Referendum drive falls short

FINDLAY — A referendum drive to challenge the Shady Grove annexation and high-density zoning fell short under Ohio's new signature threshold, ending the effort and allowing the ordinances to take effect. Vision Companies, Columbus, is planning for the construction of a 480-unit housing development on the former golf course on U.S. 224 East. Petitions challenging the annexation and its M-2 zoning classification were filed June 8 by three Findlay residents — Holly Frische, Patricia J. Klein and Robin Welly. The deadline was Thursday for the committee to file petitions bearing 4,417 signatures with the city auditor. Findlay City Council approved the annexation and zoning by a 7-2 vote on June 2 after a packed public hearing where residents raised concerns about traffic, drainage, public safety, property values and water pressure. Councilmen Rodney Phillips, R-6, and Dan DeLong, R-7, voted against both measures. In a press release issued Thursday morning, Frische said the drive could not overcome the new threshold. "In just 24 days, volunteers collected more signatures than would have been required under Ohio's former 10% referendum threshold," she said. Frische, a former 1st Ward councilwoman for the city of Findlay, said "Young adults, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and many residents who had never before participated in local political activities stepped forward to volunteer, collect signatures and support the campaign." Changes to Ohio's petition laws written into the new state budget, House Bill 96, approved in June 2025, have made it significantly harder for residents to place local issues on the ballot. The amendment raises the signature requirement for municipal initiative and referendum petitions from 10% to 35% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent regular state election. A parallel change applies the same 35% threshold to township zoning referendums. Frische said residents from "across the political spectrum" participated in the effort and that the petition drive brought new volunteers into the civic process. "This is not the end of the conversation—it is the beginning of a broader movement to ensure that local government remains responsive to the people it serves," she said.