A new housing development in Heath may significantly increase student enrollment in Granville schools, raising concerns about capacity.

District officials have been studying growth management for two years. They plan to discuss the challenges at a public meeting on January 15 at the high school theater.
M/I Homes from Columbus is looking to build at least 540 houses on about 225 acres near Grand Pointe Drive. This area is in the Granville school district but falls within the City of Heath. The zoning allows for about five houses per acre.
Currently, Granville Elementary and Intermediate schools are at 95% capacity. Superintendent Jeff Brown emphasized the importance of community input for future growth options. These options will eventually go to the board of education for consideration.
The district will hold three community meetings to share information and gather feedback. The strategic planning task force will also be involved to share their findings.
Brown mentioned he prefers to have multiple options to adapt to future needs, not just for the current development but for the next few decades. Granville Schools have never faced a development of this scale, with the last major one being Park Trails, which has 354 houses in Newark.
Brown has been in talks with Heath Mayor Mark D. Johns about the development. While the school district doesn’t have formal authority over such projects, Johns aims to keep the district informed as plans progress.
Johns noted that the development process can be slow, contrary to public perception. He has made it a point to ensure Brown receives timely updates. He’s also advocated for the school district’s needs, including a request for land for an elementary school within the new development.
M/I Homes has previously donated land for schools in other developments. Brown, who has experience managing growth from his time at Olentangy Local Schools, is optimistic about the potential for a school site in the new subdivision.
The preliminary site plan shows about 14.5 acres could be set aside for a school. However, there’s no formal agreement yet, and discussions are ongoing.
Brown mentioned that funding for a new school would require a bond issue vote. The district will also need to renew an income tax before it expires in 2028 and may require an additional property tax levy to operate its schools.
Property owners in new subdivisions, even if they’re in other municipalities, must pay property and income taxes to the Granville district. Residents of Park Trails, for example, pay these taxes along with a special assessment negotiated years ago.
M/I Homes is expected to start the formal planning process with the City of Heath soon, which could take a year for approval. Once approved, it will take years for the development to be fully built out, which Johns sees as a positive to manage growth gradually.
Heath is experiencing rapid growth and is preparing for more developments, including the Central Park project, which will add commercial and retail spaces along with 1,800 housing units.
There are also plans for a subdivision of about 240 homes on Irving Wick Drive and discussions for another development on 140 acres nearby. These projects will fall under the Lakewood School District.
With job growth in central Ohio, there’s a housing crisis, and Johns believes Heath needs to address this issue. He’s heard concerns from employers about finding talent, and having more residents will help.
In Granville, the strategic planning task force has been analyzing enrollment projections and facility capacities. They’ve been working with various community members to understand demographics and potential growth.
Brown noted that Granville’s enrollment is expected to grow significantly in the next five to ten years, and additional facilities will be necessary to accommodate this increase.
The firm Fanning Howey from Columbus will collaborate with the district and the task force to create a master plan for the future. Granville Village Manager Herb Koehler, part of the task force, believes the new residents will be welcomed into the community.
Alan Miller writes for TheReportingProject.org, a nonprofit news organization supported by donations. Sign up for their newsletter for more updates.