Heath Housing Plan Triggers Outcry in Granville

Granville Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed Heath Hills Housing Development

A proposed housing development in Licking County, Ohio, known as "Heath Hills," has sparked significant backlash from residents and local leaders in Granville. The project, which could bring over 500 homes to the area, is causing widespread concern among community members who fear it will increase tax burdens and overcrowd local schools.

The proposed subdivision is located within the city of Heath but falls under the jurisdiction of the Granville Exempted Village School District. This unique situation has led to a conflict between the two municipalities. According to Jeff Brown, the superintendent of the Granville school district, the land was annexed into Heath, but the school district boundaries remained unchanged. As a result, the district faces potential financial strain due to the increased number of students that the development may bring.

Brown estimates that the proposed development could add nearly 1,000 students to the district over the next decade. This influx would require additional funding for new school buildings and operational costs, placing an extra burden on Granville taxpayers. He explains that each household could face an additional $2,000 in annual taxes.

“I would say the clear loser in the equation is Granville schools and the Granville tax base,” Brown said. “We don’t have any recourse or the ability to influence the Heath City Council when we’re not their residents.”

Resident Concerns: Taxes and School Overcrowding

Granville resident Megan Cuda, a single mother, expressed her concerns about rising taxes. She attended a public hearing in Heath this week, where she joined approximately 50 other residents in voicing their opposition to the development.

“As a single parent, that number really hits home,” Cuda said. “There’s a lot I can’t offer my kids. One thing I’ve been able to give them is an amazing education here in Granville, and I really don’t know where this extra money is going to fit into my budget.”

Andrew Miller, another Granville resident, is worried about the impact on local schools. He recently welcomed his newborn son, who is just 12 weeks old.

“[That] puts him into school right when this firehose of students is supposed to come bombard our schools,” Miller said.

Environmental and Infrastructure Concerns

Jeremy King, chair of the Licking Land Trust, also raised concerns about the development. He pointed out that the area is currently dominated by country roads, and adding 550 homes would significantly increase traffic, posing safety risks.

“It is all country roads,” King said. “We think about 550 homes. That’s a lot of cars moving in and out on these two-lane roads, which is really dangerous.”

Heath Mayor's Statement

Heath Mayor Mark Jones provided a statement to NBC4, addressing the development:

“The ever-increasing demand for additional housing options in Central Ohio, of all the various types and all the various price-points, has been well documented for numerous years. Central Licking County is not immune to these housing-demand pressures. For many years now, the City of Heath has been working on different housing projects in parts of our city to help our area meet the demand for housing options.

The proposed development of the Heath Hills area is one example of that effort. For a few years now, the concept of this part of our city becoming a new and attractive residential development has been discussed with officials of the area’s school district. As the project has evolved over the years, the city has been effectively providing school district officials with updates. As the local school district has been consistent during this period in requesting land in the prospective neighborhood for the potential of a future elementary school, the city was pleased to work with the developer to ensure that over 14 acres of land will be given to the school district for that purpose.

In addition, the future residents of this development will pay their share of taxes to the local school district (and potentially more) over the years. I believe in the future, the city will seek to continue to work with the school district in the coming years to ensure it is informed as to the status of the development and seek to partner with the district when able and appropriate to work toward having a nice development in the area with students that are a positive addition to the school district.”

Next Steps

Brown has requested a special meeting with Heath city leaders to explore potential solutions. However, he has yet to receive a response.

The measure will be presented to the Heath City Council on Monday, May 18, at 7:30 P.M. Council members will have the option to approve the development, reject it, or table it for further consideration.