Aldi Project Postponed over Road Issues. Westerville Approves 2026 Utility Rate Hikes.
Westerville delays vote on Zumstein South plan as Aldi road fight continues
Westerville City Council has voted 5-2 to postpone a final decision on a preliminary development plan that would clear the way for an Aldi grocery store and other mixed-use development on the Zumstein South site along Polaris Parkway.
The ordinance was set for its third and final reading Tuesday night. The developer, represented by Franz Geiger of NP Limited Partnership, requested a postponement, citing an unfinished traffic impact study and concerns about the cost and timing of new road construction tied to the project.
The vote moves the third reading and a newly scheduled public hearing to Jan. 20, 2026, when two new council members will be seated.
Geiger told council he cannot commit to all of the road improvements city staff has tied to phase one, especially the internal connector road intended to link Polaris Parkway to Worthington Road.
“The cost of those improvements, just from an engineer’s estimate, in today’s dollars are over 4 million dollars,” Geiger said. “It’s a liquidity issue. I don’t want to commit that we’re going to do that as part of this plan before we commit to another.”
He said Aldi, the first user on the site, does not require the full road network to open. Building the entire connector up front, he argued, would mean making improvements “beyond what is needed” for the initial phase.
He also pointed to the pending traffic impact study, which will not be complete until December 10.
A memo prepared for council’s second reading shows the city expects updated traffic modeling to refine improvement needs at Worthington Road and confirm earlier requirements at Polaris Parkway, including a signalized intersection and a right-in/right-out access across from the Volkswagen dealership.
The memo states that multiple city departments “specifically recommend that the main internal drive connecting Polaris Parkway to Worthington Road be built concurrently with development of the first site,” stressing that two access points are needed from day one for emergency service, traffic flow, and business access.
Council Chair Michael Heyek supported that position, saying that without the connector, Polaris Parkway would essentially serve as “the driveway to Aldi.”
Another point of tension involves how firmly the city should lock in office requirements.
Zumstein South is planned for a mix of office, retail, restaurant, and mixed-use space, with office as the primary use. The staff memo reinforces that focus and recommends tying the developer’s minimum office square footage and acreage directly into the zoning text.
The Planning Commission previously allowed the developer to meet either a minimum office square footage requirement or a minimum office acreage requirement. Geiger said that flexibility matters because square footage at this stage is “an arbitrary number,” and minor adjustments should not trigger major modifications.
Vice Chair Valorie Reamsnyder made clear that she opposes further loosening the standard.
“I do feel very strongly about the ‘and’ language in there,” she said. “Personally, I would not support that being changed.”
She also stressed that the postponement should address traffic, not reopen the office requirement.
Reamsnyder moved to postpone the ordinance and schedule an additional public hearing for Jan. 20. The motion passed 5-2, with Chair Michael Heyek and Councilmember Aaron Glasgow voting no.
Reamsnyder also warned that she does not support extending the process further.
“If we do vote to postpone, I expect us to then vote on the 20th,” she said. “I’m not going to be supportive of another postponement beyond that.”
Geiger said he hopes the additional time will bring clarity from the traffic study and help the developer and staff work through road alignment and funding questions.
“It’s not just about what you’re going to build. It’s the alignment of what you’re going to build,” he said.
For now, Aldi’s previously approved plan remains tied to the fate of Ordinance 2025-29. Heyek cautioned that if the development plan changes significantly in January, the council should consider sending Aldi’s approval back to the Planning Commission, since that approval depends on the plan currently on hold.
Westerville Approves 2026 Utility Rate Hikes: What Residents Will Pay Starting January 1
Westerville residents will see higher electric, water, sewer, and refuse bills in 2026 after the City Council approved a complete reset of the city’s utility rates. The ordinance takes effect for all bills due after January 1, 2026.
Electric Director Chris Monacelli told council that the average household should expect an increase of $19.78 per month across all utilities. Even with the adjustments, he said, Westerville remains one of the most affordable providers in central Ohio. “We are about 73 cents on the dollar,” Monacelli said, noting that the city’s utilities continue to deliver strong value.
Electric rates will rise 8 percent under the newly adopted rate table. Monacelli explained that the increase reflects higher systemwide costs but pointed out that Westerville still maintains the lowest electric rates in central Ohio.
Council Chair Michael Heyeck emphasized the city’s control over its pricing. “We’re not a private company. We’re a municipal electric system, so we approve our own rates,” he said, underscoring how the local governance model helps keep costs competitive.
Water customers will see an increase in the minimum monthly charge, now set at $11.22 for the first 200 cubic feet. Additional usage will be billed at the higher 2026 rates set out in the ordinance. The adjustments amount to a roughly 9 percent increase over current levels.
Sewer customers will pay a new minimum monthly charge of $27.24, and usage above 200 cubic feet will be billed at $8.25 per 100 cubic feet.
Although Westerville handles billing, sewer treatment is performed by the City of Columbus, whose regional rates directly determine what Westerville must charge. This year’s increase reflects Columbus’ higher treatment fees.
Residential refuse service will rise to $29.75 per month, up $1.75 from the prior rate. Seniors age 60 and older may continue to apply for the $2.44 monthly discount.
The increase is tied directly to higher contract charges from Rumpke, the city’s refuse collection provider. As Rumpke’s service fees rise, Westerville’s customer charges rise to match them.
The ordinance also updates rate schedules for:
• WeConnect Connectivity Services
• WeConnect Data Center
Both changes align the city’s broadband and data center operations with current equipment and operational costs.
Heyeck highlighted Westerville’s strong standing on affordability: first in electric costs and second in water costs in central Ohio. Even with this year’s increases, sewer and refuse rates remain competitive with neighboring communities.
“We approve our own rates,” he said. “We continue to keep costs lower than anyone else in central Ohio.”
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