Powell · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Powell public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Kroger outparcels subdivision plat
Kroger wants to carve three commercial outparcels from its Home Road site, with a fast-food chain already interested in one spot. The commission recommended approval 5-0; City Council has the final say.
Proposed Bunker Lane fuel station
A developer wants to put a 5,000 sq ft fuel station with five pumps and a drive-thru next to the Big Bear Farms condos and across from two preschools. Dozens of neighbors turned out to oppose it, citing five gas stations already within a half mile, traffic backups, fumes, and lighting. No decision was made — the conditional use vote comes later, and commissioners signaled tough conditions ahead.
Dutch Bros coffee shop on Home Road
A ~1,000 sq ft Dutch Bros with a drive-thru is proposed near the OSU Wexner Medical Center campus, pending annexation into Powell from Liberty Township. Commissioners like the use but want reassurance the drive-thru lines won't spill onto Home Road.
EV charging station rates
The city's public chargers operate at a loss. A recommended switch from per-minute billing to $0.46 per kilowatt-hour could bring the program toward break-even while keeping rates in line with central Ohio fast chargers.
Pre-annexation of large shopping center
The city is negotiating a pre-annexation agreement with a large shopping center that would bring significant payroll into Powell, with PDC participation in incentives and a multi-use path component for connectivity.
Village Green plan open house
Four open houses showed residents didn't like parts of the first two redevelopment concepts. Phase 2 will stretch through December, the city is hiring an outside communications firm to fight misinformation, and the new zoning code heads to Planning Commission in July.
2027 PDC operational budget
Council set next year's revenue baseline at $37.2 million, up about 2.7%, including roughly $650,000 in new income tax from Ohio State's facility — the first step in the 2027 budget process.
E-bike legislation and township authority
Police and city leaders say e-bikes are Powell's biggest public safety challenge, complicated by irregular city boundaries and inconsistent rules across jurisdictions. City Council hopes to address regulation before year's end, and the statehouse is weighing in too.
Downtown Depot Street reconstruction
The city's planned rebuild of Depot Street — with hardsurfaced parking, lighting, sidewalks, and drainage — starts this fall and dovetails with the Nocterra vacancy. The PDC may partner with the building owner on site enhancements if a new tenant lands.
Fiscal year 2027 tax levy certification
The city's proposed $43 million 2027 budget is a deliberately conservative 'pause budget' after years of rapid growth. It includes 4% merit raises, a projected 25% health insurance increase, and transfers that make up 26% of the General Fund budget, much of it feeding capital projects and debt.
Liberty Township Fire Department third quarter report
Fire runs are up about 7% with the busiest quarter on record — nearly 1,100 calls. A levy-funded station remodel starts construction in spring 2027, and a new community care specialist is already reducing repeat calls from seniors.
Citywide sign inventory reveals non-compliant signs
A year-long inventory of all 3,133 Powell street signs found 286 that don't meet federal night-visibility standards, including 96 that need full replacement. The city will phase in fixes and is weighing a new private-to-public sign policy — including whether HOAs pay part of the cost for neighborhood signs and how to store the different sign types.
Massage business ordinance (preview)
Police took action to break up an exploitation operation connected to a local K Spa, with the case ongoing and a press release expected. The chief is developing a quarterly report to put similar operations on notice.
Traffic safety follow-up on Presidential Parkway and South Liberty
Two residents described dangerous speeding and cut-through traffic on Presidential Parkway and South Liberty Street, including cars running stop signs and passing a stopped school bus. Staff promised to follow up with targeted patrols and speed trailers.
Downtown Public Parking Lot Lease
First week results: one kiosk, 33 cars parked, $964 invoice. Officials expect costs to drop once the second kiosk opens, and more marketing is planned.
Stormwater Maintenance Funding Concerns
Chairman Counts said the roughly $50,000 annual stormwater maintenance line 'keeps me up at night,' arguing the city may not be investing enough in storm sewer upkeep. Staff agreed the first-year program is small but said new video inspection and mapping work will build the data needed to justify a bigger ask in future budgets.
