The graphic above illustrates a preliminary site plan for just under 114 acres along Route 161 that developer PC 161 Holdings intends to construct a mixed residential/commercial development upon. The road to the farthest right in the graphic is Route 161, while the diagonal road to its left is Warner Road.
(Graphic submitted)
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Plain City officials are preparing for a new commercial and a mixed commercial/residential development, each along major thoroughfares into the village.
During council’s most recent meeting, the board unanimously approved a rezoning that would pave the way for “The Spot” on U.S. 42, and a pre-annexation agreement for land along Route 161 planned to become a residential and commercial development.
Council voted 5-0 to rezone 11.66 acres on U.S. 42, adjacent to the Shell station, from Community Business District (B2) to Planned Commercial District (PCD). Council member Jim Eudaily was absent.
Zoning Inspector Derek Hutchinson said the new zoning will “allow more flexibility” for The Spot.
He said not every tenant has been determined yet, but developers have said they intend to bring three main tenants: a grocery store, laundromat and daycare. Hutchinson said the other storefronts will be a mix of retail and restaurant uses.
He explained that developers are currently preparing a preliminary development plan, which will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission for review.
Council also voted to approve a pre-annexation agreement with PC 161 Holdings with the intention of annexing just over 113 acres into the village.
About 70.6 acres would be annexed from Jerome Township while 42.4 acres would be annexed from Darby Township. The land is also split between Union and Madison counties, respectively.
Hutchinson said the pre-annexation agreement essentially indicates that Plain City would be able to provide water and sewer services to the area, if annexed into the village. He said the agreement creates “no obligation to annex.”
A conceptual site plan for the development, which is located next to Darby Station, shows a mix of commercial and residential sites.
Hutchinson said the majority of the land cannot be developed because of a floodplain, but areas around it that can be built upon will have a mix of apartments, townhomes and patio homes.
The site plan shows land fronting Route 161 will have commercial buildings, including a hotel and grocery store.
In other business:
– Council approved the rezoning of 112.82 acres on Lafayette Plain City Road from Darby Township Agricultural District (A1) to Planned Residential District (PRD).
The site, which is slated to become the Maren Reserve residential development, was also the subject of a pre-annexation agreement.
In March, council approved a pre-annexation agreement with Wilcox Communities to annex the land into the village. In June, council approved the actual annexation.
The planned development, which is located across the street from the Madison Meadows neighborhood, is an “age-focused” community with a mix of single-story apartments, patio homes and traditional single-family homes.
– Council unanimously approved an amendment to the Pastime Park Campground length of stay policy to limit campers to staying at the site for a maximum of six months per year.
A memo from the Parks and Recreation Committee said the six-month policy would reflect best practices in campsites throughout Central Ohio, cause the least impact on the park and account for the revenue created by long-term camping.
“By implementing a six-month maximum stay policy, we aim to strike a fair compromise that supports both the needs of our community, a variety of campground users, including local residents, and the financial stability of our parks system,” the memo included.
The policy will be implemented beginning Jan. 1.