Upper Arlington director presents surge in construction activity, transit returns to Lane Avenue

Director of Community Development Shannon Gibson briefed the council on May 4 with a condensed 10-year review of permit activity and ongoing development across Upper Arlington. "We're averaging 3,400 permits a year" and roughly "$170,000,000 per year of construction," Gibson said, describing the pace as redevelopment within a landlocked, roughly 10-square-mile community.

Gibson highlighted several projects: a $13 million investment by Wellington along Fisher Road that will refresh the old Fisher Road school frontage; ongoing work on the National Church Residences headquarters redevelopment; and two Columbia Gas utility stations approved after design review, which Gibson said will be constructed to fit neighborhood character. He said one station is on Ridgeview Road and another on Brandon Road.

Gibson also told council that, after years of advocacy, COTA bus service will return to West Lane Avenue and that a separate bus line will be reassigned from a residential cul-de-sac onto Fishers Road where sidewalks are now in place. "Now we're going to have bus service back on Lane Avenue," he said, and noted recent public outreach by COTA at the Bob Crane Community Center.

Council members asked about garage-height variances, neighborhood compatibility, and the department's fee recalibration. Gibson said the Board of Zoning and Planning reviewed 81 applications in 2025 and that fee changes (including waiving the solar permit fee) were intended to encourage compliance without harming revenues. He described the board's role in applying legal standards for variances and said council will receive appointments to fill upcoming board vacancies.

Gibson offered to provide deeper data slides and urged council members to contact staff for follow-up. The presentation concluded with questions from council and set no immediate regulatory votes; several items will return to council for further consideration.