that he was “ready to give back” and was willing to serve a full five-year term or a shorter partial term if needed.

Another applicant, who said she "currently work[s] as a senior legislative aide at the Ohio House of Representatives," described a public‑affairs and urban‑planning background and recounted working with neighbors and city officials to add street lights and improve sidewalks. She told the council she expected to relocate into Hilliard within a month and said she would prefer the shorter term that ends in 2028 but was open to staying longer.

A third applicant, a local HOA board member and lead faculty at Colorado State University, described experience handling appeals in her HOA and said she has reviewed Hilliard’s zoning rules though she had not watched PNZ/BZA meetings online. She said either a five‑year or shorter term would be acceptable.

During the session an applicant who lives in the area on a TN visa disclosed he is not a U.S. citizen and told the council, "I don't think I can because I'm actually not an American citizen." City legal staff and council members explained that registration to vote is a required qualification for appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission and that the BZA and PNZ differ in residency/registration requirements; as a result, the council concluded he was not eligible for PNZ at this time.

A long‑time local architect who has worked on projects in Hilliard described decades of experience and civic involvement dating to 1977. He said he has a private project in development that "may come and that may disqualify me from this position," and he pledged to recuse himself on matters that pose a conflict.

Council members repeatedly clarified eligibility rules: PNZ members must be registered electors of the City of Hilliard; BZA membership does not strictly require that status. That distinction was a deciding factor in the council’s assessment of at least one candidate’s eligibility.

After the interviews the council moved to recess into executive session "for matters pertaining to the appointment of public personnel, charter section 2.101(a)." A member said, "I moved to recess," which was seconded, and members present voted in favor; the council recessed without announcing any final appointments or votes on individual nominees.

The council did not announce appointments at the public meeting. The executive session was convened to consider personnel appointments under the cited charter provision; any formal appointments or vote results will be reported by the council after the executive-session process is complete.