New Police Administrative Sergeant Position
The police department wants a new administrative sergeant for 2027 to handle accreditation, training, and policy work — freeing patrol sergeants to stay in the field, a priority from the city's 2023 staffing study. It also builds a leadership pipeline as the chief and deputy chief approach retirement.
IT Systems Coordinator Position
Staff proposed a new in-house IT coordinator (roughly $75,000–$80,000 salary) to handle day-to-day tech help, funded partly by ending a $72,000 contractor arrangement. Committee members debated whether the city should instead hire a more senior, higher-paid tech leader — the Chair ultimately endorsed the hire and told staff he'd support overspending for a stronger candidate.
Parks and Public Service Maintenance Needs
Parents of children with disabilities told council the new playground's mix of mulch and rubber surfacing sends a painful message about who belongs. Council approved the equipment but committed to rubber connectors this year and a surface expansion in 2027, with families offering to fundraise.
Seasonal lighting on street trees
The draft policy currently prohibits holiday lights on right-of-way trees outright, but board members pushed for a defined window (roughly November 1 through January) instead of a ban, since many HOAs string lights on every street tree. Tyler agreed to revise the language to 'discouraged' with a time frame, while keeping the city off the hook for damage to lights.
Draft Street Tree Pruning Policy
Seven HOAs say they're responsible for street tree maintenance, but the city may take it over to clear the way for curb-to-curb snowplowing. A policy is being drafted for HOA input October 22 and eventual City Council action — potentially a six-figure investment over several years.
Zoning Code Rewrite
The city is finishing a 14-18 month rewrite of the entire zoning code, going to Planning Commission in July and then Council. The goal: clearer rules, less subjectivity, and a streamlined approval process.
Pediatric cancer awareness and The 2816 Foundation
Council honored the Schreiner family, whose son Alex is battling medulloblastoma, and their nonprofit The 2816 Foundation, which helps central Ohio families with the financial strain of childhood cancer treatment.
Bennett Farm fence replacement
The city will pay up to $87,441 to carefully dismantle the historic Bennett Farm barn, catalog and store its timbers on site, and preserve them for reassembly as a future event center.
2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program
The city's five-year, $62.5 million plan covers roads, paths, parks, police equipment and facilities. Seven new projects are proposed, and council members debated priorities like inclusive playgrounds and whether too much is going to roads.
Veterans memorial at Powell Cemetery
Powell veterans can now be honored with banners on city-owned utility poles. Veterans raise the money for the banners; the city handles hanging and taking them down.
Carriage Road improvements and roundabout planning
The city wants to lead design of a new roundabout at a busy, unsafe intersection near the schools, partnering with Liberty Township and Delaware County to chase state grant money. Residents have repeatedly asked for a pedestrian crossing there.
Parks master plan and Bennett Farm
The first phase of the path connecting downtown to Arbor Ridge Park is now under contract. Over 2,000 feet of new trail will be built for $449,319, backed by a $200,000 state grant, with construction starting within days of approval. A second phase with a bridge component will come back to council later.
2026 Street and Path Maintenance Program
About 70% of sidewalk damage comes from tree roots. With a new certified arborist on staff, the board will help pre-assess trees before panel replacement and flag invasive pears along the Powell Road shared-use path.
Sidewalk clearance and pedestrian safety
Low-hanging branches over sidewalks — some under five feet — clip kids on bikes and walkers. The board wants quick fixes on the worst offenders while the bigger pruning plan develops.
Scioto Street Extension bridge type
Councilmember Carlson argued the five-year plan is incomplete without the long-planned Susan Lane public street connection, which ties into the Scioto Street extension and a future roundabout at Powell Road. Officials are preserving the connection in development talks with the Equity project.
