Worthington group Democracy Before Developers submitted nearly 4,000 signatures Friday to put a zoning referendum on the ballot in 2027. On the surface, the referendum is about the zoning of a property on East Dublin-Granville Road. However, for many Worthington residents, it’s about having more of a say.
The property is set to be developed into a high-density apartment complex with 246 units. Democracy Before Developers said residents have expressed concerns over the density of the housing and the 10-year, 75% property tax abatement the developer has asked for.
“Through the municipal planning commission meetings, all the way through to city council, there were a lot of people that attended those meetings,” said Marty Shumway, a volunteer organizer for Democracy Before Developers. “[They] had very substantive questions or concerns about the development as designed and the city didn't acknowledge most of those concerns.”
Worthington City Council re-zoned the property to allow development of the apartment complex at the end of July. A few days later, Democracy Before Developers formed. It immediately started gathering the 3,000 signatures needed to put its referendum on the ballot.
There has been some opposition to the group as well. Shumway said they’ve been accused of being a NIMBY cause, or “Not in my backyard.” He responded the group isn’t against development, or even against development of the East Dublin-Granville Road property.
“There was a lot of comments and feedback from the residents that weren't just, ‘no, you can't build here.’ It was more about, let's take a look at this and let's make sure that it works and let you find something that works for everybody,” Shumway said. “In general, there's a need for housing in Worthington and I think everybody agrees. But for a lot of people, the tax abatement to build market-rate apartments was a real problem.”
Worthington Communications Director Aubrey Hale said in a statement Tuesday to WOSU that the city does not define the proposed apartment complex as high density. Hale also rebutted Shumway’s characterization of the developer using a tax abatement for market-rate housing.
Hale said the developer applied for the tax abatement through Worthington’s newly created “Workforce Housing Program.” The program aims to encourage more affordable housing and to create and retain income tax revenue for the city.
“In connection with the project, the developer committed to reserve 74 of the 246 apartments (30%) for workforce housing, with eligibility set at 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) for 10 years,” Hale wrote. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says 80% of the area median income for the Columbus metropolitan area is $62,450 for a one-person household and $89,200 for a four-person household. “Given the cost of construction materials, labor rates, land costs, rising interest rates, and the City’s requirement to cap 30% of the units at 80% AMI, Elford has indicated the project is not financially viable without the abatement.”
Hale added that the city remains focused on working toward providing housing options at a variety of price points amid rising costs and limited availability.
The Democracy Before Developers expects to hear if they have enough valid signatures to make the ballot by mid October.
