By Andrea Cordle
Southwest Editor
City leaders have been talking about it for years. Now, development plans for the Beulah Park property have been approved.
At the Aug. 20 meeting, Grove City Council gave the green light for several development plans in the Beulah Park area, including an apartment complex and assisted living facility.
The first measure approved was phase one of the Beulah Park roadways plan. This maps out some of the major roadways through the development.
Councilwoman Christine Houk was the sole vote against the roadway plan. She said there are still too many unknowns. Houk said she wants to see a traffic study and have an agreement in place with rail company before moving forward with this development plan.
“I don’t want to make a decision without all the pieces,” said the councilwoman.
One resident, Roger Burket, agreed with Houk saying there are too many loose ends to approve the roadway plan. He urged council to delay the vote.
Regarding the agreement with Indiana and Ohio Railway, City Administrator Chuck Boso said an agreement has been reached. That agreement has not been viewed yet by council and would need its approval. Boso said the city would like to close the railroad crossing at Grant Avenue and install a crossing at Columbus Street once that roadway is extended.
Despite some concerns, council approved the first phase of the roadway development plan.
Councilman Jeff Davis said pieces are missing, but the concept is there, and this project has been discussed for years.
“The horse has been out of the barn for a long time,” said Davis. “This is important for the Town Center and we know where we’re going.”
Council also approved the development plan for Danbury Grove City Assisted Living, located south of Southwest Boulevard and east of Demorest Road. This assisted living center will feature 88 units.
Even though the plan was approved, the item drew attention from council members, not for the plan itself, but for what it did not offer. Both councilman Ted Berry and Jeff Davis were concerned that the assisted living facility was a private pay only facility and would not accept Medicaid-funded beds.
“Grove City residents would benefit from assisted living in the area, but some cannot afford private pay,” said Davis.
Berry said the city does have an aging population, but many cannot afford $5,000 a month for assisted living.
“It breaks families,” said Berry who suggested that the developer offer a percentage of beds to Medicaid patients.
The city’s law director Stephen Smith said the city cannot tell a business owner how to operate their business. Council can only approve or deny the development plan.
Council also approved the development plan for Beulah Park Apartments, located west of Broadway and south of Southwest Boulevard.
This apartment complex would include about 300 one or two-bedroom apartments and 80 townhouses.
