Columbus City Council approves Sawin Drive Annexation, Rezoning

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus City Council approved the annexation and rezoning for a new 80-acre development by Abundant Home Solutions on first reading during Tuesday's meeting.

The project, located on Sawin Drive across from the Villas at Stonecrest, involves annexing the land into city limits and transitioning its zoning from Agriculture Preferred (AP) to Residential 2-Family (RT).

Developer Darrell Hodgson outlined plans for a dual-purpose housing development aimed at addressing local residential needs, which includes a 55+ community featuring twin homes alongside single-family "step-up" homes tailored for second-time homebuyers in the $350,000+ price range.

Both the annexation and rezoning ordinances passed with unanimous 6–0 votes on first reading. Council member Frank Miller recused himself from the vote due to his residence across the street from the proposed site.

During the public forum, nearby residents and council members raised several considerations regarding the project, including:

• Potential impact on surrounding property values and city services
• Existing traffic and drainage conditions on Sawin Drive, along with safety concerns regarding adjacent Duke Energy power lines
• Future road infrastructure upgrades planned by the city to support regional growth

The second reading and final vote on the annexation and rezoning measures are scheduled for the September 1 City Council meeting.