Findlay City Council Defends Apartment Project Opposed By Residents
BY CAREY MORGAN
FINDLAY — Findlay City Council members on Tuesday defended a proposed high-density multifamily apartment development amid strong resident opposition, stressing the city’s severe housing shortage while pledging further scrutiny of traffic, stormwater drainage and neighborhood compatibility.
The council gave second readings to ordinances accepting the annexation of approximately 45.937 acres known as the Shady Grove property from Marion Township and rezoning it to M2 (multifamily high-density). The site, formerly home to Shady Grove Golf Course along U.S. 224, is proposed for development by Vision Companies.
Residents living in the area have circulated a petition with nearly 700 signatures, criticizing the plan for adding hundreds of vehicles to congested roads and offering luxury apartments unaffordable to many local workers.
“According to the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, median income per household of Findlay is $43,948 and of Hancock County, $50,166,” Resident Taylor Figer said. “With all the backlash these apartments are receiving from the community ... I’m a little confused where the justification lies in creating an abundance of luxury apartments the majority of citizens you are supposed to represent can’t afford.”
Other residents spoke at the meeting whose properties border the site, warning of noise, trash, trespassing and increased demands on police and fire services. Residents expressed concerns that fairways would be replaced by parking garages and dumpsters.
Ward 1 Councilwoman Nichole Coleman, acknowledged the concerns but framed the project as essential responsible growth. Coleman referenced housing data and the developer’s credentials.
“The community foundation’s state of work and play report shows housing occupancy in Hancock County is over 99% and identifies that over the next 5 years there is a demand for 716 to 920 low and moderate income housing units,” Coleman said. “Housing availability is not a theoretical issue. It is already affecting families, employers, recruitment, retention, and the long-term health of our community.”
She highlighted Vision Companies, an Ohio-based firm founded in 1994 and headquartered in Columbus, with more than $1 billion in completed projects and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Coleman noted the company develops, builds and manages its properties.
“Vision Companies develops, builds, and manages multifamily communities that gives them a vested interest in the long-term success of the property, not only for their residents, but for the surrounding neighborhood and the broader community,” she said.
Coleman added that the phased approach would allow monitoring of impacts, including on public safety, after the initial phase. She called for engineer confirmation that proposed detention ponds would improve existing stormwater conditions compared to the current golf course.
Council discussion emphasized that new market-rate housing can help alleviate broader market pressure. Coleman referenced Upjohn Institute research showing such construction can loosen availability for middle- and lower-income households over time.
“I see this project as an important part of Findlay’s housing future while also expecting the city, the developer, and the appropriate review processes to take resident concerns seriously and address them thoughtfully,” Coleman said.
Mayor Christina Muryn and other members noted that additional traffic studies, including ODOT review, watershed maps, site plans and drainage details have been or will be shared via council packets and future Planning Commission meetings. They encouraged residents to submit specific questions for follow-up with the developer.
The Shady Grove items advanced alongside routine business, including approvals for a separate KGD Properties annexation/services resolution, grant applications including FEMA flood mitigation, appointments, appropriations and emergency measures. Council also heard updates on infrastructure projects like the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge and basin work, announced Capt. Hendren as the incoming police chief replacing retiring Chief Matias, and recognized EMS Week.
During the public communications portion of the meeting, resident Robin Drake Welly sharply criticized city officials over transparency issues related to the Finance Committee. Welly noted that she regularly watches and listens to city meetings and had been unable to find an agenda posted for the Finance Committee meeting held on May 5, 2026. She recounted approaching Councilman B.J. Preston about the missing agenda prior to the council meeting and receiving a response that one was not required. Welly also referenced comments from Councilman Dan DeArment that reinforced the position that a detailed agenda was unnecessary for regular committee meetings.
She argued that simply listing the meeting as “Finance Committee” without specific topics failed to meet the spirit — and potentially the requirements — of Ohio’s Open Meetings Act , also known as Sunshine Law, for government transparency. Welly quoted Preston’s own remarks from the May 5 meeting in which he emphasized the value of providing more information to both council members and the public for better decision-making. She urged council to prioritize posting detailed agendas as a matter of integrity and good governance so residents can remain informed and engaged.
Council members and the law director responded by acknowledging the importance of transparency while noting that Ohio Revised Code 121.22 technically requires only time, place, and purpose for regular meetings, though agendas are standard practice for the city. The exchange highlighted ongoing discussions about public access and accountability in Findlay’s committee processes.
