Due to an issue with notifying residents, Plain City Council recently continued a hearing regarding a proposed residential development at the corner of North Chillicothe Street and Noteman Street. If approved, the Run at Hofbauer Preserve, illustrated above, would add 100 single-family homes to the area. Council will host the hearing and vote on the preliminary development plan March 22. (Graphic submitted)
Plain City residents will have to wait a little longer to learn the fate of a proposed residential development on the corner of Chillicothe Street and Noteman Street.
Village Council continued a public hearing regarding the Run at Hofbauer Preserve originally scheduled for Monday’s meeting.
Council was set to vote on a rezoning application and preliminary development plan, following time for comments from residents and developers.
However, Village Solicitor Paul Lafayette said recommended a continuance of the hearing “to a date certain.”
He said Plain City “had a problem with notifications going out.”
The village gave proper public notice of the hearing, Lafayette said, but legislation in place also requires that adjacent and adjoining property owners are notified via certified mail.
He explained that those individuals were not properly notified.
For that reason, Lafayette said council couldn’t be certain that all individuals who would like to speak on the topic – whether in favor or in opposition of the development – were present.
Although developers were in attendance at the virtual meeting and prepared to speak, Lafayette advised against it as he would be “more comfortable if everybody had their time for the hearing at the same time.”
“Again, there’s no perfect way to deal with this situation,” he said.
Council member Shannon Pine motioned to continue the hearing until March 22, during the regular council meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Council unanimously approved the motion.
“I’m sure we’re not happy having to do it this way,” Lafayette said. “Nobody is.”
The planning and zoning commission reviewed the rezoning request and preliminary development plan on Dec. 16, 2020.
The commission recommended rezoning approximately 48.85 acres along North Chillicothe Street from Community Business District (B2) to Planned Residential Development District (PRD). The approval was conditional upon the applicant increasing the width of the path through the preserve, if permitted by the EPA.
If approved, the developers intend to create 100 single-family homes.
In other business:
– Council voted to move the date of its work sessions from 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month, to the first Wednesday.
The change is effective immediately, meaning the next work session will take place March 3 rather than March 10.
– Council unanimously approved a recommendation from Plain City Police Department Chief Dale McKee to promote Officer Gary Sigrist from auxiliary to part-time status.
McKee said the promotion will not require any budget changes.
– Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said the contractor for the pathway connector bridge through Darby Fields to Plain City Elementary School “finally showed up with about half a bridge” Monday.
He said the contractor told village staff they will be working to complete the bridge through the rest of the week.
Depending on the epoxy they use and its drying time, Cahall said “they may be almost done by the end of the week.”
– Council President John Rucker commended the village’s streets crew for their work throughout the winter storms.
He said he was recently approached by a resident who said they were impressed by how well the village is managing the high quantity of snow.
“It is appreciated and it is noticed,” Rucker said.