Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2026. It was a light agenda. All six items on the docket were individual homeowner variance requests, and the board approved every one unanimously: front and rear porches, a second-story addition, a replacement pool, and a backyard shed. Because these are single-family home projects rather than commercial or institutional development, we don't cover them in detail here. Two things from the meeting are worth passing along.
A warning about scam invoices in the city's name
Two of the evening's applicants said they had received emails demanding payment that were made to look like they came from the City of Worthington. One described a message asking for money that arrived earlier that afternoon; a second said his invoice claimed he owed $5,000. City staff told the room the messages are fraudulent and urged residents not to act on them: "do not just pay an invoice from the City of Worthington," staff said, adding that the same scam has surfaced in other communities.
The fake $5,000 invoice went a step further and carried the name of the board's chair, Cynthia Crane. Crane said she knew nothing about it and called it "fraud" and "identity theft," and offered to have the message forwarded to city offices. The takeaway for residents: the city does not collect variance or permit fees by emailed invoice demanding immediate payment. If you receive one, don't pay it. Contact the Planning & Building Division to confirm before sending money.
In Other News
- A September speaker series will look at the West Wilson Bridge Road redevelopment. In closing announcements, staff invited board and commission members to an Urban Land Institute speaker series on Tuesday, September 15, at Bristol Republic in Bridge Park. One focus, staff said, is Crawford Hoying's Bridge Park development and the firm's purchase of about 17 acres on West Wilson Bridge Road. Crawford Hoying's plans for that corridor, a walkable mixed-use neighborhood on the site of three aging office buildings, have been the subject of many recent meetings across city government.
Upcoming Dates
- Mondays, September 14 and 21 — Worthington City Council, Worthington Municipal Building, 6550 N. High Street.
- Monday, September 14 — Worthington Board of Education, Worthington Education Center. The board is expected to revisit House Bill 96, attendance-policy changes, and the Stay in the Game partnership.
- Tuesday, September 15 — Parks & Recreation Commission, Worthington Community Center, 345 E. Wilson Bridge Road.
- Thursday, September 24 — Architectural Review Board / Municipal Planning Commission, Worthington Municipal Building, 6550 N. High Street.
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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.