Heath Resident Concerns
Mayor Johns and M/I Homes want to build 500+ homes on 212 acres of farmland annexed from Union Township — miles away from downtown Heath — without having answered the basic questions Heath residents deserve to have answered first.
Beyond the serious concern over pushing roughly 874 new unfunded students (at the 546-home planning figure) onto a neighboring school district and forcing its taxpayers to pay the bill, this development raises important questions about the future of Heath as well:
Who will the city repay bonds needed to extend city utilities into this annexation? How will it affect traffic, emergency services, and city budgets? What happens when thousands of new residents vote in Heath but send their children to Granville schools? And who exactly is going to buy $700k homes on ⅙-acre lots?
A July 13 draft development agreement confirms the city intends to create a 30-year, 100% Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. The city's financial plan shows Heath borrowing ~$20.2M in notes refunded by ~$20.1M of 35-year general obligation bonds — $43.4M in total debt service through 2067, backed by Heath's general fund if development revenues fall short. Learn more about the TIF →
Council was right to push back the vote — twice. Heath residents deserve real answers before approving a project of this scale. Several Council members have said exactly that. The next vote is scheduled for August 3, 2026, and there is still time to get this right.
If you live in Heath, your voice matters. The most important thing you can do is let your Council members know that you support them voting No on back-room deals written to increase profits for major housing developers instead of helping the residents of Heath.
A revised draft development agreement (dated 7/13/26) and the city's first public financing plan were released at the July 13 Community Development & Zoning Committee meeting. Both are now downloadable: draft agreement, Baker Tilly financial summary, summary deck.
What changed in the July 13 draft:
- “504-home cap” — a cap with a trap door: 504 only stands if Granville builds a school it can't afford. If not, the “school site” becomes up to 42 more homes (546 total). Plan on 546.
- “17.1-acre school donation” — land for a school Granville can't afford to build (~$30M+ bond). Miss the deadline and the land reverts to M/I Homes as up to 42 more homes.
- “$6M reimbursement removed” — the $6M / 7% payout from the May draft is gone; the clause to watch is what replaced it.
- “Additional School Payments” — ~$240k/yr (2.25 mills) against a ~$12M/yr gap: about 2 cents on the dollar, as non-binding “intent” at Heath's discretion. The +1 mill only exists if the school gets built.
- Heath's bond plan is public — ~$20.2M notes refunded by ~$20.1M of 35-year GO bonds maturing 12/1/2067; $43.4M total debt service, backed by Heath's general fund.
- UNCHANGED: 30-year / 100% TIF, schools held harmless on the TIF, NCA charge up to 7.5 mills, $11,120/lot developer utility prepayment, developer-funded road widening.
The earlier proposal to discuss these finances in a closed June 29 executive session did not result in a binding private vote; the financial details were ultimately presented publicly on July 13 — the right outcome. See the Open Meetings Act background and the updated TIF analysis.
We are still waiting on communications between city leaders and M/I Homes requested on May 14th.
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