Home Road land transfer for tech-flex park
The city is handing 10.68 acres to the Powell Development Corporation to land a technology headquarters and tech-flex park — a projected 260-plus jobs, $13 million payroll, and roughly $323,000 a year in income tax. Some councilmembers questioned giving a private-development arm control of public land.
New Downtown Design Guidelines
Council replaced 30-year-old downtown design rules with a new graphic-heavy document covering historic, interface, residential, and transition zones. It sets clear expectations for developers while avoiding a copy-and-paste look.
Marijuana business moratorium extension
The moratorium on marijuana dispensaries is extended through 2027 while council weighs prohibition versus regulation. Councilmembers Counts and Carlson cautioned against delegating the policy question to a resident survey.
Delaware County Transit expansion and 0.2% sales tax proposal
DCT wants voters to approve a 0.2% county sales tax in November to fund a Powell microtransit zone, an express commuter bus to Columbus, and seven service expansions over five years. Trips could jump from 225,000 to 750,000 annually.
Lechler Building construction contingency
Opening up the old building revealed structural issues and AEP-mandated electrical upgrades, so council added a $100,000 contingency to the construction contract.
2026 Supplemental Appropriations
Council re-appropriated $1.9 million for the North Depot reconstruction and added money for the Lechler building reserve, Bennett Farm demolition, Powell Fest 2027, downtown parking reimbursements, and possible Village Green consultants.
Proposed 0.7-acre Home Road annexation near OSU Wexner facility
A developer petitioned to annex 0.7 acres on Home Road into Powell near the new OSU Wexner medical facility. Council adopted the required services resolution; a resident asked that a trail connection to the hospital be planned.
Electric Aggregation Rollout
Council selected NOPEC for electric aggregation; it's going to market hoping to lower energy bills for residents and businesses.
Powell Pool partnership spending
The city doesn't own the pool but is planning about $1 million in improvements over five years to keep it open. Chairman Counts suggested it's time to discuss whether a city-spending pool should become a public facility.
City finances running ahead of budget
July revenues hit 61.1% of budget and spending is under target, leaving about $1.1 million extra year-to-date. But tax receipts are running about 6% below last year, a trend officials are watching.
Woods of Powell pedestrian bridge replacement
A tree strike this summer knocked out the 80-foot timber bridge, and inspectors found cracked footings too. A $350,000 replacement is in the plan, pending an insurance question.
Home and Steitz Pedestrian Crossing
After a decade of requests, the city awarded an $81,674 emergency contract to finally add a safe marked crossing of Home Road at Steitz Road, connecting the shared-use path network before school resumes.
Security Camera System Upgrade
Council approved replacing the city's aging, fragmented security cameras across 43 locations — including park restrooms hit by vandalism — for about $97,000 in phase one, with the city owning the equipment.
Marijuana Sales Ban
Powell is moving to ban marijuana sales, which would stop dispensaries from ever opening in the city. If passed, the rule would shut out a potential new business and tax revenue source while keeping retail cannabis sales outside city limits.
Future of Visit Powell downtown organization
Visit Powell's executive director leaves at year-end and the group may be absorbed by the PDC, which funds it. Leaders from both organizations say a downtown organization is essential.
55 East Olentangy Street facade grant / possible demolition
The owner may demolish the building instead of rehabbing it, so the board rescinded the prior grant approval and will wait for a fresh application. Demolition would need Planning Commission sign-off, and there's talk of negotiating a public walking path through the property.
County tourism marketing map
Destination Delaware wants $2,000 for Powell's inclusion in a countywide tourism map; the PDC has $25,000 budgeted and will consider a full marketing agreement in August.
RITA delegate appointment
Finance Director Samantha Borchers will cast Powell's vote at the Regional Income Tax Agency's annual member meeting, with Assistant Finance Director Tina Birch as her alternate — a small role that touches how well the city collects income taxes.
Redwood development final acceptance
The city formally accepted the finished roads, sidewalks, and sewer lines in the Redwood development at 3041 Home Road, which starts the reimbursement process to the developer under the 2023 development agreement.