Columbus Council decides controversial rezoning request for development

During its meeting Tuesday, the Columbus Councli unanimously approved the controversial rezoning request at 9101 Macon Road.

Mayor Pro Tem Gary Allen, the council’s District 6 representative, made a motion to approve the request.

“I’ve spoken with several constituents regarding the apartments and the rezoning and answered a lot of questions,” Allen said. “The president of the company, Philip Thayer, has gone out of his way, above and beyond what normally happens in rezoning.”

Midland Downs Development LLC filed the rezoning request in June. The company asked to change the number of units being built from 214 to 342, adding over 100 more townhomes to the originally proposed project. The plan will turn the wooded 143-acre site into an apartment complex and a small commercial building.

Allen emphasized the economic impact that caused the number of homes in the project to increase.

“We’re here at that point where the economy’s changed,” Allen said. “Construction costs have increased. If we’re going to have a project like this built out, I feel compelled to make it the best we can make it.”

The Midland Downs HOA has changed its position on this project from disapproval to approval. Jessica Cardin, vice president of the Midland Downs HOA, voiced support for the project at the Aug. 27 council meeting.

“We feel like we have a good partnership, and we do believe that [Philip Thayer] is going to do everything he can to make sure that the apartments themselves are going to be beneficial to the area,” Cardin said during the Aug. 27 meeting. “Also, we are very much in favor of a smaller commercial property in the long run. We think that a smaller commercial property is going to be more beneficial to us.”

Midland residents opposed the development for a variety of reasons, including the project possibly increasing traffic, crime and overcrowded schools.

This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM.