Pataskala mayor breaks tie vote, nixing rezoning for housing project

Newark Advocate

Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton cast a tie-breaking vote Feb. 18, rejecting a rezoning request to make way for a proposed residential development at 10560 Mill Street.

Meanwhile, council also voted to table a preliminary development plan for a 183-lot residential development called Sage Pointe, to be located on 84 acres of property at 6031 Summit Road.

Both proposals previously received recommendations for disapproval from the Pataskala Planning and Zoning Commission.

Both proposals also drew strong objections from neighbors who filled council chambers Feb. 18 and the vast majority of whom spoke against the two proposed developments.

Objections ranged from school and safety forces impacts, to road quality and traffic volume and, in both cases, drainage and flooding concerns.

A common refrain from those objecting to the residential development proposals was that either project would, in the end, “only benefit the developer.”

Several of the speakers’ comments in opposition to the two proposals also drew audience applause.

A representative of the Sage Pointe proposal asked council table the measure – which was up for a third reading and council vote – but residents lobbied council not just to table but instead to deny the plan.

Both eventual votes were comparatively narrow ones: New council member Dustin Epperson, who served on planning commission when both proposals came before that body, recused himself from both votes.

Council member Tim Hickin resigned his council seat the previous weekend, announcing his plans to seek the vacant position of Pataskala City Administrator, and council member Melissa Carter was absent from the meeting.

In the end, those present voted 2-2 regarding the Mill Street proposal to split the property there to make way for six distinct residential lots.

Todd Barstow and Andrew Walther voted in favor of the rezoning request; Jude Hampshire and Tom Lee voted against the rezoning. Mayor Compton cast the deciding vote to reject that request.

The Sage Pointe proposal was indeed ultimately tabled, with Barstow casting the lone vote opposing that tabling.