By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport City Council is considering legislation that could clear the way for the construction of more residences in town.
Residential apartment homes on Hendron Road
Property owners have requested amending the zoning on about 23.2 acres located at 5090 Hendron Road (located on the east side of Hendron Road and directly south of the railroad tracks) from rural to planned high density residential.
Redwood USA LLC is considering constructing single story, one family attached “apartment homes” on the property.
When asked if the project is being planned specifically as a retirement community, Groveport City Administrator B.J. King said, “No, it’s general residences.”
According to paperwork filed with the city of Groveport by developer Redwood USA LLC, phase one of the proposed project would build 98 units on 13 acres and phase two would build 42 units on 10 acres of the property. The 140 total units would be contained in 24 buildings with a density of six units per acre.
According to Todd Foley of POD Design, who represented Redwood USA LLC at the city of Groveport’s March 2 planning and zoning meeting, there are two access points planned on Hendron Road as well as plans to extend a sidewalk to connect it to the existing sidewalk to the south. About eight acres of open space is planned for the development. The development’s concrete streets would be private and maintained the developer. The development would use water from the Groveport water plant.
If approved by council, phase one construction could begin in November 2020 and phase two could start in December 2022 with total construction possibly completed by August 2023. The apartment homes would range in size from 1,300 to 1,600 square feet and each unit would have two bedrooms, two baths, and an attached garage.
“By design, our two bedroom plans attract families that have fewer members and are financially stable such as young professionals, empty nesters, and seniors wishing to live in a peaceful neighborhood…,” according to Redwood USA LLC’s development statement filed with the city.
Foley said the impact of additional students from the development on Groveport Madison Schools would be minimal.
“Sixty percent of residents in these developments are usually empty-nesters over age 50,” said Foley, who added this development might only have seven to 10 school age children as residents.
In the report to the city, Redwood USA LLC CEO David Conwill said, “We offer a condominium atmosphere with the feel of a single family home and without association fees or property taxes to worry about.”
More homes for Hickory Grove
Maronda Homes has requested amending the zoning on about 9.1 acres located west of Ebright Road and east of Shellbark Street from planned low density residential to suburban residential.
If approved by council, the change would allow for the construction of 30 detached, single family residences as an extension to the existing Hickory Grove development. The streets Shagbark Place and Butternut Lane would be extended into the proposed development with Butternut Lane connecting with Ebright Road.
“This addition would finish out the development,” said Councilman Ed Dildine.
When asked by Planning and Zoning Board member Pat Pickett at the March 2 planning and zoning meeting about how much of an impact the added development would have on Groveport Madison Schools, EMH&T Engineer Kyle Shreves, who was representing Maronda Homes, said, “That’s beyond me.”
Council will consider the two zoning requests and proposed projects at its upcoming meetings.
