Construction to start by July on Hilliard’s Carr Farms residences
Construction on the first phase of the Courtyards at Carr Farms is expected to begin this summer more than five years after the development was first proposed.
The Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission on April 8 unanimously approved a final plat for the proposed subdivision on the east side of Leppert Road, north of Davidson Road. The first phase consists of 47 detached “empty-nester” residences on 24.4 acres.
“We expect construction to begin in June or July with some homes vertical by the fall,” said Joel Rhoades, regional president for Dublin-based Epcon Communities.
However, occupancy isn’t expected until the first quarter of 2022, Rhoades said.
Epcon Communities is approved for a total of 179 detached “empty-nester” residences and 59 traditional single-family residences on 80 acres, Rhoades said.
In November 2015, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a planned-unit-development concept plan from Epcon Communities for the construction of 157 single-family lots on 80 acres.
In April 2018, the commission approved a sixmonth extension of the PUD concept plan.
In September 2018, the commission approved a modified PUD concept plan for 59 traditional singlefamily residences and 179 “empty-nester” residences on 80 acres.
The rezoning request received the first of three readings during the meeting.
“Many communities in central Ohio and throughout Ohio are funding these projects on the taxpayers’ dime, because they want a spec building, because that’s what it takes to create jobs,” Councilman Bob Clark said. “We have now a private investor, and we don’t have to go out and spend taxpayer dollars to develop this building and get the benefit of 150 to 200 jobs into this market.”
Haire noted during the public hearing that the land was planned as a site for industrial development for about 30 years until it was rezoned in 2002 to general commercial in order to match development in the nearby Winchester Square, which houses many retail stores and dining options.
The site also is within a community reinvestment area and is one of the last remaining undeveloped properties that allow for a 15-year, 100% property tax exemption, Haire said.
The project would target “small to midsize businesses,” with “an office in the front and warehouse in the back,” Tenby Equities partner Brant Murdoch said during the public hearing.
“What we’ve found is the demand for this kind of product is hitting its prime,” he said. “The idea of a flex building was something you didn’t hear about much, call it 10 years ago. However, it’s gaining steam for a lot of reasons.”
One reason is the continued e-commerce boom during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, he said.
The firm is developing similar buildings along Rt. 23 in Lewis Center. Murdoch said an agreement has been signed for one site with a publicly traded healthcare company that has a research and development lab.
When asked by council Vice President Mike Coolman about the potential wages for jobs created by the project, Murdoch mentioned an average salary of $55,000 with positions ranging from CEOS to hourly workers.
In February, the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended that council approve the rezoning request if Tenby Equities “complies with the recommendations for the municipal engineer in regard to traffic improvements required due to the impacts of the proposed development.”
Residents expressed concerns about increased traffic during the hearing.
“How many semitruck docks are available?” Carla Dolan asked. “How many semis are going to be coming into and out of the area? We already have a major problem. Now there’s potentially more.”
Haire said Tenby Equities has completed a traffic study of the area, which is being reviewed by EMH&T, the city’s traffic engineer.
To keep its project moving, Tenby Equities also has agreed to compensate the city $124,200 for the removal of 292 “major trees” on the property.
City code requires that each tree greater than 6 inches in diameter must be maintained, and if removed as part of an approved landscaping plan, it must be replaced with the number of trees dependent on the size of the tree removed.
A survey by Tenby Equities estimated that it would need to plant 414 trees with a minimum diameter of 2.5 inches.
Initially, the company sought a variance from the city code and proposed replacing 100 trees on the site and paying the city $30,000 for an additional 100 trees to be planted elsewhere in the city.
In March, the planning and zoning commission voted 3-2 in favor of the variance. However, four “yes” votes are required for approval.
Also, Ohio has restrictions on tree clearing from April 1 to Sept. 30 to protect the endangered Indiana bat, meaning the site would need to be cleared before City Council would have an opportunity to consider the variance.
Resident Brandon Hord noted during council’s public hearing that the project was “bulldozing a small forest” for another “flex building or warehouse in our community.” editorial@thisweeknews.com @Thisweeknews