Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at May 7th's Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. Below are summaries of the commercial and institutional projects that directly impact our community.
The night's docket was mostly individual homeowner applications, which we don't cover in this newsletter. Two commercial items were approved.
What Was Approved
Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet, 750 East Granville Road. The dealership got the green light to tear down its former used-car sales building and put up a smaller detail shop in roughly the same spot. The new building won't sit any closer to the property line than the old one, and the design has been reworked so the cladding matches the rest of the dealership campus. The project still has to clear the Architectural Review Board, which will see the revised elevations the following week. Vote was 4-0.
For-sale-or-lease banners at 6661 Huntley Road. A long-vacant commercial building at the corner of Schrock and Huntley Roads got approval for two oversized banners through November 30, 2026 (capped at 40 square feet each; they have to come down sooner if the property sells or leases). The owner told the board the building has been listed by professional brokers for nearly two years without a buyer, and that he is now marketing it himself. The site sits inside the Northeast Area Plan / Forge Fields at Rush Run footprint, the corridor the city has been working to reposition for redevelopment.
Community Feedback Needed
Planning Coordinator Lynda Bitar reminded the board about the comprehensive plan's third community engagement round. An open house is happening on Wednesday, May 13, 6:30–8:00 p.m. at the Community Center's North Gym (345 E. Wilson Bridge Road) for residents to weigh in on the draft proposal of the Worthington Comprehensive Plan.
The draft covers development character, housing, public spaces, transportation, economic strategy, environmental stewardship, and more for the city.
- Childcare is available in the Community Center playroom for the duration of the meeting so families with young kids can attend together.
- A webinar covering the same material runs Wednesday, May 20, 12–1 p.m. Register at worthingtontogether.org.
Thanks for reading this summary of the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. You can watch the original full video here.
Note: This recap focuses on commercial and institutional projects that affect the broader community. Individual homeowner applications, while important to those involved, are not included in this community newsletter.