Council approves rezoning for 160-unit plan at 817 Upper Bell Road; developer-funded traffic study required

The Xenia City Council on March 12 approved rezoning about 31.21 acres at 817 Upper Bell Road from A1 agricultural to a planned-unit development to allow a proposed 160-unit townhome community. The council vote followed a public hearing that drew resident concern about neighborhood traffic and safety.

Nancy McPeek, who identified her address on Pueblo Drive, said she has lived adjacent to the proposed site for decades and warned that opening a connection would turn Pueblo Drive into a cut-through ‘‘racetrack’’ and increase risks for children in the neighborhood. ‘‘There’s 160 units…they’re not going to be homes for sale. They’re all going to be rentals,’’ McPeek said, urging a traffic study and stronger mitigations.

Gregory Thurman, identified as vice president of acquisitions for Redwood Living and the applicant’s representative, told council the project had been vetted, that a thoroughfare plan requires the Pueblo Drive connection unless expressly changed, and that the developer was willing to consider emergency-access only or traffic-calming proposals. ‘‘We thoroughly vetted the discussion about connecting Pueblo Drive…we could make it an emergency access only and continue to have it as a fence for emergency access,’’ Thurman said. He added that the developer will pay for the traffic study and will participate in any required improvements, including a potential contribution toward an intersection roundabout.

Staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to endorse the rezoning; council members clarified that a developer-funded traffic study will be completed before final development plan approval and that any improvements recommended by the study must be constructed by the developer. The council approved the rezoning by roll call.

Why it matters: The rezoning clears the way for a 160-unit residential project that could add rental housing and affect local traffic patterns, school and park access routes, and municipal infrastructure. Public commenters pressed for specific traffic analysis and mitigation measures before final approvals.

Next steps: The developer must complete a traffic study acceptable to the city engineer as part of the final development plan process; council action tonight approved the concept rezoning only and not the final site plan.