Powell Is Spending $70K to Talk About Village Green. Here’s Why Residents Should Pay Attention
If you live in Powell, you've probably heard at least something about the future of Village Green.
Maybe you've seen one of the proposed concepts.
Maybe you've attended an open house.
Maybe you've commented online.
Or maybe you're one of the residents who recently told the city:
“I didn't even know this was happening.”
That last group is a big part of why Powell City Council just approved approximately $70,000 for outside public relations and community engagement assistance surrounding the Village Green Master Plan.
And while "$70,000 for PR" certainly makes for an attention-grabbing headline, I think there's a much bigger story here.
Powell is considering potentially significant changes to the 12-acre Village Green property at the heart of the community.
Residents have questions.
Hundreds have already submitted comments.
City Council isn't completely united on how to move forward.
And most importantly:
Nothing is final yet.
So let's look at where things actually stand and what Powell residents should be watching next.
First, What Is Powell Spending $70,000 On?
Powell City Council has authorized City Manager Andy White to move forward with a contract with Columbus-based public relations firm Geben Communication.
The firm is expected to begin working with the city in September or October and continue providing services through December 2027.
This isn't simply someone being hired to write press releases.
According to information presented to City Council, Geben's work is expected to include developing a comprehensive communications and public engagement plan, creating a messaging guide, identifying different audiences, developing a crisis communications playbook and assisting with public meetings and open houses.
The firm will also help with website and social media content, media relations, council presentations and ongoing reporting.
In other words, Powell is bringing in outside help to improve how it communicates with residents about what could eventually happen to Village Green.
Why Does Powell Think It Needs Outside Help?
This may be the most important part of the story.
Residents have told city leaders that they haven't always felt adequately informed about the Village Green planning process.
Powell Planning Director Logan Stang told council that one of the biggest pieces of feedback received from residents attending the third and fourth open houses was that some people hadn't been aware of the Village Green Master Plan or what was going to be presented.
That's significant.
We're not talking about a minor project tucked away somewhere most residents will never see.
We're talking about Village Green.
The approximately 12-acre property currently includes City Council chambers, the Powell Police Department, amphitheater, splash pad and green space.
This is one of the places people associate with Powell itself.
So if residents are saying they don't feel informed about plans that could substantially change it, that's worth paying attention to.
What Could Actually Happen to Village Green?
Here's where I want to make something very clear:
There is not a final development plan.
Powell is currently in Phase Two of the Village Green Master Plan.
The purpose of this phase is to explore possible development options and eventually identify a preferred concept.
Earlier this year, residents were shown two conceptual designs.
Both included a mix of residential and retail development.
Potential features included things like a market hall, grocery store and multilevel parking garage replacing the existing parking lot at 47 Hall Street. Both concepts would significantly rearrange the existing Village Green property.
But that's the important word:
Concepts.
These aren't final approved plans.
And considering the amount of public feedback the city has received, those concepts could continue to change.
Residents Have Already Submitted 381 Comments
This is one number that really caught my attention.
Powell extended Phase Two of the planning process so consultant Pizzuti Solutions would have additional time to review and respond to 381 comments submitted by residents.
Those comments were collected through email and four public open houses.
That's a lot of feedback.
And it tells me something important:
People care deeply about what happens to Village Green.
That's understandable.
Development decisions aren't just about buildings.
They're about how a community feels.
They're about traffic.
Parking.
Green space.
Gathering places.
Walkability.
Restaurants and retail.
Community events.
And ultimately, the character of the place people chose to call home.
The $70,000 Decision Wasn't Unanimous
There's also another side to this conversation.
Not everyone on Powell City Council agreed that hiring an outside communications firm was the right move.
Councilman David Lester questioned why Powell's existing communications staff couldn't handle the work internally.
City Manager Andy White responded that the city doesn't currently have the resources necessary to do it.
Vice Mayor Tom Counts argued that a project of this size and importance justifies temporarily bringing in specialized outside expertise rather than permanently adding staff the city may not need after the project ends.
Councilman Leif Carlson ultimately cast the lone dissenting vote.
Carlson argued that Powell should wait until council reviews Phase Three of the Village Green Master Plan before hiring the public relations firm. That next phase is expected to include financial analysis and further refinement of the Village Green plans.
I think it's important for residents to understand both sides.
One argument is essentially:
This is an extraordinary project. We need additional professional help communicating it well.
The other is:
Should we spend $70,000 on communication before we know more about what we're actually proposing?
Those are both legitimate questions for taxpayers to consider.
This Isn't Powell's First Attempt at Public Engagement
It's also worth putting the current discussion into a little more context.
The Village Green planning process has already included a significant amount of community outreach.
According to the city's Phase I executive summary, Pizzuti Solutions conducted or participated in 28 different engagement efforts between October 2024 and August 2025.
The community survey received 658 responses, and residents consistently expressed interest in additional dining, retail, parking, family-friendly activities and recreation.
So the issue isn't that Powell hasn't asked for public input.
