The Bellefontaine City Council heard plans for a proposed housing development near Ohio Hi-Point Career Center at Tuesday’s regular meeting, April 14. 

Attorney David Hodge, who represents Global Strategic Investments, Inc., of Worthington, told council that GSI, Inc. has has made preliminary plans to develop three parcels of land containing approximately 126 acres on the east side of the city. The three parcels are located east of Love’s Travel Stop and across the highway from the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center property on State Route 540. 

All three parcels were annexed into the city in 2000 and are currently zoned B-3 General Business District. GSI’s proposal calls for a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which will contain 394 single-family homes, 240 multi-family units and also include a small business district with access to S.R. 540.

Earlier in the day, the Bellefontaine Planning Commission heard the same proposal and unanimously agreed to “move forward in principle” on the rezoning of the parcels to include residential buildings, but the final zoning designation has yet to be decided.  

This is just the first step in the process of getting the proposed development underway. Detailed project plans must first be presented to the Planning Commission. Should the Planning Commission give its assent, the project details and schematics will then be forwarded to the Bellefontaine City Council for further study and discussion.  

In other matters, members approved the single ordinance that was on the agenda for a third and final reading Tuesday - a measure accepting the annexation into the city 2.494 acres of property, which is located near the northern terminus Township Road 179, across from the Maris Park development. The parcels are owned by Gary L. Alexander, Jr., are located in Jefferson Township adjacent to the city and will be zoned R-1 (Single Family Home District). The measure passed 7-0. 

Up for a first reading were two ordinances, the first asking for bids for the citywide street paving project, and the second asking to receive bids for the street painting/striping programs for 2026. It is estimated that the cost for the street paving will be $700,000, while the street painting and striping has an estimated outlay of $80,000. 

Two ordinances were up for second readings at Tuesday’s meeting.  

The first will grant Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Inc., a gas franchise in the city for a period of 25 years, a franchise which will automatically renew for periods of five years, while the second ordinance will vacate 0.173 acres of a north-south alley, owned by the Logan County Metropolitan Authority, which is located between the 600 blocks of Detroit and Henry Streets. The request for the alley vacation is being made by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1080, 216 Orchard Ave.  

Both measures passed on the second reading without a dissenting vote.  

 Members also passed, again with a dissenting vote, two resolutions Tuesday. The first will allow the city administration to participate with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the rehabilitation of the sidewalks on Brown Avenue, and the second authorized the service-safety director and/or police chief to apply for and accept a $3,500 grant award from Kemba Financial Credit Union. 

The next meeting is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.