A proposal is on the table for more than 1,200 homes and commercial space on nearly 400 acres at Gibson Road and State Route 762. If approved, it would be the largest housing development in Pickaway County history.

Like many of you, I live near this site and share your concerns. My goal isn’t to stop growth altogether—it’s to make sure residents have a voice in shaping it. Growth is inevitable, but it must be responsible, transparent, and supported by the right infrastructure.

When I learned about this project, I obtained the plans through a public records request and made them public, because residents deserved to see what was being proposed. Until then, very little had been shared openly.

The heart of the issue is infrastructure. Our fire and EMS system is already stretched thin. Adding thousands of residents raises serious questions: Can we handle the extra calls? Will we outgrow our newest firehouse before it’s even paid off?

Our schools are also at risk. Teays Valley Superintendent Kyle Wolfe has warned that the district is already overcrowded, and a development of this scale could compromise the quality of education our kids deserve.

This is exactly why I’m running for Scioto Township Trustee. We need leaders who will ask the tough questions before the concrete is poured:

• Can our first responders keep up?
• How will schools handle the growth?
• Who pays for new roads, sewer lines, and services—residents or developers?

If residents are footing the bill, then residents deserve a voice. I am not against growth. I am for responsible growth—the kind that strengthens our community, instead of overwhelming it.