Hilliard Council to vote on 300 new homes

The Hilliard City Council will vote on Monday evening regarding the rezoning for a new housing development. The proposed Hill Farm 2 subdivision will include 300 homes on the city's western edge. Developer M/I Homes first presented this project last year but faced opposition from local groups and residents. Concerns were raised over the sewer capacity in Hilliard, which was insufficient at the time. However, the city has since reached an agreement with Columbus to get over 1,300 additional sewer taps. This project received approval from the planning commission in February with a 6-1 vote, despite objections from environmental groups and neighbors worried about increased traffic. More than a dozen individuals expressed their opposition during recent meetings. Environmentalists argue that the ongoing renegotiation of the Big Darby Accord should pause new developments. They also noted that data from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on the area's biodiversity will not be available until summer. The development plans include designating about 70% of the area as open space. Additionally, the developer has promised to help fund infrastructure improvements and to reforest parts of the land. Hilliard's attorney stated that the new sewer taps will not breach the Big Darby Accord. The council meeting is set to start at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Hilliard Municipal Building.