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Council approves 251‑home Northwood plan despite public safety and school concerns
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Summary
Delaware City Council approved Resolution 26‑07, clearing a 251 single‑family home development on about 95.3 acres in the Northwood subdivision; residents raised concerns about single‑point access, emergency response and school capacity, and staff said the approval includes conditions on access, sidewalks and landscaping.
Delaware City Council voted to approve Resolution 26‑07 on Feb. 2, 2026, authorizing a development plan by M/I Homes of Central Ohio LLC for about 95.284 acres in the Northwood subdivision and permitting 251 single‑family dwelling units.
Planner Miss Perreault told council the application covers subarea B of Northwood and includes two housing‑lot categories (smaller ~5,250 sq ft lots in the southern section and larger ~6,240 sq ft lots in the north), five‑foot sidewalks on both sides of streets, street trees and other elements consistent with the previously approved development text. Planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval with 10 conditions, she said.
During the public hearing, resident Scott MacVicar read a submitted letter warning that the proposed development would have just one primary entrance and exit onto Skyview Lane and that emergency access via Bow Town Road could be blocked by snow and temporary guardrail. "With a 6 minute response time target to reach a fire location, this scenario would not allow for this, and lives could be lost," MacVicar said, urging an additional public access point before development begins.
Bill Henderly, another resident, asked that Delaware City Schools and other stakeholders be involved earlier in the review of developments, saying school capacity, tax abatements and TIFs impose long‑term costs. "The schools are already crowded," Henderly said, arguing the school district should be notified at the outset of projects.
A representative for the applicant, Steve Peck of M/I Homes, said the company was "fine with all the conditions" and noted a $1,000 transportation impact fee was being applied to later sections though it had been omitted from the first two sections by oversight.
Miss Perreault said the plan requires certain emergency‑access connections and that interim connections will be marked as emergency access only when necessary; she also said Bixby Drive must be completed and accepted by the engineering department before home construction begins on portions that depend on that road.
Council members asked staff to monitor construction traffic and compliance with signage and access restrictions; one member noted that most of the development lies in the Buckeye Valley School District and that district officials have been aware of the project. After discussion, council member Ryder moved to approve Resolution 26‑07 and the motion carried on roll call.
The resolution was approved with the conditions recommended by planning staff. The council record lists the plan approval and the attached conditions; construction and final access points remain subject to engineering acceptance and future plan submissions.
