Responding to months of public pressure over the proposed redevelopment of 64 East Walnut Street, Westerville City Council Chair Megan Czako announced Tuesday that she will keep decisions about the city-owned property off council’s agenda for six months while a three-member council committee meets with community organizations.
Opposition emerged after the city announced plans this spring to sell the property for redevelopment and presented a developer’s proposal for a five-story hotel and apartment complex. Residents opposing the proposal argued its size, density, and uses were inappropriate for the property at Uptown Westerville's southern edge.
Council unanimously rejected the proposed sale agreement June 2. The city subsequently began a new public engagement process to determine the property’s future, including an August community workshop and survey and a Sept. 8 council work session.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Czako said the continuing public discussion convinced her council was not ready to make another decision about the property.
“Based on what I’m seeing in the public discourse, public comment, I don’t think that we as a council are ready to make any decisions on that property,” Czako said. “The amount of public discourse and the questions and the comments is something I want this body to be responsive to.”
Czako said that, at her discretion as chair, she will not place decisions concerning 64 East Walnut on a council agenda for six months.
“There will be nothing on the agenda for six months in terms of decisions, even discussing options for the sale,” she said.
Czako acknowledged that four council members could overrule her decision.
She said 64 East Walnut’s location, history, and relationship to Uptown distinguish it from other city properties and warrant additional consideration.
“There’s no precedent for this property, really,” Czako said. “Because this property is so unique, the policy discussion and the decisions here need to be carefully made and thought through.”
Czako also announced the creation of the temporary 64 East Walnut Council Engagement Committee, consisting of Vice Chair Aaron Glasgow and council members Kenneth Wright and Jeff Washburn.
The three council members will meet individually with seven organizations Czako identified as stakeholders: Uptown United, Uptown Westerville Inc., Visit Westerville, Westerville City Schools, Otterbein University, Westerville Public Library and the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The seven organizations are not committee members. Instead, the three council members will meet with each organization during the six-month period.
“This committee will be a structured process to allow direct communication between council members and community voices,” Czako said.
Debbie Bennati, president of the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association, made an emotional appeal during public comments for WUMA to be added to the organizations meeting with the committee.
Benatti, at times tearful, said WUMA represents 55 Uptown businesses and asked that merchants have a direct voice in the process.
“I’m requesting that WUMA be included in this engagement process,” Benatti told council
After the meeting, Czako confirmed that none of the three council members or seven organizations had been told about her plan before she announced it Tuesday night.
Several organizations responded Wednesday when asked about the committee and whether they planned to participate.
Uptown Westerville Inc. Executive Director Lynn Aventino said she had not received an invitation or information about the committee.
“Since I have not yet received an invitation or any information about the committee, I’ll need to wait until I learn more about its purpose, scope, and expectations before I can comment on UWI’s participation or representation,” Aventino wrote.
Westerville Public Library Executive Director Erin Francoeur also said the inquiry was “the first I am hearing of it,” but indicated the library was willing to participate.
“I would be happy to represent the library or designate a person to represent the library,” Francoeur wrote, adding that she was looking forward to further communication from the city about becoming involved.
Uptown United’s Julie Wildermuth said her organization understood that the committee consists of the three council members, who will meet with the outside groups, rather than representatives of those organizations serving on the committee.
Wildermuth said she had reached out to the three council members to determine how Uptown United could engage with them.
Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matt Lofy said he was aware of Czako’s decision and understood the council committee would meet with community partners such as the Chamber. He did not say when or how he learned of the plan.
“We are looking forward to working with this subcommittee to provide input and assist in any way possible,” Lofy wrote.
Otterbein University said it is studying the idea.
Czako said the committee’s meetings with the organizations will be publicly noticed and open to the public.
Other council members may attend and listen but cannot participate because doing so could create a quorum, she said.
The committee cannot negotiate, make decisions, or speak for the full council.
“You can talk to your council members who are on this committee. You can ask questions, have a back-and-forth,” Czako said. “But any opinions that they give in these meetings would be their own opinion. They cannot speak for the body.”
After the meetings, the committee will report what it heard to the full council.
Czako emphasized that the process is specific to 64 East Walnut and is not intended to establish a precedent for other development proposals, property sales or land-use decisions.
The announcement changed the tenor of some comments from residents who spoke later in Tuesday’s meeting.
Jim Bennati said he had arrived prepared to criticize the handling of the property but was encouraged by Czako’s announcement.
“With the announcement, I’m encouraged that a positive outcome is possible,” he said.
Mac Taylor said he hoped the next six months would constitute a “true reset” for the project and said he looked forward to engaging with council, city staff and other residents.
Chuck Taylor also thanked council for stepping back.
“We really appreciate you all stepping back and giving us six months to communicate with one another regarding what may be appropriate for the future of 64 East Walnut Street,” he said.
Others continued questioning the assumptions underlying the city’s plans for the property.
Peter Maxwell questioned whether the city’s 2016 Community Plan contemplated selling the entire site rather than the building and raised concerns about the future of public parking there.
Kyle Sigrist told council he would prefer that the city retain ownership but acknowledged that might not be the eventual outcome.
“Whatever its future, all options and possibilities should be considered and discussed,” Sigrist said. “I look forward to seeing how things develop over the next six months.”
Czako said the six-month pause is intended to give the committee time to hear directly from the organizations before the issue returns to the full council.
“Once these meetings have concluded at the end of those six months,” she said, “then that report will be made to the full body of council on what those findings will be.”
Because this post is public, you’re encouraged to share it on social media.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, its influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
Reader funding, including subscribers, protects editorial independence, so coverage is guided by journalists rather than owners or corporate profit goals. It also reduces pressure to chase clicks, letting the newsroom focus on stories worth readers’ time. And it helps keep the site accessible to everyone, including people who can’t pay or live in places where a free press is under threat.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon, Civic Capacity, Marysville Matters, The Ohio Roundtable, Shelby News Reporter, This Week in Toledo, and Into the Morning by Krista Steele.
