The Delaware County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) had two recent meetings, and here are the highlights:
• Berkshire Township matters dominated the June 27 meeting. RPC approved text amendments to Article 17 of Berkshire’s zoning resolution. In the director’s report, it was noted that Berkshire “is currently using a consultant that is working on branding at 36/37 and I-71 and land uses in the overlays” for its Comprehensive Plan.
The commission also reviewed in Berkshire a 24.4-acre Planned Use Mixed Development (PMUD); as well as unanimously approving single-lot subdivision projects, the 33.8-acre Carlton at Berkshire, Rider and Wilson roads; and Northstar Lundin Road (3 acres, formerly known as Portrush Road).
The PMUD will “serve as a Mercedes dealership and future outlots” on a “site that has been historically agricultural fields and woodlands,” the request said. The developer is only using 6.7 acres of the site, to avoid another dealership opening up next to it. The dealership will be a 58,982-square-foot building with 406 parking spaces, including a new “Welcome to Berkshire Township” monument sign. It will be bordered by the existing Sunbury Garden Center and the Carlton at Berkshire multi-family residential development. Construction on the dealership would begin in October and completed in March 2026 pending approval by the Berkshire Zoning Commission with a meeting slated for July 11.
The Carlton at Berkshire is across from Tanger Outlet, and a PMUD was applied for this site last fall, “to allow for this development,” meeting minutes said. “The property will include 312 multi-family units in 13 buildings plus nine garage buildings, a clubhouse, swimming pool, fitness building, two stormwater ponds, and ample open space that protects existing wetlands… The developer has also worked with the outlet mall who would like more residential in the area in order to help bring more restaurants to the area.”
The currently vacant Northstar Lundin Road site is currently vacant and abuts the new Camping World site to the south. The new BST&G Fire Station will be built there, with points of access onto both Lundin and Wilson roads.
These projects are in the Big Walnut Local School district.
There was also a year extension granted to Painter Farm subdivision in Concord Township. The RPC approved planning and zoning text update for the Village of Shawnee Hills. It was noted the county’s Thoroughfare Plan had not been updated since 2001.
• Several townships had business at the July 25 RPC meeting. Consent on final plats were given to Beechwood Estates (14 lots on 49.7 acres in Brown Township on the south side of State Route 521 west of N. Three B’s and K Road in the Buckeye Valley School District), and Manor Homes’ Liberty Trails (17 lots on 30.9 acres in Liberty Township on the east side of Liberty Road and north of Clark Shaw Road in the Olentangy Local School District).
Zoning resolution text amendments were approved for Harlem Township; and staff is working on an update to Liberty Township’s Comprehensive Plan as well.
A final plat for Hidden Ravines Crossing (3 lots on 24.3 acres in Orange Township) was also approved. This is south of Orange Centre Drive and east of U.S. Route 23 in the Olentangy School District. It would be on the northwest corner of the current BJ’s Wholesale Club and gas station. Apartments are planned in the location.
The RPC next approved a rezoning/lot split from Agriculture to Farm Residential on 13.4 acres in Berkshire Township on South Galena Road (Big Walnut schools); as well as a rezoning for Seven Hills of Berlin LLC from Farm Residential to Residential/Planned Residential District on 61 acres in Berlin Township for an 89-lot single-family residential subdivision on the west side Piatt Road and south of Cheshire Road (Olentangy Schools).
Finally, a major development plan amendment for Del Webb at Northstar Residential Development (Planned Residential District on 480.7 acres in Kingston Township) was considered. Located on the north side of Wilson Road east of North Galena Road, the proposed 592-unit single-family residential development with “clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts” is currently used as a golf course. It is in the Big Walnut district. Conditional approval was granted.
The Delaware County Regional Planning Commission typically meets at 6 p.m. in the Moses Byxbe Campus Conference Room, 1610 State Route 521, Delaware.
For more information, visit www.dcrpc.org (website).
Assistant Editor Gary Budzak covers the eastern half of Delaware County and surrounding areas. He can be reached at 740-413-0906.
