Grove City Charter: Voters Mandate Ballots for Large Projects

Grove City residents approved Issue 28 on Tuesday, establishing a new requirement for citywide votes on large-scale developments. Unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections show the charter amendment passed with 54.61% approval.

The measure was placed on the ballot by Protect Grove City, a grassroots group aiming to give voters a direct say in major construction projects. The organization specifically targeted the expansion of data centers in the area. In contrast, Save Grove City, a coalition created by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, opposed the amendment. They argued the rule was too broad and could impede local development.

Karen Church, an organizer for Protect Grove City, stated that the group is proud of the turnout. She described the victory as one step in many to ensure residents have a voice on projects that might alter the city's character. "We are extremely grateful for the residents of Grove City who showed up to make their voices heard because that's what Issue 28 has been all about all along," Church said.

Patricia Spillman, another organizer, expressed deep emotion upon learning of the result. Although she resides in Pleasant Township, her farm is located across the street from a site designated for a data center campus. "It's just now setting in with me that this actually passed and that we are going to have a voice through the neighbors that live in town," Spillman said.

This outcome aligns with a recent pattern in Ohio where communities have resisted data center construction. Several municipalities in the state have enacted bans on such facilities within their borders. Grove City's new charter provision will apply to future projects that meet the size threshold defined in the amendment.