[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6804723,"mediaKeyId","5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9","parentId",5528710,"title","Grove City aligns marijuana-retailer spacing with state measurement; residents urge pause","audioSeconds",993,"startMs",4858070,"endMs",5851715,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9&start=4858&end=5851","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9/thumbnail_4858070.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6804723/Grove-City/Franklin-County/Ohio/Grove-City-aligns-marijuana-retailer-spacing-with-state-measurement-residents-urge-pause","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804723-6a35135a2a87dff61c7cc5255f4221aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437845&Signature=dVP5z~SBCaEb0ucCeCvLEOReOa8VW6tQ2CZgLY3cqmFB4uL5h~qOxgxb~082k0TekOqDG3UCh0Rp4Z8NxwxPEvK03KSLDwRfLbs46Cagv5Qb16gbdkZ5EVIX8rnZx4YX1-XTRLcqWmgR8dPJ1tART3oPGhQHHNJiuSfYQ1UmpI59SgalDNh1RY7HReQyT4YTzX-Rx0MkA9i90YHIY5dari0qFURZ6xayo2Pr0aehHM3kXZtbVJsqtRHKpWKWCeL-u1JkiLTo~YwxZbAuWqwCb6xFUB7~iDmGmf1nD4TMmnTpE9VuWfqmf4ITGVWbo0zWzoNMfBCWhwSbuDT5k3mi3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grove City","date","2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","article","Grove City council approved Ordinance C3125 on Aug. 4 to change how the city measures the 500-foot buffer between retail marijuana retailers and specified sensitive uses, bringing the local measurement method into alignment with state practice.

City Attorney Steven Smith said the change simply mirrors the state’s approach to measuring the shortest distance between a facility's structure and a prohibited property's parcel line, which can yield different results than the city's earlier method. “Framing it the way the state does cut down on inconsistencies,” Smith said.

Several residents warned that the change could make certain properties more suitable for retailers. Michelle Poduchik and Jim Hanninger spoke during public comment, saying they feared the amendment would make dispensary locations — potentially including a site near Jackpot Road and the Ohio Addiction Recovery Center — more feasible.

Poduchik asked the council to stop the code change, saying she viewed it as the first step toward allowing dispensaries in the city. Council members replied that any retail marijuana facility would still need to come back to council for a special-use permit, giving residents another formal opportunity to weigh in.

On the merits, supporters said aligning with state measurement standards reduces legal risk and inconsistent outcomes across properties. Opponents said the change should be deferred until broader community outreach or a local referendum is considered.

Vote and next steps: Council approved the ordinance on second reading (roll-call vote recorded; some members voted no). Any prospective retailer would still need to seek a special-use permit and a future council public hearing for site approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Grove City - City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Council voted Aug. 4 to amend local code so the 500-foot marijuana-retailer buffer is measured according to state practice, prompting public opposition over potential sites near treatment centers; council noted any retailer still must secure a special-use permit and return for council approval.","taxTitle","Grove City, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",53876,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6804727,"Council approves special-use permit for 170-foot tower at Parkway Center with landscaping and setback conditions",586,3996185,4583175,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9&start=3996&end=4583","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9/thumbnail_3996185.jpg","/articles/6804727/Grove-City/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-approves-special-use-permit-for-170-foot-tower-at-Parkway-Center-with-landscaping-and-setback-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804727-5c997591820fd003667efe763e7933fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437845&Signature=KZIdJTtp3O1LXFf3sKh89m2wkisrt7G9JjoT99bNk4ok7KeqS7Y5Vy6kdQEazGVRJRNqELaaS7WJpDAqrFsyijpivmRvpxB5c87H99261bHW6VrtPBTaM-W4W1~u8TSsXTZupg4LQJaOYyWfroQlfH7hiQwWCdJu-eWF0Mlyptj0GfQjFUz3Qdm5NT73hui2hm6kWjjZMdIZ~pr0zn3EyPuXOYQX-EK~1~jfN7z-7CoKyIyK~53vx2eO~l5nzbguDBp3cGayTPsFZmbhYUyCzS7e8r~3rN-SV0x~VQXjjKu7aIrQ3VVmFL62kY3MslHrLJCFmowLVvD~BcmW3mtkZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grove City council approved an amended special-use permit Aug. 4 for a proposed 170-foot cellular tower at 1620 Buckeye Place, intended to improve coverage in the I‑70/Street Town Road hotel and restaurant area.

Applicant Steve Carr, representing Arcadia Infrastructure and AT&T Mobility, said the tower would improve connectivity in a high-traffic commercial corridor where customers have reported poor service. Carr described the proposed structure as 170 feet tall with a four-foot lightning rod and said the site would be marketed to other carriers once built.

Resident Mary Anne Crawford urged council to apply the existing zoning distance standards (section 1137.15) and expressed concern that the project, as proposed, did not meet the minimum distance from residential areas. Planning staff explained that the city’s height and setback rules were adopted in 1989–1990 and that modern tower designs, without guy wires and with improved safety standards, have altered how setbacks are applied.

