The proposal is conceptual until council approves it.
A 63-acre proposal near I-71 in Sunbury would allow medical offices, retail and up to 640 dwellings. Council took no action, and utilities and road funding are unresolved. Here is what the report says and how buyers can read it.
A large development proposal in Sunbury is moving through the approval process, and the details are worth understanding if you are thinking about buying nearby. According to Delaware Source, the proposal would combine medical, commercial and residential uses on about 63 acres near Interstate 71. Nothing has been approved yet. This post summarizes the report neutrally, using only its facts, and explains how to read a proposal like this one.
What Is Being Proposed?
According to Delaware Source, published October 22, 2026 and written by Jack Slemenda, developer Wills Creek, led by founder and president Jim Schrim, wants to rezone about 63 acres along South Galena Road near Sunbury Parkway and Interstate 71 into a planned commercial district, or PCD. The uses would be medical, commercial and residential, with an emphasis on health care-related businesses and multifamily housing.
Where Does the Approval Process Stand?
The report says Sunbury City Council held a public hearing on the rezoning and took no action. It did not finalize the businesses or buildings in the district, and the report says all plans are conceptual until council approves them. The Planning and Zoning Commission had approved the rezoning on August 24 with a few revisions, sending it to council.
Council also introduced a separate ordinance to hire urban design firm MKSK to help update the city's zoning code, and took no action on that either.
How Does It Relate to OhioHealth?
About 18 months ago, Wills Creek sold roughly 30 acres just east of the PCD to OhioHealth, according to the report. That lot sits south of Tanger Outlets, bordered by I-71 to the west and future Sunbury Parkway to the south. Schrim said the PCD was designed to complement a future healthcare campus.
Wills Creek also recently signed a contract with Foundations Health for a skilled nursing facility, which Schrim said would complement OhioHealth's facility and could generate roughly $7 million to $9 million in payroll for the city. It still must go through the approval process.
What Retail Is Allowed?
The district has two subareas. Subarea A, about 30 acres on the western side, permits a convenience store, gas station or both, plus space for a potential big-box retailer. Subarea B, about 28 acres on the eastern side near Galena Road, does not list those uses.
Most retail buildings and businesses would be capped at 75,000 square feet, and Subarea A would allow one building or business up to 180,000 square feet. For comparison, the report cites an average Walmart Supercenter of about 182,000 square feet. The district would prohibit uses such as billboards, crematories, cannabis dispensaries, single-family detached dwellings, industrial and manufacturing uses, and self-storage except as accessory residential storage.
How Many Homes Are Proposed?
The residential cap is 640 dwellings in total: up to 400 in Subarea A and up to 240 in Subarea B. Apartments and townhomes are limited to 280 of Subarea A's units and 120 of Subarea B's. Permitted types include multifamily, congregate care, independent living, nursing home, senior living, rehabilitation services and residential care facilities. Dwellings could not be built above retail, commercial or office buildings.
This post describes the proposal as development context only. A cap is a maximum, not a promise of what will be built.
What Variances Are Requested?
Wills Creek requested 16 variances from Sunbury's zoning code, according to the report. Notable requests include building height, standalone apartments, reduced unit sizes, perimeter setbacks from roadways, and open space and regional basins. The full application is attached to the original article as a PDF.
What About Sewer, Water and Power?
The report describes several open questions. Sanitary sewer service is available nearby, but developers must extend lines, and capacity is not yet available. It depends on an upgrade to the East Alum Creek Pump Station, estimated for early 2027, and possibly on completion of the Central Alum Creek water reclamation facility.
Del-Co Water said it lacks enough data on water demand and fire protection to determine whether its system can serve the project. Electric service is in AEP Ohio's territory, but infrastructure needs and costs are undetermined, and projects with distribution costs above $1 million or demand above 10 megawatts require a formal agreement.
What Is Unresolved About Roads and Timing?
A conceptual phasing timeline exists, but the report says it depends on city legislation, public funding, development agreements and market conditions. Utilities were not included in the interchange work funded by ODOT or the county. Funding for completing Sunbury Parkway between Wilson Road and Galena Road has not been identified, and the developer, city and landowner do not control it.
How Should Buyers Read a Proposal Like This?
Treat it as a proposal, not a plan of record. Ask what stage it has reached, whether funding and utilities are in place, and what the official record says. Visit the area on a weekday and a weekend, and look at traffic, noise and distances. Do not assume an effect on any home's value, since the report does not address it.
If you are considering a home near Sunbury, check the city's agendas and ask your agent for recent sales on the specific streets you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is proposed in the Sunbury Gateway District? Wills Creek wants to rezone about 63 acres near South Galena Road and I-71 into a planned commercial district allowing medical, commercial and residential uses, according to Delaware Source.
Has Sunbury City Council approved it? No. The report says council held a public hearing and took no action, and that all plans are conceptual until council approves them.
How many homes could be built? The cap is 640 dwellings: up to 400 in Subarea A and up to 240 in Subarea B. A cap is a maximum, not a promise.
What are the unresolved issues? Sewer and water capacity, electric service costs, 16 requested variances and unidentified funding for the Sunbury Parkway segment, according to the report.
What is the OhioHealth connection? Wills Creek sold about 30 acres east of the district to OhioHealth about 18 months ago, and the developer said the district was designed to complement a future healthcare campus.
If you are weighing a home near Sunbury, I would be glad to check city agendas and pull recent sales for the streets you like. No pressure, just clear information.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. All real estate services are provided in compliance with Fair Housing laws, RESPA, TCPA, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and Ohio Real Estate Commission advertising regulations. Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan, Collins Lassiter Group, Red 1 Realty.
