Commission approves revised Anson Drive commercial plan despite tighter setbacks

The Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve the revised Anson Drive Partners development (case PZ‑26‑48) after staff described changes made to accommodate stream-protection setbacks and a sanitary sewer easement.

Staff told the commission the site now meets the 0.25‑acre stream protection zone widths in most areas and that buildings shifted southward to respect those protections. "There's a 160,600 square feet total. It's actually 1 61 700 now," staff said when summarizing the revised building area, and recommended approval with conditions on landscaping, parking-lot screening and bicycle-path closures. Commissioners pressed staff about Building C's proximity to Bridal Parkway; staff noted the setback would be about 9 feet where the code minimum is 10 feet and explained that a separate variance application before the board of zoning appeals would address that encroachment.

Applicant Andrew Gardner, the civil engineer for the project, said the team "have worked very hard on this plan based on the feedback we received from this board last month" and described design compromises including angled, smaller loading bays to reduce impacts from the sewer easement and stream buffer. The board voted to approve the staff-recommended conditions; the motion passed on a roll call recorded as 7–0.

The approval includes conditions to resolve interior parking-lot landscaping limitations, add screening plantings where truck movements preclude interior islands, and coordinate timing for temporary bike-path closures with staff. The applicant will pursue the necessary variance(s) for vehicle-use-area setbacks with the Board of Zoning Appeals prior to final construction permits.