Council amended the planning commission’s stipulations before voting: members voted to deny a variance allowing a gravel driveway in lieu of required asphalt/concrete surfaces; they granted deviations related to tower setback/height and approved alternative tree species and landscaping as shown on the development plan. Ms. Burrows moved to approve the amended special-use permit; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call.

Council members stressed the public-safety benefit of improved cellular service and noted that the tower owner intends to make the structure available to multiple carriers; staff confirmed the design will allow additional carriers to attach equipment. One council member also emphasized the importance of first-responder priority on the new infrastructure.

What’s next: The permit was approved with the adopted deviations and landscaping plan; construction and final engineering approvals will follow standard permitting steps and any supplemental planning conditions recorded in the development plan.","Council granted a conditional special-use permit for a 170-foot Arcadia/AT&T tower at 1620 Buckeye Place after public comment and amendments that preserved certain landscaping plans and denied a gravel-driveway variance; applicants said the tower will be marketed to multiple carriers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6804729,"Grove City council continues charter review, narrows mayor selection to council choice",3502,59880,3562115,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9&start=59&end=3562","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9/thumbnail_59880.jpg","/articles/6804729/Grove-City/Franklin-County/Ohio/Grove-City-council-continues-charter-review-narrows-mayor-selection-to-council-choice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804729-c516e62635c1764b7a0068993ac3b8c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437845&Signature=NoFlD0p9LzRStZZdyAjAaCw0SOFZ8LLkLGbVWIiHhh4jTqpwCZrrPnEr1WsMhY8X0cklG4aO1a1A~FwkSTz-uChscQzn5peYM9DzmxzcwmW-YXdvojRexCaE776yaqD4v7CfGCu6fLrGBA3RoFtGA8MA~5o9uN-NvD3DFKW8IoHuDfM2CV6RViLodRr~0Q0kvN5D8oZfOEUajFjga33o6Fc6yHb1UsFZJ5OvTgk7TBrp9cCjg9dak6flpJkQ6HqrEZSDXoori0fgPWPlbb8G1H66kXiJ7hO1tsIbQlTLS6k9XIr~y47WUe6XwqkWcS~8LE5A7YoO~t8fZQ3qEq3t9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grove City’s council spent the Aug. 4 caucus meeting continuing a review of proposed charter language as the city considers shifting to a council–city manager plan of government.

Council President Crystal Haupt opened the session by asking council and staff to focus on producing a draft the members could act on, and to adopt the commonly used term “council–city manager plan” in the charter draft, rather than the shorter label “city manager form of government.” “We are working under the premise to get through a draft,” Haupt said.

City Attorney Steven Smith told the group that the phraseology matters to public understanding and recommended the council–city manager wording. Smith also advised the council on legal constraints, raising procedural concerns such as quorum rules for committees and the need to avoid violating the state’s public-meeting requirements.

Much of the discussion centered on how the mayor would be chosen and what powers the post would hold. Council Member Berry and others said survey feedback favored having an elected mayor who would be a city-wide representative; several other members said they prefer retaining the current practice of the seven-member council choosing a mayor from among its members for set organizational terms.

“People want an elected mayor that represents the city,” Berry said, describing survey responses; other council members said selecting a mayor from the council better protects continuity and allows peers to confirm readiness for leadership.

Council members also discussed whether committee work should be conducted by smaller standing committees or by a committee of the whole. Smith warned that small committees can create inadvertent quorum issues under Ohio’s Sunshine Law and recommended considering committee sizes of four to seven members to reduce the risk of unintentional public-meeting violations.

Members asked staff to prepare a redline draft with embedded decision points and question marks where council must decide terms (for example, mayoral term length and which directors require council confirmation). Smith offered to provide both redline and clean versions. President Haupt said the council will pause until after Labor Day and resume deliberations in September with a draft in hand.

What’s next: Smith and staff will circulate a redline charter draft showing options and decision points; council will reconvene after Labor Day to continue deliberation and to decide terms and confirmation procedures.","At an Aug. 4 workshop, Grove City council members worked through a draft council–city manager charter and generally favored selecting a mayor from among council members (term length to be decided), while asking staff to return a redlined draft with decision points including appointment/confirmation of legal and finance directors.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6804714,"Council approves annexation and plat, sets first reading on road realignment; postpones Brook Park funding resolution",114,3880290,3995245,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9&start=3880&end=3995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9/thumbnail_3880290.jpg","/articles/6804714/Grove-City/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-approves-annexation-and-plat-sets-first-reading-on-road-realignment-postpones-Brook-Park-funding-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804714-ac52438dfaab51f8d2900dd3f1c9d882/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437845&Signature=Vxn3X3RYQqG~8j-1WJBVB5XMsKjfVUnrx11Ck9HAO9hcv2xoprPdQJb~J0Fo1SellLuU3i5lt3aMkwfWXjeCP8w1ZsTXj5r2A-2cGtQor9ksethO7uI6AikXBhuSq1h~PKDVkDxqtg36WZpYLe7ri~~9nWZmRaa1K8HOWAFBdFWwXo0zQSbMNL-ZV5iHBWbbpXKmzpdvHjgnhmEKyF3nDOngc3fKdxhUeV7mJXltk8RTU23ShtgmN-IAXOSV-HWkSML3ei9zeQEVcVFdxGsUdVRL5qqwq7L6-ZpcMSiy-x8hUzXvaTWAV62mBbcx2PlJJ7ipyeqxFWaBm-~BUYj8IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the Aug. 4 business meeting, Grove City council approved several routine land-use items and scheduled next steps on infrastructure and parks funding.

