Meeting Update: Planning & Zoning Commission | Thursday, September 8, 2026 (6:00 PM)
While commercial infill along the I-270 corridor and downtown boutique retail took up plenty of attention at Thursday night’s hearing, the commission also tackled the continued westward residential expansion of Hilliard.
Under cases PZ-26-50 and PZ-26-51, M/I Homes of Central Ohio (partnering with engineering firm EMH&T) came forward seeking Final Plat approvals for two consecutive phases of their master development: Hill Farm II West Section 2, Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Located at 7500 Scioto Darby Road (northeast of the Scioto Darby Road and Langton Road intersection), this land sits squarely within Subarea “A” of the Hill Farm II Hilliard Conservation District (HCD).
Here is how the numbers, streets, and conservation requirements break down.
The Numbers & Layout: 40 Homes Across 14.27 Acres
Following the master rezoning approved by City Council in March 2025 (Ordinance 25-06) that capped the entire 272.4-acre development at 200 single-family lots and an overall density of 1.3 units per acre, Thursday’s approvals carved out the next 40 home sites:
Phase 1 (Case PZ-26-50):
- Covers 5.807 acres directly west of Elliott Road.
- Plats 20 single-family residential lots (Lots 36–47 and 68–75).
- Dedicates local street connections including segments of Percheron Drive, Palomino Road, and Cremello Lane.
- Contains zero open space reserves in this specific slice, as open space is balanced across the broader conservation master plan.
Phase 2 (Case PZ-26-51):
- Covers 8.462 acres immediately adjacent.
- Plats the next 20 single-family residential lots (Lots 48–67).
- Dedicates extensions of Palomino Road and right-of-way along Scioto Darby Creek Road.
- Designates 3.111 acres of open space in Reserve “B” along the perimeter.
Both phases strictly comply with the HCD Subarea “A” zoning baseline: minimum lot footprints of 8,450 square feet (roughly 0.194 acres) and at least 65 feet of lot frontage at the building setback line.
Environmental Guardrails & Enforceable Conditions
Because this property sits inside the sensitive Big Darby Watershed, development is subject to the stringent standards of the Big Darby Area Watershed Master Plan (BDAWMP).
The Final Plats establish binding legal infrastructure across two primary areas:
- Stormwater & Drainage Controls: Dedications include dedicated Storm Water Management Easements (SWME) across swales and retention infrastructure. Property owners are legally barred from regrading, placing dams, or building structures that impede runoff flow. If an HOA fails to maintain common reserve drainage areas, the city holds direct statutory “step-in” rights to enter the land, perform emergency remediation, and assess the tax bills of each individual homeowner directly.
- Emergency Access & Engineering Standards: Final approval remains contingent upon meeting all Norwich Township Fire Department turn radii for fire engines, as well as final technical formatting sign-offs from the Hilliard City Engineer.
With the Commission’s recommendation in hand, both plats advance to Hilliard City Council for formal acceptance of the public streets and infrastructure easements before being recorded with Franklin County.
GoHilliard Take: Conservation By Design, Accountability By Law
When people hear “conservation district,” they often expect untouched prairie. In practice, Hilliard’s Conservation District zoning is about cluster design: grouping residential homes onto tighter 8,450-square-foot footprints so large swathes of adjacent land—like the 3.1-acre Reserve B platted in Phase 2—remain permanent, contiguous open buffer.
Hill Farm II is a prime reminder of why watershed planning matters. Building near the Big Darby Watershed demands strict stewardship. The most important detail in these documents isn’t the street names like Palomino or Percheron—it’s the fine print on the plat notes.
By inserting enforceable language that allows the City of Hilliard to “step into the shoes” of a delinquent HOA and assess homeowners directly if stormwater retention ditches aren’t maintained, the city is protecting taxpayers and downstream waterways from legacy drainage failures down the road.
As these 40 lots head to City Council for final street acceptance, Hilliard continues to manage a delicate balance: absorbing executive housing demand on the west side while enforcing strict environmental limits that prevent suburban sprawl from compromising the Darby.