Volunteer Messaging Guide

Not every large-scale project is bad. Some bring real jobs, real investment, real partnerships. We’re not trying to lock those out.

What we’re trying to stop is the developer who shows up with a great PowerPoint, schmoozes the right people, gets approved before anyone knows what happened, and leaves the community holding the bag for decades. We’re seeing it play out in cities all over the country right now.

The Community Consent Amendment gives good-faith developers something valuable: a direct path to community buy-in. If your project is genuinely good for Grove City, make your case to the people who live here. Win their vote. Now you’re not just permitted. You’re welcomed. That’s a stronger foundation than any council approval.

If you can’t make that case, if your project doesn’t hold up to scrutiny from the people it affects, then maybe Grove City isn’t the right fit. And that’s okay too.

"Hi, I’m a volunteer with Protect Grove City. We collected the signatures and the Community Consent Amendment is officially on the November ballot.

Earlier this year, a developer tried to build a massive data center campus in Grove City. Residents pushed back, and that project was turned away. But city council could still approve something like it tomorrow without ever asking residents. Our amendment changes that permanently. Any project above certain size or power thresholds has to go to a public vote first. Community says yes, it moves forward. They say no, it doesn’t.

And here’s what makes it real: a yes vote isn’t a blank check. The amendment locks in exactly what was approved. If the company wants to do more, they come back and ask again.

All that’s left is the vote. If you’re a registered Grove City voter in wards 1 through 5, this is on your ballot this November.

Can we count on your vote?"

"Hi everyone, I’m a volunteer with Protect Grove City, a grassroots group of residents who believe that decisions that permanently reshape our community should be made by the people who live here, not by whoever happens to sit on council at any given moment.

Here’s what happened. A developer sought approval to build a massive data center campus in Grove City. When residents found out, they showed up. Because of that pressure, the City passed a moratorium and formed a task force to study the issue — and that project was turned away. That was a win, and we’re proud of it.

But a moratorium is temporary. The same council that passed it can lift it. And when the moratorium expires, we’re right back where we started, with council able to approve something this massive without ever asking you.

Here’s the thing: not every large-scale project is bad. Some are genuinely great for a community. They bring real jobs, real investment, and real partnerships. We’re not trying to lock those out. What we’re trying to stop is the developer who shows up with a great PowerPoint, schmoozes the right people, gets approved before anyone knows what happened, and leaves the community holding the bag for decades.

The Community Consent Amendment actually gives good-faith developers something valuable: a direct path to community buy-in. If your project is genuinely good for Grove City, make your case to the people who live here. Win their vote. Now you’re not just permitted. You’re welcomed. If you can’t make that case, if the project doesn’t hold up to scrutiny from the people it affects, then maybe Grove City isn’t the right fit. And that’s okay too.

That’s why we’re here. We collected the signatures, and the Community Consent Amendment is officially on the November ballot. It’s the permanent protection the moratorium can’t be. If voters approve it, it becomes part of Grove City’s City Charter. No future council can touch it without another vote of the people.

Here’s what the amendment actually does. Any project that would be zoned Heavy Industrial and hits even one of three thresholds (50 or more acres, more than 20 megawatts of power, or more than 500,000 gallons of water per day) has to go to a public vote before it can be approved. Those thresholds are deliberately set high. Your doctor’s office, your favorite restaurant, the new retail center down the street... none of them come close. We’re talking about truly massive industrial projects. The kind that permanently change a neighborhood.

And here’s something important: this amendment doesn’t ban anything. If a developer wants to build a project that big, they’re welcome to make their case to you, to your neighbors, to every registered voter in Grove City. If the community says yes, the project moves forward. And a yes vote isn’t a blank check. The amendment locks in exactly what was approved. If the company wants to do more than what voters said yes to, they have to come back and ask again.

Others will say this hurts economic development. But Grove City stays wide open for business. Restaurants, offices, medical facilities, retail... the amendment doesn’t touch any of that. And even some larger projects aren’t Heavy Industrial to begin with — Mount Carmel Grove City Hospital’s ~61.7-acre campus crosses the acreage line on paper but is exempt as an M-1 zoned medical facility. This only applies to the rare project that’s actually zoned Heavy Industrial and massive enough to permanently reshape our community. For those, voters get the final word.

Now some people will ask about the task force the City set up. Isn’t that handling it? And the answer is: the task force does important work. It can recommend stricter standards that Council adopts by ordinance. But ordinances can be changed by a future council with different priorities. The amendment is the floor nobody can pull out from under you. The task force decides how high to set the bar. The amendment makes sure there’s a bar at all.

What we need from you today is simple. If you’re a registered Grove City voter, in wards 1 through 5, we need your support. This November, support getting the Community Consent Amendment added to the Charter. Every vote gets us closer to making this protection permanent.

The developer has lawyers, lobbyists, and money. We have Grove City residents. Let’s make sure our votes count.

Can we count on your vote this November?"