By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
Developers are proposing to build a 210,000 square foot freezer/cooler facility on 18 acres on the north side of Groveport Road just west of Saltzgaber Road.
Nate Green of the Montrose Group told Groveport City Council at its Oct. 16 meeting that the proposed development would be a $42 million investment in land and the facility. He said the facility could bring 100 jobs to the area and generate a possible $166,000 per year in income tax revenue for the city of Groveport. He said the facility could handle items such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutritional products. It would use freon as its cooling agent.
The development could also include an outparcel fronting Groveport Road to be marketed for retail use.
“It’s a hot market right now for this type of unique facility,” said Green. “Currently there are only three others in the central Ohio area.”
Mayor Lance Westcamp expressed concerns about the additional traffic the facility could generate on the already busy Groveport Road.
“Between 4-6 p.m. you can’t move on Groveport Road,” said Westcamp.
City officials said a traffic review would be needed regarding the development. The developers were told to submit a proposed development agreement for city council and administration to consider in the future.
The Groveport Road corridor west of State Route 317 is currently a mix of warehouses, small businesses, churches, and residences.
A couple of years ago, the city contracted with the IBI Group to create a Groveport Road Corridor Study to review west Groveport Road between Groveport and Obetz from State Route 317 to Bixby Road. The report noted that the western portion of the road located in Obetz is primarily residential while the eastern portion located in Groveport is mostly commercial/industrial. The study also stated the average daily traffic count for west Groveport Road in 2020 was 11,000 to 12,000 vehicles, but that number will rise by 55 percent to 17,000 by 2040.
