Residents urge council to block St. John�s cemetery rezoning, citing code and watershed concerns

Residents opposed to a proposed St. Johns cemetery asked Dublin City Council on Sept. 28 to uphold the citys zoning rules and deny a rezoning that would convert two single-family lots into cemetery use. "You cannot put a cemetery on a piece of property less than 40 acres," said Judy Yoder, who identified herself as a long-term resident of the Wilcox Road neighborhood and said petitioners had collected more than 250 signatures opposing the plan.

Multiple speakers described environmental and neighborhood impacts they said the council should weigh. Bill Yoder, who said he has lived near the proposed site for more than 50 years, said the revised design is far larger than originally presented and raised questions about ground burial near wells, human- remains gardens adjacent to a stream, and traffic and safety. "Is this suitable ground for a cemetery? How would a cemetery affect the residents and the viability of the neighborhood?" he asked. Dave Kettlehake cited an Ohio prohibition on new cemeteries within 100 yards of a dwelling without the owners permission and said his home sits about 60 yards from the proposal.

Other speakers urged council to re-examine the administrative record and the pre-application process. Genevieve Heckerty and Marjorie Parr both said the concept-plan feedback the applicant received was informal and nonbinding and that statutory concept-plan review steps (cited during comment using city code references) were not completed; Parr asked the council to remand the PUD to planning and zoning for a formal review. Mayor Ambrose Grooms and staff directed residents to planning director Ginny Rausch and legal counsel Phil Hartman for follow-up information and records.

The public comments were part of the meetings citizen-comment period; council did not take a final zoning vote that evening. The record shows sustained neighborhood opposition and multiple requests that staff and council ensure full statutory process and environmental protections before any final decision.