ATHENS, Ohio — A plan to build affordable housing near The Ridges for clients of the Athens-Hocking-Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board is one step closer to reality.
Athens City Council held a public hearing Monday night on a rezoning request from the board, also known as the 317 Board, as well as one from Hugh White Honda. Both requests were recommended by the city planning commission.
The 317 Board requested that the city rezone about 3.5 acres on Dairy Lane from E-1, educational, to R-3, multifamily housing, so it can construct 15 affordable housing units for its clients.
The project is tied to the transfer of about 27 acres of The Ridges from Ohio University to Praxia Partners, which wants to develop the area with housing and commercial and artistic spaces. Delays in that process have put the 317 Board in a bind on its project, as the Independent previously reported.
The 317 Board’s project has secured $2 million in funding and is supported by the state’s Welcome Home Ohio program.
The council also heard second reading of Ordinance 21-26 that authorizes the rezoning.
Columbus Road annexation
The council also held a public hearing on the proposed annexation of just over 1 acre on Theatre Lane at the far end of Columbus Road. The property is the site of the former WATH/WXTQ building.
The annexation was requested by White Family Athens Property which plans to construct a building as part of its Hugh White Honda Athens dealership at 250 Columbus Road.
Matt Frazee, Hugh White assistant service manager, told council that the new building will be visible from Columbus Road and the facility is expected to create around 20 jobs.
“It’s just important to know that we’ve grown exponentially here in the last few years, thanks to a lot of great people in the community,” Frazee said.
Following the first public hearing on the annexation, the council adopted Ordinance 10-26, an intergovernmental agreement with Athens Township that gives the city complete responsibility for maintaining Theatre Lane.
Council member Beth Clodfelter, At Large, said those responsibilities will include snow removal, road resurfacing, pothole repairs, and police and fire services.
Council also heard second reading of Ordinance 19-26 to accept the annexation of the property into the city.
In other matters Monday, the council:
- Adopted Ordinance 11-26 to temporarily suspend city code related to continuous parking, so that motorists can park in the same location from Dec. 13, 2026,through midnight Jan. 10, 2027.
- Adopted Ordinance 12-26, creating an employee retirement incentive program that will give $30,000 to qualifying employees who notify the city by April 15 of their plans to retire. Up to 18 city employees are eligible for the program.
- Adopted Ordinance 14-26 that authorizes adoption of a three-year agreement with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Ohio Council 8 and Athens City Firefighters Local 3351, retroactive to November 2025. City Service-Safety Director Andy Stone said the agreement covers 25 firefighters and covers employment matters ranging from work schedules and overtime policy to wages. It allows for a 3% initial wage increase and then wage re-openers for potential increases in the second and third years.
- Held second reading of Ordinance 09-26, allowing Stone to advertise, accept bids, and enter into a contract for North Hill Water Project, with an anticipated cost of $250,000. The project is intended to remedy water line breaks on North Hill and Columbia Avenue with water line replacement and pump systems.
- Heald second reading of Ordinance 28-26, which will allow a special right-of-way use permit at Mount Zion Black Cultural Center, at 32 W. Carpenter St. The permit would allow the placement of an elevator vestibule in the city’s sidewalk right-of-way along North Congress Street, which would extend just over 6 feet onto the right-of-way.
Athens City Council’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23, at Athens City Hall, Council Chambers, third floor, 8 E. Washington St. Meetings are also streamed online. Regular sessions are on the first and third Mondays of the month; committee meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays.
