Central Ohio Weekly News Brief — June 29 to July 4, 2026
Quick teaser: Dublin Council voted 5-2 July 1 to rezone the 370-acre ID-6 Research Transition District and strip data centers from the West Innovation District near Ballantrae. Reynoldsburg Council approved a $1.5M land sale for a $30M, 100-unit CMHA affordable housing project 6-2 over resident opposition, and South-Western City Schools unanimously placed a $220M no-new-millage bond on the November ballot to replace Grove City and Westland high schools.
Dublin
City Council voted 5-2 on July 1 to rezone approximately 370 acres and establish the ID-6 Research Transition District, formally removing data centers as a permitted use across the West Innovation District near Ballantrae (City of Dublin, Columbus Dispatch). The same meeting saw Council approve an amended economic development agreement with the OSU Wexner Medical Center for its Dublin campus expansion, including a new 150,000-square-foot medical building (City of Dublin Newsroom).
Dublin City Schools released final attendance boundary maps June 29 for elementary, middle, and high schools, effective the 2027-28 school year, ending a nine-month process (Dublin City Schools, ABC6/WSYX).
The city’s America 250 Independence Day celebration on July 4 included the Sherm Sheldon Fishing Derby, a themed parade, and an evening concert by The Wallflowers (City of Dublin).
Reynoldsburg
City Council voted 6-2 on June 29 to authorize the $1.5 million sale of city land at the former PNC Bank site to the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for a $30 million, 100-unit “working class” affordable housing project with retail and rooftop recreation, over sustained neighborhood opposition (ABC6/WSYX).
The July 3 fireworks at Civic Park operated under the new resident-only wristband policy, followed by a July 4 parade down Main Street ending at Huber Park (City of Reynoldsburg).
The city issued a Request for Information for broadband and fiber network development, with responses due July 6 (HigherGov).
Grove City and South-Western Schools
The South-Western City Schools Board of Education unanimously approved its “resolution to proceed” on June 29, placing a $220 million no-new-millage bond issue on the November 3 ballot to replace Grove City and Westland high schools in partnership with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (South-Western City Schools).
The Hoover Road $2.2 million pedestrian bridge over I-71 remains under construction as the first LinkUS-funded project, with northbound Hoover Road closed through mid-August (WOSU).
CMHA’s separate $125 million, 230-unit mixed-use development near Mount Carmel Grove City Hospital remains in the pipeline (Hoodline).
Community celebrations included a July 4 Fireworks Pre-Party at Grove City High School with a QFM96-synced show (City of Grove City).
Sunbury
City Council held its July 1 public hearing on the proposed downtown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), following a resident survey that showed 85% support and a 5-0 Parks and Recreation Committee recommendation (City of Sunbury). July 4 festivities included a morning parade through the Square and fireworks at Big Walnut Middle School.
Citizen advocates are collecting signatures to place a local ban on large-scale data center construction on the November ballot, building on the June 25 forum findings on water and power demand (Delaware Source).
The city remains under its data center moratorium through January 31, 2027.
Gahanna
The opening of the $59 million Civic Center at 825 Tech Center Drive remains delayed until mid-July while faulty electrical work by a previous contractor is remediated, before City Hall, the Senior Center, and the Division of Police can move in (City of Gahanna).
The “250 Years of America” celebration on July 3 at the Municipal Golf Course featured the community’s largest fireworks display to date, followed by the Lions Club July 4 parade down Granville Street.
Gahanna Police are investigating a June 28 rolling shooting near Stygler Road and Ainsworth Avenue that left one driver wounded (ABC6/WSYX).
Worthington
The Charter Review Commission’s 37 proposed recommendations were formally transmitted to City Council for consideration, and Crawford Hoying’s 17.6-acre West Wilson Bridge Road mixed-use project cleared its first Planning Commission review (Worthington Pulse, Columbus Navigator).
The city’s annual July 4th family picnic and fireworks were held at Thomas Worthington High School athletic fields (City of Worthington).
The Board of Zoning Appeals met July 2 to review residential and business variances.
Powell
Powell hosted the “Celebrate America 250” festival at Village Green Park on June 30, headlined by the Ohio National Guard’s 122nd Army Band (City of Powell).
Zoo momentum continued as the newly announced $175 million John F. Wolfe Aquarium and 130-room hotel move toward a 2027 groundbreaking and 2029 opening. The 27 immersive exhibits will include Ohio’s largest open-ocean tank, funded in part by a record $50 million Wolfe family gift.
