No Sheetz: Rezoning denied for East Main Street project
UPDATE: Comments from Eric Elizondo, Skilken Gold senior vice president-operations, have been added to this story.
Plans for a Sheetz gas station at East Main Street and Taylor Road, once home to a mobile home park, have been derailed.
Skilken Gold Real Estate Development had requested to rezone approximately 5.4 acres at 8555 E. Main St. from innovation district to a community commercial district.
The developer has been in contract to purchase 17 acres, which includes Shepard’s Mobile Home Court, from John A. Shepard of Thornville.
Reynoldsburg City Council rejected the zoning request by a 5-1 vote Sept. 12.
Eric Elizondo, Skilken Gold senior vice president-operations, said Sept. 14 he was "disappointed with the decision from Reynoldsburg City Council."
"At Skilken Gold, we have worked diligently with the city, the property owners, tenants and the community throughout the rezoning process. With this decision we will be regrouping with all the parties to determine the best path for all involved," he said.
Councilman Bhuwan Pyakurel voted against the denial.
Prior to the vote, Councilman Barth Cotner said he didn’t understand how a gas station “fits into our innovation district,” which − according to city code − “incorporates a mix of industrial and office uses that will facilitate the creation of economic centers that will serve Reynoldsburg and the surrounding communities.”
“With the limited spaces available in the city anymore and the demand for putting a gas station on one of the last of our hopeful places where another project could go, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” Cotner said.
In making a motion to deny the rezoning request, Councilman Louis Salvati cited city code and the standards the planning commission and City Council must consider in making recommendations and taking action, including “the compatibility of the proposed district and development plan with a comprehensive plan, or any area plans, to surrounding zoning districts, and to existing and planned land uses.”
The Reynoldsburg Planning Commission approved the rezoning request in July. Skilken provided additional plans at that time for two office buildings totaling more than 16,000 square feet and a “quick lubrication vehicle shop” on the site.
In December 2021, Skilken withdrew its initial application to rezone the land after residents of the mobile home park said they were kept in the dark about plans to sell the property. At the time, they were informed they had 180 days to leave, and many feared they would not be able to find a new place to live on such short notice.
Skilken Gold hired R.H. Brown & Co. for “tens of thousands of dollars,” Elizondo said. The company provides relocation services and property management to assist tenants of the mobile home park.
Elizondo said more than 10 residents received more than $2,000 each in assistance to relocate.
More than 30 mobile homes were in the park last December.
No residents are currently on the property.
New Brice Park plans proposed
Reynoldsburg’s partnership with the city of Columbus to transform a stormwater-retention site into a park in the Brice Road corridor would include walking and biking trails, a small parking lot and a small amphitheater for outdoor classroom space, according to concept plans.
Engineering firm EMH&T presented its proposal to City Council Sept. 12.
Council heard the first of three readings that night of a $200,000 contract with the firm which, if approved, would be for engineering and design services, bidding and project management.
As part of the collaboration, Reynoldsburg would be responsible for the park’s development and design on 10-plus acres at 1455 Brice Road. The land, which is owned by Columbus, then would be leased to Reynoldsburg.
Columbus would reimburse Reynoldsburg up to $2 million for development.
Federal grant sought for Brice Road corridor
The city hopes to score a federal grant to help redesign Brice Road from Main Street to Livingston Avenue.
Reynoldsburg will apply for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant for a project that’s expected to top $10 million, Mayor Joe Begeny told City Council.
He’s asking council to allocate $33,630 from the city’s American Rescue Plan Fund for EMH&T to provide engineering services for the grant application.
The improvement plans could include realigning the Brice Road-Main Street intersection; full-depth repair of Brice Road from Main Street to Livingston Avenue; improved pedestrian access; bicycle paths; sidewalks and multipurpose paths; and dedicated crosswalks to connect the east and west sides of Brice Road to access Brice Park and the new Reynoldsburg Public Library and Alliance One Plaza.
Work wouldn’t begin until 2026, Begeny said.
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: No Sheetz: Rezoning denied for East Main Street project
