Grove City residents push back on proposed apartments

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Residents in Grove City are continuing to push back against a new apartment development, citing infrastructure concerns.  

Last night the City of Columbus Development Commission voted to move forward with the proposed plans by metro development. Rich Pereksta is one of the neighbors leading the charge to pause the proposal. Pereksta noted he was in utter shock at last night's meeting.  

"I think every one of us couldn't believe it,” Pereksta said. “We were totally disappointed, we really felt as though we had some good basic arguments as to why three-story apartment buildings don't fit in this area.” 

In a 4-0 vote Thursday night, the city of Columbus development commission chose not to table the proposal of eleven three-story buildings with 264 units and 500 parking spots on 14 acres along Demorest Road. Resident Gavin Price Fuller said the area is not the most suitable for the large development. 

“Currently, the zoning is between one and five units per acre,” Fuller said. “They're going to amplify that, that number up to 19 units per acre. So, keep in mind, that's a 14-acre lot multiplied by 19 units per acre.” 

Many neighbors have been sounding the alarm, saying the scale of the buildings and current infrastructure of the neighborhood will bring logistical challenges, with the biggest concern being traffic at a nearby roundabout which has the capacity for 1,800 vehicles at any given time.

“We have done traffic counts where we counted over 1,900 cars when school is in session and we counted over 1,700 when school was not in session,” Pereksta said. “So, the traffic circle is already there, it's already at capacity.” 

Residents also shared are not entirely against new developments and they understand the need for more housing in a growing city like Columbus, but they think where the developments are placed should be planned better.  

"Make it make sense,” Pereksta said. “You know, we're not against it, you know, the neighbor who's selling the property has a right to sell it. But what goes in though, should be more appropriate to what already exists here." 

In a statement to NBC4 regarding the results of last night's meeting, the Director of Metro Development Joseph Thomas said in part, “Our Demorest Park proposal received a positive recommendation from the city of Columbus development commission last night. This is a key milestone in advancing a project we believe will make a meaningful impact in addressing the region’s critical housing needs.” 

And residents say they plan to make their case within the next month at a Columbus city council meeting and are still holding out hope for a solution or common ground on this project.  

“I have hope, I think we have some very strong arguments,” Fuller said. “You know, we're going to restructure some of our approach and carry forward into Columbus City Council and do the best we can. All we can hope for is some kind of change in the plan for this development.”