Hilliard
Freedom Fest at Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park on July 4 featured a headline performance by country star Cole Swindell and a fireworks display as part of the statewide “America 250 Picnic,” alongside a morning parade tied to the community-wide Food for the Fourth pantry drive (City of Hilliard, Hilliard Beacon).
Coffee Connections of Hilliard closed its 4004 Main Street location June 27 after critical structural flaws were discovered; the business is seeking a new community space while continuing limited production.
The Roberts Road bridge closure and the police investigation into 35 vehicle break-ins in the Heritage Preserve area both continue (ABC6/WSYX).
Groveport
ODW Logistics’ 864,000-square-foot next-generation distribution center on the Lockbourne/Groveport border is fully operational, and Council adopted an emergency resolution providing police and fire services to a newly annexed Sims Road territory (City of Groveport, ODW Logistics).
The 2026 Street Maintenance Program’s alley repairs and resurfacing work begins the week of July 6.
July 3 fireworks were held at Groveport Madison Middle School Central, followed by the Red, White & Kids and Main Parades on July 4 (Festivals.com).
The city’s lead-in-plumbing advisory for pre-1986 homes remains in effect.
Lockbourne
The ODW Logistics 864,000-square-foot automated distribution center at 6780 Schieser Farms Road is now fully operational, employing autonomous mobile robots and advanced conveyor systems, with capacity for up to 300 jobs and bringing ODW’s central Ohio warehouse footprint to nearly 6 million square feet (ODW Logistics).
Harlem Township
The Delaware County Regional Planning Commission’s recommended approvals of text amendments to Articles IV and XXXV, plus the 5-acre Bailey/Gloeckner rezoning, are now scheduled for a Board of Trustees public hearing on July 15 as the township continues managing Intel-area growth pressure (Delaware County RPC).
The Center Village Road / South County Line Road intersection remains closed through July 30 for the new roundabout (Delaware County Engineer).
Galena
The Village of Galena officially joined the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) to launch a community electric aggregation program, and the $75,000 emergency Walnut Creek bridge repair moves into contractor selection (Village of Galena).
Obetz
Fortress Obetz hosted the annual “Famous Fortress Fireworks” festival on July 3 with live music from Old Skool, food trucks, and a headline fireworks display (Fortress Obetz).
The city continued preparations on the 2027 tax budget alongside its “Full Throttle Thursday” car and bike show (Obetz Council).
West Jefferson
The Village wrapped its three-day “America Strong” streetfest with a July 4 parade and fireworks, with a theme tied to community resilience after the June 22 windstorms (Village of West Jefferson).
Tolles Career & Technical Center’s $400,000 state capital budget award for a Regional Fire & EMS Training Facility is confirmed for construction in West Jefferson.
West Jefferson police launched the 2026 “Cram the Cruiser” school supply drive on July 3 (Madison Messenger).
Quiet this week
Mifflin Township: The Board of Trustees officially noticed a 2027 tax budget public hearing for July 6; Mifflin Cemetery closed to vehicle traffic July 3 to accommodate Gahanna’s fireworks; Daveonte Dixon’s sentencing remains pending in July (Mifflin Township).
Sharon Township: The July 13 joint public hearing with Worthington on the JEDD amendment adding the Tree of Life Christian Schools property on Proprietors Road is confirmed (Sharon Township).
Genoa Township: Township Hall closed July 2 for emergency well repairs plus the July 3 holiday closure; the Big Walnut Road / Tussic Street Road intersection remains closed through July 31 for roundabout construction; paid election inspector recruitment for the August primary and November general election continues (Genoa Township).
Watch next week
Mifflin Township 2027 tax budget public hearing (July 6)
Reynoldsburg broadband RFI response deadline (July 6)
Groveport 2026 Street Maintenance Program alley repairs begin (July 6)
Gahanna $59M Civic Center opening (mid-July)
Sharon Township / Worthington JEDD amendment joint public hearing (July 13)
Harlem Township Board of Trustees hearing on Articles IV/XXXV plus Bailey/Gloeckner rezoning (July 15)
Dixon sentencing in Mifflin Township shooting case (July)
Harlem Township Center Village / South County Line roundabout completion (~July 30)
Genoa Township Big Walnut / Tussic roundabout completion (~July 31)
Grove City Hoover Road northbound reopening (~August 19)
Hilliard Roberts Road bridge reopening (mid-August)
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