City of Hilliard

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and the calling of the role. The minutes from the previous December 10th, 2025 regular and special meetings were approved. Commission and board reports included updates on Destination Hillyard's upcoming event, feedback solicitation for the revised Darby Accord document, and an update from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Public Arts Commission discussed the hiring of a firm to survey the city for an overall art program recommendation. During public comments, residents formally requested city funding for an air dispersion model related to fuel cells to ensure community safety and expressed concerns regarding the perceived lack of action by the city's legal representation concerning the EPA appeal of the fuel cells. Legislative actions included the approval of several resolutions: one appointing a member to the Hillyard Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (ARPAC), another authorizing an amendment to purchase additional fitness equipment for the Hillyard Recreation and Wellness Center, and a series of resolutions granting conditional use permits for warehousing activities in the M1 restricted industrial district for multiple tenants on Parkway Lane. The council also received updates on municipal business, including the closure of city offices for Martin Luther King Day and a discussion regarding a draft letter to Brown Township Trustee concerning the Derby court update.

The meeting addressed several agenda items, including the approval of the December 11th meeting minutes and acceptance of documents. Key discussions involved Case PZ-25-70 regarding a mobile food vehicle location (Sab Alano food truck), where the commission reviewed the updated site plan showing the truck moved behind the build two line and utilizing four parking spaces. Conditions for approval included addressing electrical code compliance and the use of large planters as barriers. The commission approved this case with specified conditions, including potential allowance for up to two A-frame signs subject to staff review. Subsequently, the commission began review of Case PZ-25-71 concerning a variance request for a post-style sign at the Wellington Village senior living facility. The variance was sought due to setback violations from the right-of-way line and the sign's post style. Staff presented similar previously approved variances and confirmed that while the sign location created a potential issue with a sanitary sewer easement, the gravity sewer depth negated immediate concern, placing the cost of future relocation solely on the property owner.

The regular meeting convened with council reports covering the Board of Zoning Appeals, Destination Hillyard events, Environmental Sustainability Commission updates, and Cape Hillyard volunteer cleanup planning. The meeting included recognition and farewell presentations for outgoing council members Les Carrier and Peggy Hail. Key business included the approval of the consent agenda items, which covered reappointing members to the board of tax review and accepting road/easement dedications for a development section. During the business section, the council amended the agenda to include Resolution 25R100 regarding the purchase of fleet vehicles, which was subsequently passed. The council also passed resolutions to appoint Pete Marsh to the Planning and Zoning Commission and made appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Public comment featured concerns from residents regarding the proposed fuel cell, specifically requesting the city hire a scientist or demand an Ohio EPA dispersion and inversion study before construction due to potential environmental and health impacts.

The meeting included a discussion regarding a variance request for a property on Hamilton Road. The applicant requested a postponement until the December meeting, which was approved. The board reviewed a staff report detailing the existing site and the proposed changes, including variances to reduce the minimum front yard and side yard setbacks to build an attached garage. Variances were also requested to bring existing site conditions into conformance with zoning codes. The board discussed concerns about setting a precedent with minimal setbacks and potential impacts on neighboring properties. Ultimately, a motion to approve the variances for the garage addition with a reduced sideyard setback failed, but a revised motion was made and approved for a 2 foot 10 inch setback on the sideyard.

The Hillyard City Council Committee of the Whole meeting primarily focused on the presentation of the 2026 capital budget. Discussions included various engineering projects related to transportation, storm water, sanitary sewer, and waterline improvements. Specific projects highlighted were the water tower painting and rehabilitation program, the SEOM program for sanitary sewer regulatory requirements, lift station rehabilitation, sanitary sewer cleaning and CCTV program, and the Heritage Lakes number one lift station replacement. Additionally, the council addressed storm water management programs, bank stabilization along Malcolm Ditch, joint storm water quality and erosion control projects, and waterline improvements on Municipal Way and in Old Hillyard. The meeting also covered street maintenance and rehabilitation, ped bike mobility and safety improvements, and traffic signal asset management. Furthermore, the council discussed sidewalk and trail maintenance programs, neighborhood traffic calming, Leap Road South improvements, modifications to the Davidson Road Share Juice Praath Bridge, and the Dublin Road shared juice path project. Roundabout modifications and safety improvements, as well as the cemetery road over I270 overpass project, were also addressed.