To the editor:
I've never publicly taken a side on a ballot issue before, but I'm asking Grove City voters to vote no on Issue 28, the proposed city charter amendment.
The yard signs urging a yes vote suggest this is about data centers. It's about much more.
If it passes, any proposed development on more than 50 acres must first win a citywide vote in a November election before the Planning Commission or City Council can even consider it, and the developer must pay the full cost of putting it on the ballot. Faced with that time and expense, many developers will simply skip Grove City.
Like every Ohio city, Grove City relies on new development to fund rising costs for police, roads, parks, and senior services. Without it, that burden shifts to residents or services get cut.
Worse, the amendment reaches existing businesses and institutions that began on more than 50 acres, with no exceptions for schools or hospitals. That includes Mount Carmel, Grove City and Central Crossing high schools, Pinnacle and Parkway Centre. Expanding by as little as 10%, or selling to a willing buyer, would trigger a referendum. Fines can reach $500,000 per day.
We already have a process for vetting development, and it produced our current data center moratorium. We elected good people to City Council to make these decisions.
Yes, as Grove City prospers, so does my business. So do we all. I don't represent any development affected by this amendment, but I know bad policy when I see it. Please vote no on Issue 28.
Chris Roach
Grove City