The more interesting question may be whether that information has been reaching enough residents clearly and consistently.
And that's apparently what the city hopes this new communications contract will improve.
What Happens Next?
This is the part Powell residents should pay attention to.
Pizzuti Solutions is expected to hold another community presentation this fall.
As of September 4, the city had not yet announced the date.
After reviewing the public feedback and continuing to refine the plans, a revised Village Green concept is expected to return to Powell City Council in December.
So if you have an opinion about Village Green, this isn't a situation where the decisions have already been made and there's nothing left to say.
Quite the opposite.
This is the time to pay attention.
Why Village Green Matters Even If You Never Attend a City Council Meeting
This is the part of these development stories that I find especially interesting.
When I'm helping someone decide where to live in Central Ohio, we're never really choosing just a house.
We're choosing the community around it.
People care about restaurants.
Parks.
Walkability.
Community events.
Traffic.
Schools.
Shopping.
Gathering spaces.
And simply how a place feels when they live there.
Those things contribute to why someone chooses Powell over another Central Ohio community in the first place.
That's why the future of Village Green matters.
The question isn't simply whether Powell should have a market hall, grocery store, parking garage, housing or additional retail.
The bigger question is:
What does Powell want the heart of its community to look and feel like 10 or 20 years from now?
That's a much more interesting conversation.
Growth and Preservation Don't Have to Be Opposites
I think sometimes we approach development conversations as though there are only two choices.
Build everything.
Or change nothing.
Real communities are more complicated than that.
Powell has grown.
Delaware County has grown tremendously.
People want restaurants, shops, amenities and gathering spaces.
At the same time, many people chose Powell precisely because they love its character.
Those things don't necessarily have to compete with each other.
The challenge is figuring out how to welcome thoughtful growth without losing the things that made people love the community in the first place.
That's why planning matters.
And it's why resident participation matters too.
What Does This Mean for Powell Homeowners?
I'm not suggesting that this one development plan is suddenly going to determine Powell property values.
Real estate doesn't work that way.
But over time, the decisions communities make about downtown areas, parks, infrastructure, retail, housing and public spaces absolutely contribute to their desirability.
Buyers don't evaluate homes in isolation.
They're buying into a lifestyle.
That's especially true in communities like Powell.
A thriving downtown can be an asset.
Beautiful green space can be an asset.
Walkability can be an asset.
Community events can be an asset.
Restaurants and locally owned businesses can be assets.
And preserving the identity of a community can be an asset too.
The challenge is balancing all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Powell's Village Green
Has Powell approved the Village Green redevelopment?
No.
Powell remains in Phase Two of the Village Green Master Plan. The concepts shown publicly so far are potential development options, not approved final plans.
How much is Powell spending on public relations?
City Council authorized a contract of approximately $70,000 with Geben Communication to provide communications and public engagement assistance related to the Village Green planning process.
How long will the PR firm work with Powell?
Geben is expected to begin working with Powell in September or October 2026 and continue providing services through December 2027.
Why is Powell hiring an outside communications company?
City officials said additional communications support would help provide residents with clearer, more consistent and timely information. Officials also cited feedback from residents who said they hadn't felt adequately informed about the Village Green planning process.
What could be built at Village Green?
Concepts presented earlier this year included combinations of residential and retail development. Potential features included a market hall, grocery store and multilevel parking garage. These remain concepts rather than approved development plans.
How large is Village Green?
The property encompasses approximately 12 acres and currently includes City Council chambers, the Powell Police Department, amphitheater, splash pad and green space.
How much feedback has the city received?
Pizzuti Solutions is reviewing 381 comments submitted through email and four public open houses during the current phase of the planning process.
Earlier Phase I engagement also included a community survey that received 658 responses.
When will residents see the next Village Green proposal?
Another community presentation is expected this fall, although a date had not been announced as of September 4. A revised concept is expected to return to Powell City Council in December 2026.
The Bottom Line
The headline here is that Powell is spending approximately $70,000 on outside public relations assistance.
But I don't think that's actually the biggest story.
The bigger story is that Powell is having a conversation about what the heart of the community should become.
And residents clearly want to be part of it.
Three hundred eighty-one comments during this phase alone tell us that.
So whether you're excited about the possibilities, worried about changing Village Green, somewhere in the middle or still trying to figure out exactly what's being proposed, now is a good time to pay attention.
Look at the concepts.
Attend the next community presentation.
Ask questions.
Read the city's updates.
And give thoughtful feedback.
Because nothing is final yet.
The future of downtown Powell is still being written.
And the people who live there deserve a voice in how that story unfolds.
Source
This article was inspired by reporting from Taylor Henninger for Delaware Source, published September 4, 2026, covering Powell City Council's decision to approve a public relations contract related to the Village Green Master Plan. Additional background information was reviewed from the City of Powell's Village Green Phase I Executive Summary.
Read the original Delaware Source article
Development concepts and timelines can change as the public planning process continues. Information in this article reflects publicly available information as of September 4, 2026.
