Franklin County Planning Commission recommends four rezonings, approves greenhouse special use permit and two small subdivisions

The Franklin County Planning Commission met May 21, 2026, in the County Commissioners Meeting Room and, after staff presentations and brief applicant remarks, voted unanimously to recommend four rezoning requests to the Board of County Commissioners, approve a special use permit for a greenhouse/nursery and approve two small-subdivision final plats.

Planning Director Nathan Boyd summarized staff reports for each public-hearing item. The commission recommended approval of rezoning application #2603-0074 (Barnes), a request to change about 30.01 acres at 3394 Reno Road from A-2 (Transitional Agriculture) to A-1 (Agriculture) so that parcel may be merged with an adjacent ~210-acre tract and later split for estate settlement into approximately 98-, 80- and 63-acre tracts. Boyd said the tracts would remain in agricultural zoning, would not be in a Special Flood Hazard Area and that staff found the change consistent with Franklin County’s Zoning Regulations and Comprehensive Plan.

The commission then recommended approval of application #2603-0075 (Smith), rezoning roughly 7.00 acres at 1825 Haskell Road from A-1 to R-E (Residential Estate) to allow a 7-acre lot split; staff noted Franklin County Rural Water District #4 has a water meter available for the new lot. Next the commission recommended approval of application #2604-0076 (Burroughs) to rezone about 4.00 acres at 1378 US-59 Highway from A-1 to R-3A (single-family, three-acre) to allow a lot split; staff noted much of the 48-acre parent tract is within a Special Flood Hazard Area. The commission also recommended approval of application #2604-0077 (Loder), a pair of rezoning adjustments affecting parcels on Sand Creek Road designed to resolve access issues and merge a 2.00-acre parcel with an adjacent tract.

All four rezoning recommendations passed by roll-call vote, each recorded 6-0 in favor. Motions were typically moved by Commissioners Livingston or Rodina and seconded by other members; no public objections or substantive board debate were recorded during the hearings.

The commission approved Special Use Permit #2604-0013 for the operation of a greenhouse and nursery at 3359 Ohio Road. Applicant Shawn Turner plans to relocate a 36-by-96-foot portion of an existing structure out of a floodplain to grow wholesale flowers and plants for Turner Flowers & Country Store (231 S. Main St., Ottawa). Boyd said the project has partial funding that requires erection between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2026; staff recommended approval subject to five conditions. The motion to recommend approval carried 6-0.

In non-public-hearing business, the commission approved two final plats. Final Plat #2512-0024 (Fiehler’s Fields) divides about 105 acres into Lot 1 (~6.45 acres, with existing residence) and Lot 2 (~97.41 acres for agriculture). Final Plat #2604-0029 (Jackson Acres) divides about 15 acres into Lot 1 (~11.73 acres, existing residence) and Lot 2 (~3.00 acres) to allow the smaller lot to be transferred to a family member. Staff noted both plats meet county subdivision standards; both motions passed 6-0.

During the public-comment period, Commissioner S. Hornbuckle raised concerns about proposed data centers in neighboring jurisdictions and asked whether county commissioners had been approached to consider a ban on data centers in Franklin County, citing potential pollution and utility-cost impacts and noting county investment in Proximity Park. "I would like to ban data centers," Hornbuckle said. Planning Director Nathan Boyd responded that he would discuss the possibility with the County Commissioners and the County Administrator and report back, and Chair Louis Reed noted the county’s authority to restrict facilities applies only to areas outside incorporated city limits.

The commission set its next public hearing for June 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. and adjourned at 6:50 p.m.