Ordinance C2825: Annexation (2139 Sonora Drive). Council approved second reading and accepted the annexation of about 0.831 acres at 2139 Sonora Drive. Owner Scott Hammond told council he intends to combine the lot with an adjacent parcel (already zoned C‑2) and build a swim school; the ordinance was advanced with a roll-call approval.

Ordinance C2925: Autumn Grove plat acceptance (Section 6, Phase 2). Council accepted the plat to allow development to proceed; Ms. Burrows described this as a consent agenda item and council approved by voice roll call.

Ordinance C3325: North Meadows Drive realignment. Mr. Du presented a first reading of Ordinance C3325, declaring the realignment a benefit to the Pinnacle TIF development area; second reading and public hearing were scheduled for Aug. 18.

Resolution CR3025 (Brook Park Middle School). Park-board staff requested postponement of a resolution to invest staff time and financial resources at Brook Park Middle School so the full park board can visit the recently cleaned facility and provide cost estimates; council voted to postpone the item to Aug. 18.

What’s next: The annexation and plat moves allow property development to continue under the city’s approvals; the North Meadows Drive item returns Aug. 18 for a second reading and the Brook Park resolution will return with park-board feedback and cost estimates.","Council approved annexation of 0.831 acres at 2139 Sonora Drive and accepted Autumn Grove Section 6, Phase 2 plat; it held first reading on a North Meadows Drive realignment TIF ordinance and postponed a parks resolution on Brook Park to Aug. 18.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6804719,"Council updates 'texting while driving' code to clarify wireless-device rules",218,5879085,6097110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9&start=5879&end=6097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528710-2a66599d65894bd8e5f0c62babaa95b9/thumbnail_5879085.jpg","/articles/6804719/Grove-City/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-updates-texting-while-driving-code-to-clarify-wireless-device-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804719-734a78180095b1b2496aa215cfe6e009/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437845&Signature=czX9i~P7SXPnYgGmDmzYwUeWtXWh9Xi18OSs1XzrG7GbdM-M90ucWFbFCwcz3E6xoeEbQrNibPFymlS1WfK7apLqoZD6OsK3c7OVFMxudi-51LS5QuPzLr-OdWoyw0XLpoumnY2EjeQa~YtmUKSN7QGpWzLsD8eS8tyBcYQrfc9D5tRDD1MG-3br~u4ehHoCkjJ5OUPVgc0YB0SiN6U9yI3xZO~HyySXyVuTSukROeZr~sQK~3m4gqw2mB74et3yWGzffHQEEryL7g5vhxScdX127bJZKay3YEy8x1816tQIg1UurBEvwcv~DxvwbCWwHWjtvfZcWstvXp8rQZGkkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grove City council adopted Ordinance C3225 on Aug. 4 to amend section 331.44 of the codified ordinances and clarify that prohibitions on texting while driving apply to electronic wireless communications devices, even if the device is plugged into the vehicle.

City Attorney Steven Smith told council the change was prompted by repeated cases in mayor’s court where defendants argued they were not texting but were instead placing calls, using navigation, or otherwise interacting with a phone. “You can't do anything while touching your phone or having your phone be supported by any part of your body,” Smith said, explaining the clarification aligns the local rule with Ohio law.

Council members and staff emphasized that hands-free modes that do not require holding or supporting the device remain permissible. The ordinance’s intent is to reduce driver confusion and support enforcement by clarifying device definitions for both police and the public.

The council approved the second-reading amendment by roll call. Enforcement remains a police responsibility under the established code and training on the clarified language will be coordinated with the department.

What’s next: Clerk to publish amended ordinance language and the police department to continue enforcement with the clarified standard.","Grove City amended section 331.44 to clarify that electronic wireless communications devices — including devices plugged into vehicle chargers — are covered by the city's prohibition on holding or supporting devices while driving, aligning local code with state law and addressing enforcement confusion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Grove City aligns marijuana-retailer spacing with state measurement; residents urge pause

Council approves special-use permit for 170-foot tower at Parkway Center with landscaping and setback conditions

Grove City council continues charter review, narrows mayor selection to council choice

Council approves annexation and plat, sets first reading on road realignment; postpones Brook Park funding resolution

Council updates 'texting while driving' code to clarify wireless-device rules